A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to give authority to someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity to make them yourself. LPA clients will be referred to Rutters Solicitors for will drafting, including wills with trusts, all free of charge. 

Elaine Ewing, Advice Team manager at Diverse Abilities, commented: “We’re pleased to continue our work with Rutters Solicitors, enabling the people we support to receive the legal support they require. The team have been a great partner to us over the years and we are really thankful for all their hard work and support.

“You do not need to have a disability to be supported by our Advice Team, we’re here to provide advice and guidance to anyone that needs us.” 

Rutters Solicitors, based in Shaftesbury, Gillingham (Dorset), and Sturminster Newton, has helped individual and business clients for more than 180 years. The small firm prides itself on its personal approach and its provision of support and advice alongside legal solutions. 

Matthew Billingsley, solicitor at Rutters, added: “It has been an absolute privilege to support Diverse Abilities in this way and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future.”

The Advice Team has recently extended its phoneline hours from 9am until 1.30pm to 9am until 5pm, and provides services including applications for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Carers Allowance (CA), Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Blue Badges, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP), as well as benefit appeals and Lasting Powers of Attorney. 

Call 0300 330 5514 on weekdays between 9am and 5pm for more details, or email advice@diverseabilities.org.uk for further information. The Advice Team supports those in Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond through telephone appointments.