What’s the difference between Lasting or General?

Lasting Power of Attorney documents are put in place in the main to cater for the potential of the person losing their capacity permanently for the rest of their life whereas the General Power of Attorney is normally put in place to cover a specific time period where temporary incapacity is possible. While both documents are equally valid to use the Lasting Power of Attorney document is the most familiar to the general marketplace and therefore has a tendency to be easier to use. A common use of the General Power of Attorney is while people are waiting for the Lasting power of Attorney to be returned so that should anything happen they are covered.