How to Get Power of Attorney for a Parent

06th October 2025

Updated: Thursday 8th January 2026

One of the most important legal protections you can put in place for your is an LPA. This allows a parent to choose who could make decisions for them if they’re ever unable to do so themselves through loss of capacity. Understanding how the whole thing works makes it easier to approach it with confidence.

What does a Lasting Power of Attorney do?

It’s a legal document made by someone, known as the donor, giving authority to trusted people, called attorneys, to make decisions on the donor’s behalf, but only if mental capacity is lost.

There are two separate types in England and Wales. One covers health and welfare decisions, which could be things like treatment and care arrangements. The other covers property and financial affairs, which means things like bank accounts, bills and property.

Most families choose to put both in place so that there is no uncertainty if capacity is lost.

Does timing matters when arranging Power of Attorney?

Crucially, an LPA can only be made while your parent has mental capacity. This means they must understand what the document is, what powers they’re granting and who they are appointing as their attorneys.

If capacity is lost before an LPA is completed and registered, family members can’t simply step in to pick up where their parent left off. An application to the Court of Protection is required, which can take many months, cost more than just applying for your Power of Attorney and will involve ongoing supervision. Putting an LPA in place early keeps control with your parent while they still have capacity and avoids unnecessary Court of Protection stress for everyone involved.

How can you approach the conversation with a parent

Raising the topic of LPA’s can be tricky. An open and planned discussion focused on protection, rather than loss of independence, often helps. Many parents find reassurance knowing they remain in control by setting clear, legally binding boundaries around decisions.

Framing the conversation around planning, peace of mind and making things easier for the whole family can make it feel like a practical thing to do, rather than an emotional and dangerous one where they lose control of their independence.

How to choose attorneys and complete the forms

Your parent will need to decide who to appoint as an attorney. This could be your children or another trusted person. Replacement attorneys can also be useful to name, just in case circumstances change in the future.

The LPA forms must be completed clearly and accurately. Mistakes are common, which is why many families use a guided online service like Power of Attorney Online to eliminate the risk of rejection and delays.

Signing, witnessing, and registering the LPA

The signing process follows a strict order. The parent signs first, followed by a certificate provider who confirms they understand the LPA and are not being coerced into it. Attorneys then sign to confirm their role. Each signature must, of course, be properly witnessed.

The signed LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. There is a registration fee per document, and processing usually takes around 10 weeks. Until registration is complete, the LPA has no legal authority.

Avoiding common problems and delays

Thousands of applications are rejected each year due to things like missing signatures or incorrect dates. Taking your time, following clear guidance and having the forms checked before submission can save months of delay.

Arranging Power of Attorney for a parent is a very practical thing to do. It protects their wishes, reduces uncertainty and can give the whole family confidence about the future, if the worst happens. With the right support, it shouldn’t be a stressful experience.