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By Does Your Duck Quack

Lasting power of attorney: forms, fees and how to apply

Lasting power of attorney forms let adults in England and Wales appoint trusted decision-makers; choose the right type and register it before it is needed.

Checked: 12 October 2026 · Next review: 12 April 2027 · Applies to: UK, with nation notes
How this guide was prepared

Purpose: how to guidance · Level: detailed

Checked by: Does Your Duck Quack. Sources are linked below; seek professional advice for individual circumstances.

The short answer

What to do first

Lasting power of attorney forms let adults in England and Wales appoint trusted decision-makers; choose the right type and register it before it is needed.

Start here: There are two types: property and financial affairs, and health and welfare. A person can make either or both. The financial LPA may be used while the donor has capacity if they permit it, and after registration according to its terms; a health and welfare LPA is used only when the donor cannot make the particular decision. Think through what authority is wanted, any restrictions or preferences and how decisions should work if there is more than one attorney. If the right form is unclear, take advice before completing it.

Visual guides

See the decision at a glance

Lasting Power of Attorney process
  1. Choose the type and attorneysIn England and Wales, decide on health and welfare, property and financial affairs, or both, and ask willing attorneys.
  2. Complete and certifyUse the official form, include instructions carefully and have the certificate provider and parties sign in the required order.
  3. RegisterSend the application to the Office of the Public Guardian and wait for registration before the LPA can be used.
  4. Store and reviewKeep the registered document accessible, tell relevant people and update wider plans after major change.
Attorney responsibilities
  1. Follow authorityAct only within the registered document and applicable law, including any restrictions or instructions.
  2. Put the person firstSupport their decisions, consider wishes and values, avoid conflicts and use the least restrictive option.
  3. Keep recordsSeparate money, retain decisions and transactions, protect information and seek official advice when uncertain.

Scope of this guide

This guide helps you understand the options and questions to ask. It is not personal medical, legal or financial advice. Check the official sources for your nation and seek qualified help for high-stakes decisions.

Who this guide is for

For adults in England or Wales who want to plan who may make financial or health decisions for them, and people supporting them with the process.

Lasting power of attorney forms are used in England and Wales to appoint people you trust to make specified decisions if you later need help, while you still have capacity to make that choice. The property and financial affairs form and the health and welfare form cover different decisions, and each must be completed and registered correctly. This guide covers England and Wales only. It explains the practical process, not which person or legal wording is right for a particular family. If there is pressure, disagreement, a complex estate or uncertainty about capacity, get independent legal advice before signing. Do not wait until someone can no longer understand the choices: an LPA cannot then be made for them.

Practical steps

1. Choose the decisions the LPA should cover

There are two types: property and financial affairs, and health and welfare. A person can make either or both. The financial LPA may be used while the donor has capacity if they permit it, and after registration according to its terms; a health and welfare LPA is used only when the donor cannot make the particular decision. Think through what authority is wanted, any restrictions or preferences and how decisions should work if there is more than one attorney. If the right form is unclear, take advice before completing it.

2. Choose attorneys and discuss the responsibility

An attorney must be someone the donor trusts to act in their interests and follow the LPA and legal duties. Talk about the responsibilities before naming anyone: handling money, keeping records, respecting the donor’s wishes and communicating with family or professionals. Decide whether attorneys act together, independently or in a specified combination, and consider a replacement attorney in case someone cannot act. Naming relatives to keep the peace can create difficulty if they disagree or live far away; the donor’s choice and ability to administer the role matter.

3. Use the GOV.UK online service or paper forms carefully

The online service can help create an LPA, produce the required forms and track an application, but it does not mean the whole process is paperless. Check each name, address, option and restriction against the donor’s intention before signing. The form requires signatures in a prescribed order, including the certificate provider and attorneys; a missing or misplaced signature can delay or invalidate registration. If using paper, use the current official forms and guidance. Consider asking a solicitor or advice service to check a complex arrangement before sending it.

