What Can Invalidate a Lasting Power of Attorney?

By Matt Cresswell, Founder of Power of Attorney Online and author of
Everything you ever wanted to know about LPAs (but were afraid to ask)

30th January 2026

What Can Invalidate a Lasting Power of Attorney?. It’s a powerful legal document, but has strict criteria to keep it valid. Knowing what could void an LPA helps you protect your life admin plans and avoid costly missteps.

What are the mistakes that can make an LPA invalid?

Simple errors are the most common reason. Missing signatures, incorrect dates or signing the forms in the wrong order (especially the last one) can all cause problems. Each section must be completed exactly as required, then witnesses must be both eligible and sign correctly.

Small inconsistencies, such as using different names or addresses, will trigger queries from the Office of the Public Guardian, all of which will slow down them registering your LPA

Does lack of mental capacity invalidate an LPA?

Unequivocally – Yes. The donor must have mental capacity at the time they create and sign the LPA. If there is evidence the donor didn’t understand what they were signing, the LPA will more than likely be immediately cancelled.

Setting up an LPA early, while mental capacity is clear and unquestioned, mitigates against this.

Would the wrong certificate provider void an LPA?

The certificate provider plays a crucial role in confirming the donor understands the LPA and isn’t under pressure to register it. If the certificate provider is ineligible by not meeting the criteria for the role, the LPA may be rejected.

Choosing a compliant and independent certificate provider is essential to the OPG registering your documents.

Can the way an attorney behaves invalidate an LPA?

An LPA itself is not usually invalidated by attorney behaviour, but misuse of powers can lead to serious consequences at the hands of the Court of Protection, who have the power to remove or replace an attorney.

In extreme cases, the court can cancel the LPA altogether if it’s no longer in the donor’s best interests.

What will happen if the donor or an attorney dies?

A Lasting Power of Attorney automatically ends when the donor dies. At that point, the Will or intestacy rules kick in, with executors or administrators manage the estate.

If a sole attorney dies or becomes unable to act for some reason, the LPA may fail too, unless replacement attorneys were named. For joint attorneys, the way they were appointed in the original LPA affects whether the LPA can continue as intended.

Can changes in your relationships or circumstances void a registered LPA?

Divorces or dissolving a civil partnership can remove a spouse or civil partner as an attorney, unless the LPA explicitly states otherwise. Bankruptcy can also be something that affects property and financial affairs attorneys.

What could lead to an LPA being cancelled or revoked?

As long as the donor still has mental capacity, they can revoke an LPA at any time by completing a document called a deed of revocation. Creating a new LPA doesn’t automatically cancel an old one, so formal revocation is important to avoid confusion between the two.

Are there ways to reduce the risk of invalidating an LPA?

Many people choose an online LPA service like Power of Attorney Online or solicitor to reduce the risk of errors and ensure the document is legally robust when it comes to registration with the OPG.

Our advice is to plan ahead and check the details thoroughly to give you confidence your LPA will be accepted and ready when you need it most.

Written by Matt Cresswell

Matt Cresswell is the Founder of Power of Attorney Online, a service helping people across England and Wales create Lasting Powers of Attorney through guided online support and expert document reviews. He founded the business following his father's diagnosis with dementia, after experiencing first-hand how confusing the LPA process can be for families. Matt's expertise focuses on Lasting Powers of Attorney, planning ahead and helping families prepare for the future before a crisis occurs.