A Power of Attorney is a written document authorising someone, chosen by you, to make decisions and act on your behalf. This can be done at any time. It ensures that your affairs can be looked after if you suffer physical or mental incapacity. This can be on a temporary or permanent basis.
By signing a Power of Attorney in favour of someone you trust, you can make arrangements for them to have control over your property and finances and also, if you do lose capacity, over your general welfare and everything which that entails.
Once a Power of Attorney is completed and registered, it is available for use at the relevant time. If in the form of a Continuing or Welfare Power of Attorney, it will last throughout your life, provided those appointed are willing and able to act. As long as you are able, you can cancel or adjust your Power of Attorney at at any time.
Please note, if you do suffer incapacity and no Power of Attorney is in place, your family/loved ones may need to make an application to the Court for power to deal with matters. Most people are of the view that making an application to the Court can be awkward, time consuming and stressful and is best to be avoided.
Alpin Stewart
Managing Partner
Alpin graduated with a Law and Celtic LLB (Hons) degree in 1998 from Edinburgh University before training in Portree and practising in Kyle of Lochalsh and Dingwall. In 2010 he established the George Street Law firm with Jill Miller and has considerable experience in both residential and commercial conveyancing.
Ian Donaldson
Consultant
Ian deals with conveyancing as well as Wills and executries. Ian joined Munro & Noble in 2020 to work mainly from our Aviemore office, to help serve the legal needs of the Badenoch & Strathspey area.
Neil Speight
Consultant
Neil brings over 30 years’ worth of experience to his role as Consultant in our Wills and Executries department where he deals with the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, “Future planning” and Executry administration.After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1990, Neil trained with the firm of MacArthur Stewart with whom he worked until the late ‘90s when he joined the firm of MacNeill & Critchley, becoming a partner there, carrying out a broad range of conveyancing work as well as dealing with Wills, Powers of Attorney and Executries.Following the merger of his firm with Macleod and MacCallum, Neil spent three years as Head of the Private Client department there before joining Munro & Noble in November 2020.Outside work Neil spends most of his time cycling and/or running up and down hills and is a more or less active member of Highland Hillrunners.
Michael Cockburn
Senior Solicitor
Michael is originally from Inverness and graduated with a 1st Class LLB (Hons.) Degree in Law from the University of Dundee in 2018, completing the Diploma in Legal Practice there the following year.He commenced his traineeship with Munro & Noble in March 2020, and now works within our Executry department dealing with matters such as Wills, Trusts, Executries and Power of Attorneys. Michael was recently promoted to Senior Solicitor in June 2024.
