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Powers of attorney are nonetheless useful, not least because they are a safety net that does not have to be activated immediately - the donor can continue to act personally until (a) they no longer feel able or (b)incapacity sets in (and if incapacity is sudden, having a POA in place overcomes the problems of inevitable delay inherent in getting a deputy appointed - per Anon 17 August @ 17:36). However, deputies do not have to be professionals and I suppose one advantage is that the court has an opportunity to underline their duties and responsibilities, reinforced by the requirement for bonds and annual accounts.

Personally I think it was a mistake to dispense with notification of at least 2 named individuals as a safeguard.

One major problem area (for both attorneys and "lay" deputies) is understanding the limited power to make gifts - particularly to the attorney/deputy themselves - and potential for conflict of interest. The trouble with the Government wanting to put everything online, so as to make it all "easy" or "simple", is that the seriousness and any inherent duties or responsibilities of legal transactions or appointments are completely obscured. Attorneyship / deputyship is not a blank cheque, and this needs to be emphasised. A "long drop" for miscreants (such as restitution of misappropriated funds, and/or penal sanctions) would send a message to others.