How do I register a Power of Attorney on an existing account?

We’ll need to see the Power of Attorney document before you can add the Attorney to an existing account. This could either be the original or a certified copy.
Each Attorney being registered will need to complete a Power of Attorney / Court Appointee form and satisfy our ID requirements.


Communicatons  will be sent to the Attorney after the Power of Attorney has been registered (savings only). Where there is more than one Attorney registered, we'll send all communications to the first Attorney.
 
Before you fill out the form, you should make sure you’ve read the details of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. We’ll ask you to confirm this before you sign the form.

When we receive your form, we’ll review and verify everything. If successful, there’s nothing else you need to do.

Sometimes however, we may need you provide additional proof of identity. If we do need this, we’ll let you know.
 

Need help with Power of Attorney for ISAs?

When registering for a Power of Attorney on ISAs, the process is different, and we’d ask you to contact our specialist team who can help make sure you get the correct information.
 

Can I open an online savings account with Power of Attorney?

You can apply to manage an online savings account as a Power of Attorney, however the donor needs to complete the application process.

Contact us

Call us

If you'd like to talk to us about Power of Attorney, call our specialist team. 

01274 263 037*

Option 1, Option2
 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri

Write to us

Please send documents to:

Customer Service Centre
Yorkshire Building Society
Yorkshire House
Yorkshire Drive
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD5 8LJ

If you would prefer to speak to someone in person please call into any of our Yorkshire Building Society branches or agencies.

Find your nearest Yorkshire Building Society branch

 

Proof of identity

If you’re applying at a Yorkshire Building Society branch or agency, we’ll need to see one proof of name document and one proof of address document and these must be the original documents.

If applying by post, we'll need to see a third ID document. This can be either a proof of name or a proof of address document. Originals or copies are accepted. 

If you’re posting documents which have a photo or signature, please only send copies. You shouldn't send valuable documents through the post.  Your local Yorkshire Building Society branch or agency can take copies of your documents and send them to us on your behalf, free of charge. 

All original documents will be returned to you as soon as possible

Proof of name and identity

  •  Current signed passport (UK or foreign)
  •  Current EU or UK photo card driving licence (full/provisional) or full UK driving licence (old style)
  •  Current residence permit issued by the Home Office to EU National
  •  Current EU member state ID card
  •  Current British armed forces ID card
  •  HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment /statement/tax credit letter (which must state your National Insurance number), issued in the last 12 months (Not a P45 or P60)
  •  Letter from Department for Works and Pension (DWP), Pension Service, Job Centre Plus or local authority confirming right to benefits issued in the last 12 months
  •  Current signed employer’s photo ID card
  •  Current UK firearms certificate
  •  Current Foreign National ID card
  •  Current UK disabled person’s blue badge

Proof of address

  •  HMRC (Inland Revenue) coding/assessment/statement/tax credit letter (which must state your National Insurance number) issued in the last 12 months (Not a P45 or P60)
  •  Letter from UK bank/building society issued in the last 3 months and confirming full details for an active account
  •  Letter from commanding officer or military unit issued in the last 3 months and confirming residency in service quarters
  •  Letter from UK college/university issued in the last 3 months and confirming in-house residency and dates
  •  Letter from UK employer issued in the last 3 months and confirming residency in hospital accommodation (medical doctors only)
  •  Correspondence from local authority over tenancy/local authority tenancy agreement, issued in the last 12 months
  •  Current EU or UK (full/provisional) photo card driving licence or full UK driving licence (old style)
  •  UK Credit Union statement issued in the last 3 months
  •  UK utility bill/prepayment agreement issued in the last 3 months showing current address (Not mobile phone bill)
  •  UK bank/building society statement issued in the last 12 months and showing current address
  •  UK Credit card statement issued in the last 3 months and showing current address
  •  UK Mortgage statement issued in the last 12 months (most recent) from a recognised lender
  •  Letter from Department for Works and Pension (DWP), Pension Service, Job Centre Plus or local authority confirming right to benefits issued in the last 12 months
  •  Current post office re-direction letter
  •  Council Tax bill issued in the last 12 months
  •  Letter from solicitor issued in the last 3 months and confirming house purchase
  •  Letter from HMRC (Inland Revenue) issued in the last 3 months confirming National Insurance number which must include name and address
Please note:
If the Donor has recently moved into a care home, we can accept ID showing their previous address, as long as it matches the address on the Power of Attorney.
We can accept ID for the Donor which shows the address of the Attorney, as long as it is made clear that it's for the Donor. 
 

Certifying the Power of Attorney document

The donor can confirm the document, as long they’re still able to make their own decisions.

If the donor has lost mental capacity, they cannot certify the document.
In these cases, we accept copies that have been certified by a bank/building society employee, solicitor, accountant, commissioner for oaths or an independent financial adviser.
There may be a charge to certify the documents for you - please check first.

Please note - we can't accept documents which have been certified by a family member or a named attorney.

When the donor is certifying the document

The below information must be provided on the first page of all documents if it is a certified copy:

  •  The words “certified true copy”, written or stamped
  •  Full name, date and signature of the donor
  •  The statement “I certify that pages 1- [insert total number] are a certified true copy“ (where the document has multiple pages)
  •  All pages must be signed by the person certifying your documents

When a professional is certifying the document

The following information must be provided on the first page of all documents if it is a certified copy:

  •  The words “certified true copy”, written or stamped
  •  Full name, date and signature by the person who is certifying them
  •  Their profession
  •  Their business or practice name, address and telephone number
  •  Their FCA number (financial advisors only)
  •  The statement "I certify that pages 1- [insert total number of pages] are a certified true copy“ (where the document has multiple pages)
  •  All subsequent pages must also be signed by the person certifying your documents. 
If any of these details are missing, we may not be able to accept the document.

Understanding Power of Attorney terms 

Attorney/Deputy

A person who has been appointed to carry out decisions for another person.

Beneficial Owner

The Beneficial Owner is a person who cannot manage their own affairs.

Certified Copies

These are copy documents which have been checked and verified as being the same as the original by one of the following: bank/building society employees, solicitors, accountants, commissioner for oaths, independent financial advisers or the Post Office.

Deed of Disclaimer

This is required when an individual no longer wishes to act as an Attorney. This deed needs to be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration before it can be used.

Deed of Revocation

This is used in England and Wales when you want to end the rights you have given under a Power of Attorney. It needs to be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration before it can be used. See https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/end for more information.

Donor

The Donor is the person who lets someone else (the Attorney) make decisions for them.

HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs)

The UK Government department for the administration and collection of taxes.

ISA (Individual Savings Account)

A tax-efficient cash savings account.

Order

The Court of Protection document.

Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows the Attorney to make decisions or carry out transactions for another person. There are three main types in England and Wales:

1. Lasting Power of Attorney

There are two different Lasting Powers of Attorney, one which relates to health and welfare and one for property and financial affairs.  It would be one relating to property and financial affairs that you would register with us. They need to be registered at the Office of the Public Guardian.

2. General Power of Attorney 

These do not need to be registered at the Office of Public Guardian, however if you lose mental capacity they will no longer be valid. They are often used to give rights for a specific event, for example if you need someone to be able to make decisions for you temporarily when you go on holiday.

3. Enduring Power of Attorney 

Enduring Powers of Attorney are only valid if they were signed and written before 1 October 2007. You can use them even if they haven’t been registered at the Office of the Public Guardian provided that you still have mental capacity. If you start to lose mental capacity the Power of Attorney will need to be registered at the Office of the Public Guardian.