What the Sir Ranulph Fiennes Story Teaches Us About Lasting Powers of Attorney

September 28th 2026 | Reading Time 3 min read

Recent media attention surrounding Sir Ranulph Fiennes has brought Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) into the spotlight. Reports have raised concerns about care arrangements made by his wife after the explorer lost mental capacity, prompting wider discussion about the responsibilities of attorneys and the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable individuals.

While every family’s circumstances are different, the coverage highlights an important lesson – a Lasting Power of Attorney is only as effective as the people appointed to act under it.

Why having an LPA matters

A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to appoint trusted individuals (known as attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself.

There are two types of LPA:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA – covering bank accounts, bills, investments, and property.

• Health and Welfare LPA – covering medical treatment, care arrangements, and day-to-day welfare.

By creating an LPA, you remain in control of who will act for you and how decisions are made. Without one, your loved ones may be unable to make important decisions on your behalf. Instead, it may be necessary to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputy to be appointed, which can be a lengthy and costly process.

Choosing the right attorneys

Putting an LPA in place is only part of the process. Choosing the right attorneys is just as important.

It is worth considering whether more than one attorney should be appointed. Having multiple attorneys can provide additional support, allow decisions to be made jointly where appropriate and reduce the burden on a single individual. You may also wish to appoint replacement attorneys, ensuring someone can step in if your original choice is unable or unwilling to act.

Just as importantly, you should discuss your wishes with your attorneys and family in advance. Whether it relates to your care, finances or personal values, clear conversations now can help guide future decision-making and provide valuable peace of mind.

Attorneys have legal responsibilities

An attorney’s powers are significant, but they are not unlimited. Attorneys must always act in the best interests of the person who appointed them (the donor) and comply with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Their role is to make decisions on that person’s behalf, taking into account their wishes, feelings, values and beliefs wherever possible.

The recent coverage involving Sir Ranulph Fiennes serves as a reminder of the importance of appointing people you trust and ensuring they understand the responsibilities that come with the role.

Planning ahead

A Lasting Power of Attorney is about more than preparing a legal document. It is about ensuring that, if you are ever unable to make decisions yourself, those decisions are made by people you know, trust and have personally chosen.

With the right attorneys in place, and clear discussions about your wishes, an LPA can provide valuable peace of mind for both you and your family.

If you would like to discuss your options or learn more about how an LPA could help protect your future, our Private Client team would be happy to help. Please call Aimee Bowles on 01295 204029 or contact her here.

Explorer ‘deprived of his liberty’ when wife placed him in facility under false name, watchdog finds.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/24/fiennes/

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