TV's 'Mike Baldwin' story doesn't reflect current legal best practice - 16 March 2006

In a Coronation Street episode broadcast recently, that continues the storyline about soap character Mike Baldwin suffering from Alzheimer's, his son took him to a solicitor to sign an Enduring Power of Attorney. Jenny Pierce, a partner specialising in Wills & Trusts law at the city centre office of Wards Solicitors, warns that the way in which legal advice was given did not reflect current best practice and portrayed solicitors in an unnecessarily bad light.

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a document used to appoint someone to act on your behalf in case, in the future, you become mentally or physically incapable of managing your affairs. The elderly and people suffering from Alzheimer’s are typical of those who might have an EPA, although everyone over 18 should consider making one, together with a Will, as a safeguard in the event of future incapacity. 

The Coronation Street solicitor did his job very badly. Mike Baldwin is asked a series of complex questions that he doesn’t necessarily understand, the solicitor does not obtain a medical report on Mike’s condition and Mike signs the EPA on the spot, with his son present. Jenny says: “None of these things are good practice and lawyers like me, who specialise in EPAs, would not advise in this way”.

She adds: “The Alzheimer's Society is the UK’s leading care and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. I’m pleased that Coronation Street has highlighted both the issue of Alzheimer’s and the need for EPAs but I’d like to reassure the public that most specialist solicitors are better than portrayed on the TV!”

Jenny is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly (a national association) and has over 14 years’ experience of advising the elderly on relevant legal issues.

Contact Jenny Pierce on 0117 929 2811