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.
LPA signing order: who signs what, and when
Checked against the LP12 guide (web version updated 20 April 2026), GOV.UK and regulation 9 of SI 2007/1253 on 18 October 2026.
Quick answer
Sign in this order, or OPG can't register the LPA: (1) the donor, with their witness signing straight after; (2) the certificate provider (section 10); (3) every attorney and replacement attorney (section 11), each with a witness; and (4) later, when you apply to register, the applicant (section 15). Everyone signs the same original paper document. Nobody can sign a copy or use a digital signature. It's better to sign on the same day. The law doesn't require that, but each step must follow the last "as soon as reasonably practicable".
- The donor signs section 9 last of their own signatures, after section 5 (health and welfare only) and any continuation sheets.1
- The certificate provider signs after the donor: the same day or as soon as possible afterwards.1
- Attorneys can witness each other, but not the donor. The donor can't witness anyone. The certificate provider can witness the donor and the attorneys.21
- Even if you used the online service, you print and sign on paper.2
The signing order is the most mechanical part of an LPA, and the part where a small slip can send the whole document back. The good news is that it's entirely within your control. Get everyone in the room, or line up the dates, and work down the table below one row at a time.
The signing order, step by step
LP1F is the property and financial affairs LPA; LP1H is health and welfare. Sections 9, 10, 11 and 15 are signed on both. Section 5 differs: on LP1F it's a tick box for when attorneys can make decisions (no signature), and on LP1H it's the life-sustaining treatment signature.1
| Order | Who signs | What they sign | LP1F | LP1H | Witness? | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donor | Section 5: life-sustaining treatment, Option A or Option B (one only) | — (not signed) | ✔ | Yes, the donor's witness | First |
| 2 | Donor | Continuation sheets 1 and 2, if used | If used | If used | See LP12 | Before section 9 |
| 3 | Donor | Section 9: the donor's signature on the LPA | ✔ | ✔ | Yes, the donor's witness | Last of the donor's signatures |
| 4 | Donor's witness | Signs straight after the donor (and, on LP1H, also witnesses section 5) | ✔ | ✔ | — | Immediately after the donor |
| 5 | Certificate provider | Section 10 | ✔ | ✔ | LP12 doesn't ask for a witness here | After the donor: the same day or as soon as possible |
| 6 | Each attorney and replacement attorney | Section 11, one page each | ✔ | ✔ | Yes, each signature is witnessed | After the certificate provider; as soon as possible, preferably the same day |
| 7 | Applicant: the donor, or the attorney(s) | Section 15: the application to register | ✔ | ✔ | See LP12 section 15 | When you apply; dated after every section 11 |
Sources: LP12 "More information on order of signing", sections 9, 10, 11 and 15; regulation 9.13
Why rows 1 to 6 must happen in order. The regulations require the donor, then the certificate provider, then the attorneys, with each step "as soon as reasonably practicable" after the last. Section 15 isn't part of making the LPA. It's the application to register, so you can sign it later, as long as it's dated after all the section 11s.31
- 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
Who can witness whom
Every witness must be 18 or over and must give their full name and address.2
| Person | Can witness the donor? | Can witness an attorney? |
|---|---|---|
| The certificate provider | Yes | Yes |
| An attorney or replacement attorney | No | Yes (attorneys can witness each other) |
| An employee of a trust corporation that is an attorney | No | — |
| The donor | — | No (the donor can't witness anyone) |
| Another adult not named in the LPA | Yes | Yes |
| Anyone under 18 | No | No |
Sources: GOV.UK "Who can be a witness or certificate provider"; regulation 9(8); LP12.231
The four rules that apply to everyone
- Same original. "Everyone must sign the same original document. They cannot sign copies or use digital signatures."2
- Paper, even online. If you made the LPA with the online service, you still print it and sign it on paper.2
- Order. Donor first, then the certificate provider, then the attorneys, or OPG can't register the LPA.1
- Section 9 last for the donor. The donor signs section 5 (on LP1H) and any continuation sheets before section 9.1
Health and welfare: section 5
On LP1H, the donor signs only one option in section 5, and the signature must be witnessed:1
- Option A: "I give my attorneys authority to give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on my behalf"
- Option B: "I do not give my attorneys authority..."
If Option B is chosen, doctors make the decision. They must act in the donor's best interests and take account, where possible, of the attorneys' views and anything the donor has said or written.1
This is a personal choice, and Settle doesn't recommend either option. See Financial vs health and welfare LPA for a neutral explanation.