4. Notify people and allow concerns to be raised

The donor can name people to notify. Before applying to register, send each the relevant LP3 notice as instructed. GOV.UK says the people notified have three weeks to raise concerns with the Office of the Public Guardian. Explain the process to the donor and attorneys so that an unexpected letter does not cause alarm. If someone raises an objection, do not try to conceal it or alter forms informally; follow the OPG guidance or seek legal advice about the correct response.

5. Register the LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian

An LPA must be registered before it can be used. The online service can prepare forms and track an application, but the completed document still needs the required signatures and the original paper form must be sent to OPG with the fee. Send the form to the Office of the Public Guardian address supplied with it, keep a copy and record the date posted. GOV.UK says registration takes eight to ten weeks if there are no mistakes; missing information or an objection may lengthen the process. Do not make major decisions on the assumption that an unregistered LPA is already active.

6. Understand fees, reductions and checks

The OPG fee is charged for each LPA registration, so registering both types costs twice the single-application fee. A reduction or exemption may be available depending on the donor’s circumstances; gather the evidence listed on the form before paying. The OPG checks the document and may return an application that is incomplete. Keep the receipt and any request for correction. If the person’s circumstances are urgent, contact OPG using the official route and explain the reason; do not assume an application can be fast-tracked.

7. Store the registered document and explain when it can be used

When the registered LPA is returned, store the original safely and tell the attorneys where it is, without sharing it more widely than the donor wants. Make certified copies if needed and understand the process for proving authority to a bank, care provider or clinician. The donor can continue to make decisions while they have capacity. Attorneys must follow the donor’s instructions and legal duties; they do not gain a general right to take over. Tell OPG about relevant changes and get advice if the arrangement no longer reflects the donor’s wishes.

Questions and checks

Common questions

Can I make an LPA entirely online?

The GOV.UK online service can help create an LPA and prepare the forms, but the process still requires signatures and the completed original paper form to be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian with the fee. Follow the signature order carefully; an online draft is not a registered or usable LPA. Keep the completed copy and postage record.

How much does a lasting power of attorney cost in 2026?

GOV.UK currently lists a registration fee of £92 for each LPA, or £184 for both a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA. A reduction or exemption may be available. The fee is paid to register each completed document, not to guarantee that it will be accepted.

How long does LPA registration take?

GOV.UK says registration takes eight to ten weeks if there are no mistakes. Missing signatures, errors or concerns raised by people notified can add time. The notice period for people named to be told is three weeks. Keep copies and allow time before the document is needed. Check the OPG service page if processing times change.

Can an attorney make decisions while I still have capacity?

For a property and financial affairs LPA, the donor can permit the attorney to act after registration while the donor still has capacity, subject to the document’s terms. A health and welfare attorney acts only when the donor cannot make the specific decision. The donor’s own decisions remain central while they can make them.

Before you act

Write down the outcome you want, the names and dates involved, and the evidence or documents you already have. Ask for important decisions, costs and next steps in writing. If information is unclear, ask which nation’s rules are being used and when the decision will be reviewed.

If there is a delay or disagreement

Keep a short factual record of calls, letters and missed actions. Ask for the responsible person, the written reasons, the complaints or review route and any deadline. Immediate health or safety risks should be escalated separately rather than waiting for a routine complaint.

Differences across the UK

Lasting powers of attorney under this process are for England and Wales. Scotland uses continuing and welfare powers of attorney registered through the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland); Northern Ireland uses enduring powers of attorney and separate Office of Care and Protection procedures. These instruments and forms are not interchangeable. Use the guide for the person’s nation and seek jurisdiction-specific advice if they have moved or hold documents from another part of the UK.

Primary sources

The publisher checked this guide against the 6 official sources below. This is an editorial source check, not approval by a clinician, lawyer or benefits adviser.

Editorial note: By Does Your Duck Quack.