Practical, Compliant Support From Atalaw Solicitors
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can bring uncertainty for the whole family — especially when it comes to finances, care decisions, and protecting someone’s wishes. Atalaw Solicitors provides clear, compassionate legal support across England and Wales, helping you put the right safeguards in place at the right time.
Our Alzheimer’s wills solicitors in London focus on practical planning that protects dignity, reduces family stress, and helps ensure trusted people can lawfully step in when decisions become harder.
Why Early Legal Planning Matters
Alzheimer’s can affect memory and decision-making gradually. Taking action sooner can help ensure:
Your wishes are recorded clearly
The right people are appointed to act for you
Disputes and delays are reduced later
Financial abuse risks are minimised
Care and property decisions can be managed legally and confidently
We will always explain options in plain English and guide you through the correct legal steps.
Lasting Powers Of Attorney Explained
Health And Welfare LPA
This covers care and medical decisions (such as daily routine, where someone lives, and treatment choices). A Health and Welfare attorney can only make decisions when the person does not have mental capacity to make the specific decision themselves.
Property And Financial Affairs LPA
This covers money and property matters (such as bank accounts, bills, and dealing with a home). A Property and Financial Affairs attorney can act while the person still has capacity only if the LPA allows it and the person gives permission — otherwise, it is used when capacity is lacking.
Why Choose Atalaw Solicitors
Calm, respectful support for sensitive family situations
Clear guidance on legal responsibilities and decision-making
A single team to support planning now and legal action later, if needed
Advice tailored for England and Wales
Legal planning after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis
An Alzheimer’s diagnosis does not automatically mean someone can no longer make legal decisions. Many people are still able to make a Will, set up a lasting power of attorney or review their estate planning after diagnosis, provided they have the required mental capacity at the time.
This is why early advice is so important. The sooner legal planning is discussed, the easier it can be to record wishes clearly, appoint trusted people and reduce the risk of uncertainty later.
Atalaw Solicitors provides sensitive advice for individuals and families who need help with Wills, lasting powers of attorney and future planning after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis. We take time to explain the options clearly and make sure the person making the decision is treated with dignity and respect.
Can someone with Alzheimer’s make a Will?
Yes, someone with Alzheimer’s can make a Will if they have the mental capacity to do so at the time the Will is made. A diagnosis by itself does not make a person unable to make a valid Will.
To make a Will, the person should usually be able to understand:
- That they are making a Will
- What property, money and possessions they own
- Who may expect to benefit from their estate
- The effect of including or excluding certain people
- The decisions they are making at the time
If there are concerns about memory, confusion, pressure from others or family disagreement, it is especially important to involve a solicitor. Careful notes, clear instructions and proper signing procedures can help reduce the risk of the Will being challenged later.
Why mental capacity matters
Mental capacity means the ability to make a specific decision at the time it needs to be made. It is decision-specific, which means someone may be able to make some decisions but not others.
For example, a person may be able to decide who they want to appoint as executor, but may need more support when considering complex property, tax or family arrangements. Capacity can also vary from day to day, especially where Alzheimer’s or dementia symptoms fluctuate.
When advising on a Will or lasting power of attorney, we consider whether the person understands the decision, can retain the relevant information long enough to make that decision, can weigh up the options and can communicate their decision.
Where appropriate, we may recommend additional medical evidence or a capacity assessment to help protect the validity of the document.
Making a Will when there may be capacity concerns
If there are capacity concerns, the Will preparation process should be handled carefully. This is not only to protect the person making the Will, but also to reduce the risk of future disputes between family members.
Our approach may include:
- Speaking directly with the person making the Will
- Checking that instructions are given freely
- Making sure there is no pressure or undue influence
- Taking detailed notes of the instructions
- Asking clear questions about family, assets and wishes
- Considering whether medical evidence may be helpful
- Ensuring the Will is signed and witnessed correctly
This careful process can be particularly important where there are blended families, estranged relatives, unequal gifts, second marriages, property ownership issues or concerns that someone may challenge the Will after death.
Reviewing an existing Will after diagnosis
If a person already has a Will, it should still be reviewed after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis. The existing Will may remain valid if it was made correctly and the person had capacity at the time, but it may no longer reflect current wishes or family circumstances.
A review may be useful if:
- A spouse, partner or beneficiary has died
- A new child or grandchild has been born
- The person has remarried or separated
- A property has been sold or bought
- A beneficiary’s circumstances have changed
- There are concerns about care fees or inheritance planning
- The person wants to include a charity or specific gift
- There may be disagreement within the family
Atalaw Solicitors can review the current Will, explain whether it still reflects the person’s wishes and advise whether a new Will or codicil may be suitable.
