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.
Who can be a certificate provider for a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Checked against regulation 8 of SI 2007/1253 and the LP12 guide (web version updated 20 April 2026) on 18 October 2026.
Quick answer
Your certificate provider must be 18 or over and either someone who has known you personally for at least 2 years (more than just an acquaintance), or someone with relevant professional skills, such as your GP or another registered healthcare professional, a solicitor, barrister or advocate, a registered social worker, or an independent mental capacity advocate (IMCA). They can't be a family member, one of your attorneys, or certain other people listed below. A professional may charge.
- The 2 years are counted up to the day they sign.1
- Family is excluded, and OPG reads that widely, including in-laws, step-relatives and unmarried partners.2
- Once they have signed section 10, you can't change who your certificate provider is.2
- They sign after the donor, on the same day or as soon as possible afterwards.2
The certificate provider is the independent check in an LPA. That's why the rules are mostly about who they are not: people too close to the donor or the attorneys to be independent. Get this choice right and the rest of the signing tends to follow.
Who can be a certificate provider
| Route | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal knowledge | Someone 18 or over who has known you personally for at least 2 years, more than just an acquaintance | The 2 years run up to immediately before the date they sign1 |
| Professional skills | Your GP or another registered healthcare professional; a solicitor, barrister or advocate; a registered social worker; an IMCA | You may have to pay a professional12 |
Who can't be a certificate provider
The law (regulation 8(3)) and OPG's guidance (LP12) overlap but aren't identical, so we've labelled each.
| Who | The law (reg 8(3))1 | OPG guidance (LP12)2 |
|---|---|---|
| A family member of the donor | Excluded | Lists family "including wives, husbands, civil partners, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, in-laws and step-relatives" |
| An attorney under this LPA | Excluded | Excluded |
| A replacement attorney | Not named in the regulation | Excluded |
| An attorney under any other LPA or EPA the donor has made, even if revoked | Excluded | — |
| A family member of one of the attorneys | Excluded | Same wide reading of "family" |
| An unmarried partner, boyfriend or girlfriend of the donor or of any attorney, whether or not they live at the same address | Not named in the regulation | Excluded |
| A director or employee of a trust corporation acting as attorney | Excluded | — |
| A business partner or employee of the donor or of an attorney | Excluded | — |
| An owner, director, manager or employee of a care home where the donor lives when the LPA is signed, or their family member | Excluded | — |
The regulation doesn't define "family member", so OPG's wider list is the practical test. Follow LP12.12
People who can be a certificate provider, sometimes to people's surprise: someone you've named as a person to notify ("'People to notify' can be certificate providers") and a friend or neighbour you've genuinely known for 2 years, as long as no exclusion applies.2
- Get every signature in the right order first time
- Decide who should be your attorneys, with simple worksheets
- Check if you pay £92, half, or nothing
- Know what to do after it's registered
What the certificate provider does on signing day
- They sign section 10 of the LPA.2
- They must sign after the donor, either on the same day or as soon as possible afterwards.2
- They sign the same original paper document. Nobody can sign copies or use a digital signature.3
- If possible, they should discuss the LPA with the donor in private.2
- They can also witness the donor's and the attorneys' signatures: "Your certificate provider can witness your and your attorneys' signatures."2
LP12's section 10 guidance sets out exactly what the certificate provider is confirming. Ask them to read it before the day.2
Once the certificate provider has signed section 10, "you cannot then change who your certificate provider is."2 For the full order, see LPA signing order.
Questions to ask before you choose
- Have you known the donor personally for at least 2 years, and will that still be true on the day you sign?1
- Are you related to the donor or to any attorney, including by marriage, partnership or step-relationship?2
- Are you the partner, boyfriend or girlfriend of the donor or any attorney?2
- Are you an attorney or replacement attorney on this or any other LPA or EPA the donor has made?12
- Are you a business partner or employee of the donor or of an attorney? Do you own, run or work at the care home where the donor lives, or are you related to someone who does?1 (A work colleague who has known the donor well for 2 years can act.2)
- Can you be there to sign after the donor, ideally the same day? And can you talk to the donor privately?2
- If you're a professional: what do you charge, and what does it include?
If the answer to any of questions 2 to 5 is yes, choose someone else.
A note on professionals
GPs, solicitors and other professionals can act through the professional route, and there's no 2-year requirement for them.1 Some families choose a professional when they want extra reassurance, for example where relatives disagree or someone has raised questions about the donor's understanding. Settle can't tell you whether that's needed in your case. If capacity is a concern, read Dementia, mental capacity and making an LPA.
Frequently asked questions
Can my neighbour be my certificate provider?
Yes, if they've known you personally for at least 2 years (more than an acquaintance), are 18 or over, and no exclusion applies, such as being related to one of your attorneys.12
Can my GP be my certificate provider?
A GP qualifies through the professional route. They may charge, and they don't have to agree.12
Can my daughter-in-law be my certificate provider?
OPG's guidance lists in-laws as family members who can't act.2
Do I need a different certificate provider for each LPA?
Each LPA has its own section 10, so the certificate provider signs each one. The same person can do both if they qualify.
What if my certificate provider becomes unavailable before signing?
Choose someone else before they sign. After section 10 is signed, you can't change them.2
- Get every signature in the right order first time
- Decide who should be your attorneys, with simple worksheets
- Check if you pay £92, half, or nothing
- Know what to do after it's registered
This guide is general information about the rules in England and Wales, not legal advice. If you're unsure whether someone qualifies, check LP12 or call OPG on 0300 456 0300.
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.
- Lasting Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007, regulation 8 — legislation.gov.uk
- LP12: Make and register your lasting power of attorney (web version) — GOV.UK
- 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.