This guide 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.
Can you make a Lasting Power of Attorney without a solicitor?
Checked against GOV.UK, the LP12 guide (web version updated 20 April 2026) and charity pages named below on 18 October 2026.
Quick answer
Yes. The official process doesn't require a solicitor. The forms are free, the official online service is free to use, and the LP12 guide explains every section. The people who must take part are the donor, the attorneys, a certificate provider and witnesses, and the certificate provider can be someone who has known the donor for 2 years. Some families still choose professional help, for example when relatives disagree or the donor's affairs are complicated.
- "It is free to complete your LPA online." The only charge is OPG's £92 registration fee per LPA, or less if the donor qualifies for help.16
- OPG reports 85% satisfaction with its "Make an LPA" online service in 2025-26.7
- Free help: the OPG helpline (0300 456 0300), LP12, and the Age UK Advice Line (0800 678 1602).28
- Settle doesn't prepare LPAs, and nothing here replaces advice on your situation.
Many pages about doing an LPA yourself are written by firms that sell LPA services, so it can be hard to get a straight answer. This page tries to give one: what the free route really involves, what it asks of you, and when paying for help can make sense.
What the free route involves
| Task | Who does it on the free route | Where the help is |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing attorneys and replacements | The donor | Choosing your attorneys |
| Finding a certificate provider | The donor: someone who has known them personally for at least 2 years, or a professional5 | Certificate provider |
| Filling in the forms | The donor or a family member helping them, online or on paper | LP12 guide3; official online service1 |
| Signing in the right order | Everyone, on the same paper original | Signing order |
| Notifying people (optional) | The applicant, with form LP3 | LP123 |
| Applying to register and paying | The donor or the attorneys | GOV.UK registration page6 |
The online service fills in the LP3 notices for you,3 and GOV.UK says, "It's usually quicker if you make it and pay online."10 Even online, you print the LPA and everyone signs it on paper.10
- 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
What doing it yourself asks of you
- Time to read. LP12 is long because it covers every section of both forms. You don't need to read it all at once, but read the parts for each section before you fill it in.3
- Care with the rules. The rules on who can be a certificate provider, who can witness, and the signing order are strict. See Common LPA mistakes.
- Some organising. Getting everyone to sign the same original in the right order takes planning.
- Patience. GOV.UK says, "It takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application."6
If OPG returns the LPA because of a mistake, it may let you correct it and apply again within 3 months for £46, depending on the type of mistake.6
When families choose professional help
There's no rule, and Settle can't say what's right for you. These are situations where some families decide that paying for advice is worth it:
- Family disagreement, or worry that someone may be pressuring the donor.
- Complicated finances, such as a business, property abroad, or trusts.
- Questions about the donor's capacity. Nothing online can assess capacity. See Dementia, mental capacity and making an LPA.
- Detailed instructions you want written into the LPA. Instructions are things your attorneys must do, so the wording matters.3
- Wanting a professional certificate provider, such as a solicitor or GP. They may charge.53
If you pay for help: questions to ask
| Question | Why ask |
|---|---|
| What exactly is included: advice, filling in the forms, acting as certificate provider, registration? | Services vary a lot |
| Is the £92 OPG fee included, or extra? | The fee is paid to OPG either way6 |
| Will you check whether the donor may be able to get fee help? | Help must be applied for when you send the LPA: OPG says retrospective refunds are not possible (fee help) |
| Who will I deal with, and are they regulated? | So you know who is responsible |
| Is the price fixed, and in writing? | Avoid surprises |
Official and paid services. The official online service is free to use. The £92 fee is paid to the Office of the Public Guardian. Settle is not connected to OPG or GOV.UK.1
Free help you can use
- OPG helpline: 0300 456 0300. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 5pm; Wednesday 10am to 5pm. Email customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk.2
- LP12 guide and all the forms: free on the GOV.UK forms page.4
- Age UK: Power of attorney. Advice Line 0800 678 1602, "Free to call 8am – 7pm 365 days a year".8
- Alzheimer's Society: Lasting powers of attorney and deputies.9
DIY or professional: side by side
| Free official route | Paid professional | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to prepare | £0 | The professional's fee (get a quote) |
| OPG registration fee | £92 per LPA, or less with fee help | The same £92 (ask whether the quote includes it) |
| Who checks the forms before posting | You (OPG checks after you send them) | The professional, depending on the service |
| Advice on your situation | No | Yes, if advice is part of the service |
| Signing in the right order | You organise it | Often organised for you |
Whichever route you choose, everyone still signs the same paper original, and the LPA can't be used until OPG registers it.6
Frequently asked questions
Is a DIY LPA treated differently from one made by a solicitor?
The official process is the same either way: the LPA must be made and signed correctly, and registered by OPG before it can be used.63
Can a family member fill in the forms for the donor?
They can help with the practical side, but the choices must be the donor's own, and the donor must have capacity when they make the LPA.2
Can I use a solicitor just as the certificate provider?
Yes. A solicitor qualifies through the professional route. You may have to pay them.53
- 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
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Settle doesn't prepare, check or register LPAs, and we don't recommend a particular route for your family.
Related guides
Sources & references
The figures and rules in this guide are drawn from the official and charity pages below, checked on 18 October 2026. Each link opens the page itself. Always confirm current figures on GOV.UK before you act, as fees and processing times change.
- Make an LPA online (official service)
- Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney — GOV.UK
- LP12: Make and register your lasting power of attorney (web version) — GOV.UK
- Lasting power of attorney forms — GOV.UK
- Lasting Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007, regulation 8 — legislation.gov.uk
- Register a lasting power of attorney — GOV.UK
- OPG annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026 — GOV.UK
- Age UK: Power of attorney
- Alzheimer's Society: Lasting powers of attorney and deputies
- Make a lasting power of attorney — GOV.UK
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.