Lasting power of attorney and Alzheimer’s
A lasting power of attorney, also known as an LPA, allows someone to appoint trusted people to make decisions if they are unable to make those decisions themselves in the future.
There are 2 main types of LPA:
| Type of LPA | What it covers | When it can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Property and financial affairs LPA | Bank accounts, bills, pensions, property and financial decisions | It can be used while the person still has capacity if they allow it, or later if they lose capacity |
| Health and welfare LPA | Care, medical treatment, daily routine and where someone lives | It can only be used when the person lacks capacity to make the specific decision |
For someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, putting LPAs in place early can make future decisions easier for family members. Without an LPA, relatives may need to apply to the Court of Protection if the person later loses capacity.
Choosing the right attorneys
Choosing an attorney is one of the most important parts of planning ahead. An attorney should be someone trustworthy, reliable and able to act in the person’s best interests.
When choosing attorneys, it is worth considering:
- Whether they understand the person’s wishes
- Whether they can manage money responsibly
- Whether they can communicate well with family members
- Whether they live close enough to help when needed
- Whether appointing more than 1 attorney would provide balance
- Whether attorneys should act jointly or jointly and severally
- Whether replacement attorneys should be named
We can explain the role of an attorney and help you think through the practical risks before the documents are prepared.
Reducing the risk of family disputes
Disputes can arise when family members disagree about a Will, an LPA, care decisions, property, money or who should be trusted to act. These disputes can become more difficult where Alzheimer’s or dementia is involved.
Good legal planning can help reduce disputes by making the person’s wishes clear while they are still able to make decisions.
Common causes of dispute include:
- Concerns about mental capacity
- Allegations of pressure or undue influence
- Unequal gifts in a Will
- Excluding a close family member
- Disagreement over care decisions
- Concerns about how an attorney is managing money
- Unclear or outdated estate planning documents
Taking advice early can help families avoid confusion and protect the person’s wishes.
What happens if someone has already lost capacity?
If someone has already lost mental capacity, they may no longer be able to make a new Will or lasting power of attorney. In that situation, the options may be more limited.
Depending on the circumstances, family members may need advice about:
- Whether an existing Will is valid
- Whether an existing LPA or EPA can be used
- Applying to the Court of Protection
- Deputyship for financial decisions
- Managing care, property or money lawfully
- Disputes between relatives or attorneys
- Probate after the person has passed away
If you are unsure whether your loved one still has capacity, it is better to get advice before assuming that no legal planning is possible.
How Atalaw Solicitors can help
Atalaw Solicitors can support you with clear, practical legal advice at a sensitive time. We understand that families may feel anxious, rushed or unsure about the right step to take.
We can help with:
- Making a Will after an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis
- Reviewing an existing Will
- Preparing lasting powers of attorney
- Advising on mental capacity concerns
- Reducing the risk of future Will disputes
- Helping families understand attorney responsibilities
- Advising where a loved one may already have lost capacity
- Supporting families with probate after bereavement
You may also find our Will writing solicitors London and probate solicitors London pages useful if you need wider estate planning or estate administration support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a person with Alzheimer’s still make a Will?
Yes, a person with Alzheimer’s can still make a Will if they have the mental capacity to understand what they are doing at the time the Will is made. A diagnosis alone does not make a Will invalid.
When should you make an LPA after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?
It is best to make a lasting power of attorney as early as possible, while the person still has mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, it may be too late to make an LPA and the family may need to consider a Court of Protection application.
What is the difference between a Will and a lasting power of attorney?
A Will explains what should happen to your estate after death. A lasting power of attorney allows trusted people to make decisions during your lifetime if you lose capacity or need support with certain decisions.
Can a Will be challenged if someone had dementia?
Yes, a Will can be challenged if there are concerns that the person lacked mental capacity, was pressured, did not understand the Will or did not sign it correctly. Using a solicitor can help reduce the risk of future disputes.
Do I need Alzheimer’s wills solicitors in London?
You should consider speaking to Alzheimer’s wills solicitors in London if there has been a diagnosis, if there are concerns about capacity, if family relationships are complicated, or if you want to prepare a Will or LPA properly before the condition progresses.
Contact Atalaw Solicitors
If you are supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s and are unsure what to do next, early legal advice can make all the difference.
Contact Atalaw Solicitors today to discuss our Will To Remember Alzheimer Services and will to remember alzheimer support, and find out how we can help you put clear plans in place and protect your family’s wishes while staying fully compliant with the law.
📞 Call us 020 3581 9293 or email info@atalawsolicitors.com to speak to a member of our team.
We Can Also Help With
Planning ahead covers more than a will. If you need someone appointed to manage finances or care decisions, or if you are dealing with an estate after a bereavement, our team can support you through every step.
