What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Links marked * are commercial or go to our partner sites, which share our operator. Third-party companies may pay us commission. How we make money.
In short: A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your money or welfare if you lose mental capacity. Without one, your family may need a slow, expensive Court of Protection deputyship.
Content updated:
There are two types in England and Wales: Property & Financial Affairs (bills, bank accounts, property) and Health & Welfare (medical treatment and care). Registration costs £92 per LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian.
An LPA can only be made while you have mental capacity. You must have capacity to make the LPA. If you cannot, the alternative depends on the decision: benefit appointeeship, existing authority or a Court of Protection application may be appropriate.
You can apply yourself via gov.uk/power-of-attorney. See our full LPA guide and how-to on registering an LPA.
Primary source: www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
Part of our Family & care
This quick answer sits inside our wider family & care hub — with sub-guides, calculators and step-by-step explainers on the same topic.
Read the full family & care guide →