This page explains Lasting Powers of Attorney in England and Wales in plain English. It is not legal advice. The official forms and the GOV.UK online service are free. Settle is not connected to the Office of the Public Guardian or GOV.UK.
Making a Lasting Power of Attorney? Get everything organised.
Understand the steps, choose the people involved, prepare for signing and keep track of the paperwork — with clear guidance for England and Wales.
The official forms and the GOV.UK online service are free, and the £92 registration fee goes to the Office of the Public Guardian.
Checked against current GOV.UK and Office of the Public Guardian guidance for England & Wales on 18 October 2026.
Where are you up to? Answer a few quick questions and get free next steps for your stage: just starting, ready to sign, registering, or already acting as an attorney. Nothing you type is stored or sent.
Start the free checkThe two types of LPA
There are two types. You can make one or both, and each is a separate document.
| Property and financial affairs (form LP1F) | Health and welfare (form LP1H) | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Bank accounts, paying bills, collecting benefits or a pension, selling your home | Daily routine such as washing, dressing and eating, medical care, moving into a care home, life-sustaining treatment |
| When it can be used | "As soon as it's registered, with your permission", or only when you lack capacity, if you choose that | "It can only be used when you're unable to make your own decisions" |
| Fee to register | £92 | £92 |
Source: GOV.UK: Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney. Read more: Financial vs health and welfare LPA.
The steps, in order
- Decide which LPA or LPAs you need.
- Choose your attorneys, how they make decisions together, and any replacements.
- Choose a certificate provider: someone who has known you personally for at least 2 years, or a suitable professional.
- Decide on people to notify (optional, up to 5).
- Fill in the forms, using the free online service or the paper forms.
- Print and sign in the right order on the same paper original. Digital signatures are not accepted.
- Register with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), paying the fee or applying for help with it.
- Wait. OPG must wait 4 weeks after giving notice before it can register. GOV.UK says, "It takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application."
Full walkthrough: How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Current fees and fee help
| Situation | What you pay to register each LPA |
|---|---|
| Standard fee (applications OPG received from 17 November 2025) | £92 (£184 for both types) |
| Donor's income before tax is under £12,000 a year | Half fee: £46 (remission) |
| Donor gets certain means-tested benefits | £0 (exemption) |
| Repeat application after OPG returns the LPA (within 3 months, depending on the mistake) | £46 |
| Paying would cause financial hardship | You can write to OPG to ask for a reduction |
Universal Credit can only give the half-fee remission, not the exemption. Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, PIP and the State Pension count as income for the half-fee test. You apply with form LPA120, sent at the same time as the LPA: OPG says "Retrospective refunds are not possible."
Read more: LPA cost and fee help.
Who the Pack is for
- Decide who should be your attorneys, with simple worksheets
- Check if you pay £92, half, or nothing
- Get every signature in the right order first time
- Know what to do after it's registered
A look inside
Real pages from the 30-page PDF. See every page that's inside.
What you get
- Decide who should be your attorneys, with simple worksheets
- Check if you pay £92, half, or nothing
- Get every signature in the right order first time
- Know what to do after it's registered
Guides
- How to make a Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales
- How much an LPA costs, and how to get help with the fee
- Choosing your attorneys
- Who can be a certificate provider
- LPA signing order: who signs what, and when
- Making an LPA without a solicitor
- Financial vs health and welfare LPA
- Common LPA mistakes, rejections and delays
- Dementia, mental capacity and making an LPA
- What happens to an LPA when someone dies
- How to get power of attorney for an elderly parent
Frequently asked questions
Is the official LPA form free?
Yes. The forms are free to download and the official online service is free to use: "It is free to complete your LPA online." You pay only the registration fee to OPG, which is £92 per LPA unless the donor qualifies for help.
Do I have to use a solicitor?
The official process does not require one. Some people choose professional help, for example when family members disagree or finances are complicated. See Making an LPA without a solicitor.
Can we sign it digitally?
No. Everyone must sign the same original paper document. GOV.UK says, "They cannot sign copies or use digital signatures." The Powers of Attorney Act 2023 will change how LPAs are made, but those parts were not in force on 18 October 2026 and no start date has been announced.
How long does registration take?
GOV.UK says, "It takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application." Its guidance for attorneys says it "can take up to 16 weeks". Allow several months and don't rely on a fixed date.
Mum has dementia. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. A diagnosis such as dementia does not, on its own, mean someone lacks capacity, because capacity is about a particular decision at a particular time. Nothing online can assess capacity. See Dementia, mental capacity and making an LPA.
Does an LPA work in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
An LPA is legally binding only in England and Wales. Scotland has continuing and welfare powers of attorney: see mygov.scot and the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland). Northern Ireland does not yet have LPAs and uses Enduring Powers of Attorney: see nidirect.
Is Settle connected to the government?
No. Settle is not connected to OPG or GOV.UK, and we don't prepare, check or register LPAs.
Official sources and free help
- Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney (GOV.UK)
- Make an LPA online (the free official service)
- LPA forms, including the LP12 guide (GOV.UK)
- LP12: Make and register your lasting power of attorney, web version (GOV.UK)
- Register a lasting power of attorney (GOV.UK)
- Applying for a reduced fee (GOV.UK)
- Office of the Public Guardian helpline: 0300 456 0300 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm; Wednesday 10am to 5pm)
- Age UK: Power of attorney. Advice Line 0800 678 1602, free to call 8am to 7pm, 365 days a year
- Alzheimer's Society: Lasting powers of attorney and deputies
This page is general information about the process in England and Wales, not legal advice about your situation. Fees and processing times change: check GOV.UK before you apply.
Settle publishes general information about Lasting Powers of Attorney in England and Wales. It is not a law firm, does not provide legal advice, and does not prepare, check or register LPAs. For advice about your situation, speak to a solicitor or a free advice service.