Can an Attorney be Removed?

01st October 2025

Updated: Tuesday 20th January 2026

Can an Attorney be Removed? This is something many people only think about after circumstances change. Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney brings peace of mind that someone you trust can act for you if you lose mental capacity, but life rarely stands still. Relationships can shift, practical needs can evolve, and the person you originally chose may no longer be the right fit. UK law allows you to remove or change a Power of Attorney, but it must be done correctly to ensure your wishes remain legally protected.

This guide answers the most common questions about removing, revoking or changing a Power of Attorney in England and Wales.

Can you revoke a Power of Attorney in the UK?

Yes. You can revoke a Lasting Power of Attorney at any time, provided you still have mental capacity.

To do this, you must complete a formal Deed of Revocation and send it to the Office of the Public Guardian. Once the OPG records it, the LPA is no longer valid and your attorneys lose all legal authority to act for you.

You should also inform your attorneys and any organisations such as banks or care providers that were relying on the LPA.

Can you change a Power of Attorney once it is registered?

No. A registered LPA cannot be amended.

If you want to change attorneys, add instructions, or update how decisions are made, you must revoke the existing LPA and create a new one. This ensures the document remains legally clear and avoids confusion or conflicting instructions.

Although this may feel inconvenient, it protects you and anyone relying on the LPA.

What is the difference between cancelling and revoking an LPA?

In practice, cancelling and revoking mean the same thing. Both involve formally ending the legal authority granted under the LPA while you still have capacity.

If you lose capacity, you cannot cancel or revoke the LPA yourself. At that point, any concerns about how an attorney is acting must be raised with the Office of the Public Guardian, which can investigate and involve the Court of Protection if needed.

Can you remove just one attorney from an LPA?

This depends on timing. Before registration, you can remove an attorney by crossing out their details and initialling the change, provided the document is still unsigned and unregistered.

After registration, you cannot remove a single attorney unless a replacement attorney has already been named. Without a replacement, the entire LPA must be revoked and remade.

This is why careful planning at the start is so important.

What is a replacement attorney and why does it matter?

A replacement attorney is someone you appoint to step in if an original attorney can no longer act due to death, illness, loss of capacity, or resignation.

Naming replacement attorneys helps future proof your LPA. It reduces the risk of the document becoming unusable and avoids the need for revocation and reapplication at a stressful time.

From professional experience, replacement attorneys are one of the most effective ways to keep an LPA working long term.

What is the most important factor when changing an LPA?

Mental capacity is key. While you have capacity, you remain fully in control of your Power of Attorney. Once capacity is lost, your options become limited and court involvement may be required.

Removing or changing a Power of Attorney is possible, but only if you act early and follow the correct legal process. Reviewing your LPA regularly and appointing replacement attorneys helps ensure your wishes remain protected.

Power of Attorney Online makes reviewing and creating LPAs clear, compliant and straightforward, giving you confidence that your plans will stand the test of time.