Avoiding the Pitfalls while applying for a Lasting Power of Attorney: How PowerOfAttorneyOnline.co.uk Can Help

07th April 2025

Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one of the most important legal steps you can take to protect your future. It ensures that someone you trust can make decisions on your behalf if you ever lose the ability to do so yourself. But while an LPA provides peace of mind, there are common pitfalls that could lead to delays, rejection, or even unintended consequences.

The good news? Using an online service like PowerOfAttorneyOnline.co.uk makes the process smoother, cheaper, quicker, and easier—while also reducing the risk of costly mistakes. Let’s look at some of the key pitfalls and how our service helps you avoid them.

1. Making Errors in the Application

One of the biggest reasons LPAs get rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is simple mistakes in the form. Missing signatures, incorrect names, or inconsistencies in the details can all lead to your application being turned down.

✅ How We Help: Our online system guides you through each step, ensuring that all fields are correctly filled out. We also perform error-checking to prevent simple but costly mistakes.

2. Choosing the Wrong Attorneys

Your attorneys (the people you appoint to act on your behalf) play a crucial role in your LPA. Choosing the wrong person—or failing to name backup attorneys—can lead to problems later if your chosen attorney can’t act when needed.

✅ How We Help: We provide clear explanations about what an attorney does and help you consider key factors before making your decision.

3. Opting for Attorneys to Act Only Jointly

Some people think it’s safest to make their attorneys act jointly, meaning they must all agree on every decision. However, this can create major issues if one attorney is unavailable or unwilling to act, effectively making the LPA useless.

✅ How We Help: We explain the difference between ‘jointly’ and ‘jointly and severally’, ensuring you make an informed decision that gives your attorneys the flexibility they need.

4. Not Including Clear Preferences and Instructions

Your LPA allows you to specify preferences and instructions about how you want your attorneys to act. Leaving these sections blank can lead to uncertainty—or attorneys making decisions that don’t align with your wishes.

✅ How We Help: Our guided application process prompts you to consider important instructions, helping ensure your LPA reflects your personal values and preferences.

5. Forgetting to Get the Right Signatures in the Right Order

An LPA must be signed by the donor, attorneys, and a certificate provider in a specific order. Getting this wrong could invalidate the application, leading to unnecessary delays and costs.

✅ How We Help: Our online process clearly outlines the correct signing order, reducing the risk of errors that could cause rejection.

6. Failing to Register the LPA

Just because you’ve filled out the LPA doesn’t mean it’s valid. It must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, which can take several months. If you delay this step, it could cause issues if you suddenly need the LPA in place.

✅ How We Help: We provide clear guidance on registering your LPA and ensure that all paperwork is correctly completed before submission.

Why PowerOfAttorneyOnline.co.uk?

Setting up an LPA should be straightforward—but small mistakes can cause big headaches. With PowerOfAttorneyOnline.co.uk, you get:

✔️ Step-by-step guidance

✔️ Error-checking to prevent rejections

✔️ Faster, simpler, and more affordable service than a solicitor

✔️ Expert support when you need it

Avoid the pitfalls and secure your future the easy way—start your LPA today!