How to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in the UK
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In short. Apply online at gov.uk/power-of-attorney or by paper LP1 forms. Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian costs £92 per LPA (£184 for both types), with registration normally taking 8–10 weeks if the application has no mistakes.
An LPA lets people you trust make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. There are two types: Property & Financial Affairs (money, bills, selling property) and Health & Welfare (medical care, where you live). Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate equivalents.
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What you'll need
- Names, addresses and dates of birth of all attorneys
- Name of a 'certificate provider' who can confirm you understand the LPA
- Names of any 'people to notify' (optional)
The steps
- 01
Decide what types of LPA you want
You can make a Property & Financial Affairs LPA, a Health & Welfare LPA, or both. They're registered separately and each has its own fee.
- 02
Choose your attorneys carefully
Attorneys must be 18+ and (for Property & Financial Affairs) not bankrupt. If you appoint more than one, decide whether they act jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly for some decisions.
- 03
Complete the LPA online or on paper
Use the online service at gov.uk/power-of-attorney or the paper forms (LP1F or LP1H). Read the prescribed information sections carefully.
- 04
Sign in the prescribed order
Follow the official order: the donor signs first (including the life-sustaining-treatment section on a health and welfare LPA), then the independent certificate provider, then attorneys. Use the required witnesses. Read the form guidance for who can act as certificate provider and who is excluded.
- 05
Sign and register with the Office of the Public Guardian
After all required signatures and notices, submit the forms to OPG with the fee or fee-help application. Registration normally takes 8–10 weeks if there are no mistakes. The LPA can only be used once registered.
Common pitfalls
- You must have mental capacity when you make the LPA
- A Property & Financial Affairs LPA can be used while you still have capacity (with your permission); a Health & Welfare LPA can only be used once you lose capacity
- Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules — see OPG Scotland (Continuing/Welfare Power of Attorney) and the Enduring Powers of Attorney (NI) Order
FAQ
- How much does it cost?
- In England and Wales, £92 per LPA or £184 for both. Income before tax under £12,000 may qualify for 50% remission (£46 per LPA); specified benefits may qualify for exemption. Universal Credit is assessed for remission rather than automatic exemption. Use the current LPA120 form with evidence.
- What if I lose capacity without an LPA?
- Family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship — slower and more expensive than registering an LPA in advance. 2026 application fee is £432 per type. Guide: deputyship. How to apply: apply for deputyship.
- Can I revoke an LPA?
- Yes — while you still have mental capacity you can revoke by signing a 'Deed of Revocation' and notifying the OPG.