Using the new Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) system, anyone can create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) with enhanced ease, convenience, and security beginning today, 14 November 2022. OPGO enables the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to conduct all transactions online. This is a result of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) modifications agreed upon by Parliament in July 2021.
“With OPG Online, it is now easier and more convenient to make your LPA and plan. In this Year of Celebrating SG Families, I encourage everyone to plan, for yourself and your loved ones,” says Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development.
All LPAs will be created online using OPGO rather than the current hardcopy form and digitally signed using Singpass. In extraordinary circumstances, a hard copy LPA form may still be accepted with the Public Guardian’s consent.
With the user’s permission, OPGO uses Myinfo to pre-fill the LPA form with accurate personal information. LPA processing and registration will take one and a half weeks instead of three weeks (excluding the mandatory three-week waiting period).
All donors and donees will be able to view their LPAs in OPGO, even those who registered their LPAs before the opening of OPGO. Donors can also give a trusted individual access to their online LPA (s). Once the donor has lost the mental ability, the donee(s) may give the online LPA to outside organisations to carry out transactions on the donor’s behalf.
Deputies will submit deputy reports using OPGO’s streamlined, secure, and facilitated online approach.
The OPGO system also has the following functions for deputies: a) Finance Tracker, which makes it easy for deputies to keep track of the money they spend and receive on behalf of clients who lack mental capacity; and b) Task List that aids deputies in understanding and keeping track of the tasks assigned to them in accordance with court orders.
MSF has put in place data protection procedures to guard against data theft, loss, unauthorised access, and disclosure, among other things. According to the government’s data security and data protection policies, all personal information in OPGO is saved and secured on government servers.
Throughout the LPA-making process, real-time notifications will also be delivered to all parties through SMS and/or email, providing quick status updates and confirmation of actions performed by all parties.
Instructional videos and the LPA application service in OPGO will be available in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. People can go to CitizenConnect Centers in specific Community Clubs and ServiceSG Centers for assistance with the e-LPA application services.
Although they will be transformed into electronic counterparts in OPGO, any hardcopy LPAs registered before the debut of the platform are still valid. Donors and Donees shall be given 90 days from the date of notification to check the accuracy of the online LPAs after being alerted to do so.
Prior to the launch of OPGO, hardcopy LPAs that were certified may still be filed within six months of the donor’s signature date on the LPA form.
Soon, OPGO will relate to the My Legacy portal. Donors would then be able to use the portal to create both an LPA and an Advance Care Plan (ACP). ACP is a complementary process that teaches loved ones and healthcare professionals about how a person wishes to be cared for if they are unable to make their own decisions.
To simplify decision-making, individuals are advised to select their LPA donee as their ACP Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson. Donors who access My Legacy will be forwarded to the OPGO portal to complete their LPAs in the meantime.