Special cases
- The donor can't sign. Someone else signs for them on continuation sheet 3, and that signature needs two witnesses. Read LP12's guidance on this before the day.1
- A trust corporation is an attorney. It signs continuation sheet 4 instead of section 11.1
- Signing over more than one day. Allowed. LP12 says, "It's better to sign everything on the same day – though you don't have to." Keep to the order, and keep the gaps short.1
- Attorneys who live far apart. Because everyone signs the same original, the document has to reach each of them in turn, after the certificate provider has signed. Plan who will take or send it before the donor signs.
Common slips to avoid
| Slip | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| An attorney signs before the certificate provider | Breaks the required order1 |
| The donor signs section 9 before section 5 or a continuation sheet | Section 9 must come last for the donor1 |
| The donor's witness is an attorney or replacement attorney | Not allowed2 |
| The donor witnesses an attorney's signature | Not allowed3 |
| Someone signs a photocopy, or a scanned or e-signed page | Everyone must sign the same original2 |
| Section 15 is dated before the last section 11 | Section 15 must be dated after all of them1 |
| A witness leaves off their full name and address | Witnesses must give both2 |
Once the certificate provider has signed section 10, you can't change who the certificate provider is.1 More on what goes wrong after posting: Common LPA mistakes, rejections and delays.
Printable signing-order checklist
LPA signing-order checklist (England & Wales)
Use one copy per LPA. Tick each box only when that signature is on the original paper form.
Before anyone signs
- Every page of the LPA is printed and filled in, including any continuation sheets
- The certificate provider has read LP12's section 10 guidance
- Each attorney and replacement attorney has read LP12's section 11 guidance
- The donor's witness is 18+ and is not an attorney or replacement attorney
- Pens ready; nobody will sign a copy
1. Donor
- LP1H only: section 5 signed (Option A or B, not both). Date: ______
- Continuation sheet 1, if used. Date: ______
- Continuation sheet 2, if used. Date: ______
- Section 9 signed, after the above. Date: ______
2. Donor's witness, straight after the donor
- Witnessed section 9 (and section 5 on LP1H). Full name and address written
3. Certificate provider, after the donor
- Section 10 signed. Date: ______ (same day as the donor, or as soon as possible)
4. Attorneys and replacement attorneys, after the certificate provider
- Attorney 1, section 11. Date: ______ Witness name and address written
- Attorney 2, section 11. Date: ______ Witness name and address written
- Replacement 1, section 11. Date: ______ Witness name and address written
- Replacement 2, section 11. Date: ______ Witness name and address written
- Trust corporation, if any: continuation sheet 4
- No attorney or replacement witnessed the donor
- The donor didn't witness anyone
5. When you apply to register
- LP3 sent to each person to notify, just before posting
- Section 15 signed by the applicant, dated after the last section 11. Date: ______
- Fee paid, or LPA120 and evidence enclosed
Source: LP12 (updated 20 April 2026) and GOV.UK, checked 18 October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
After signing
Apply to register when you're ready. Whoever applies sends each person to notify a form LP3 just before sending the LPA to OPG.1 If attorneys appointed jointly apply, they must all apply together.1 The fee is £92 per LPA, and help with fees is applied for at the same time.4 See LPA cost and fee help.
No digital signing yet. The Powers of Attorney Act 2023 will change how LPAs are made, but section 1 was still not in force on 18 October 2026, and GOV.UK still says to print and sign. If you read that LPAs can be signed online, check GOV.UK first.52
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone have to sign on the same day?
No. It's preferable, but not required. The certificate provider signs on the same day as the donor or as soon as possible afterwards, and the attorneys as soon as possible after the certificate provider.1
Does the certificate provider's signature need a witness?
LP12's signing steps ask for a witness to the donor and to each attorney. They don't ask for one for the certificate provider's section 10.1
Can one person witness everyone?
The certificate provider can witness both the donor's and the attorneys' signatures. An attorney can witness another attorney, but not the donor.12
Can the donor's husband or wife be the witness?
If they are an attorney or replacement attorney, they can't witness the donor's signature.2 Otherwise, LP12 sets out who is excluded: check it if you're unsure.
We signed in the wrong order. What now?
Don't alter the document. Call OPG on 0300 456 0300 for guidance before you send it.
- 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, not legal advice. Always follow the current LP12 guide for the forms you are using.
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.
- LP12: Make and register your lasting power of attorney (web version) — GOV.UK
- Make a lasting power of attorney: signing the forms — GOV.UK
- Lasting Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007, regulation 9 — legislation.gov.uk
- Register a lasting power of attorney — GOV.UK
- Powers of Attorney Act 2023, section 1 — legislation.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.