Seven Simple Steps to Set Up a Lasting Power of Attorney

17th March 2025

Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) might sound complicated, but the truth is—it’s easier than you think! With just a few simple steps, you can make sure your future is protected and that the right people can make decisions on your behalf if you ever need them to. Here’s how to do it in just seven easy steps.

Step 1: Decide Which Type of LPA You Need

There are two types of LPA:

• Health & Welfare LPA – Covers decisions about your medical care, living arrangements, and daily wellbeing.
• Property & Financial Affairs LPA – Covers decisions about money, bills, property, and investments.

You can choose to set up one or both, depending on your needs.

Step 2: Choose Your LPA Attorneys

Your LPA attorney(s) will be the person (or people) who step in to make decisions for you if you ever lose mental capacity. They could be a trusted friend, family member, or even a professional like a solicitor. Make sure they are responsible, trustworthy, and understand your wishes.

Step 3: Pick an LPA Certificate Provider

An LPA certificate provider is someone who confirms that you are making the LPA of your own free will and that you understand what you’re doing. This could be a professional (like a doctor or solicitor) or someone you’ve known personally for at least two years.

Step 4: Fill Out the Forms

This is where you officially set up your LPA. You can do this online using our service, and you’ll need to include details about:

• Who your attorneys are
• Whether they will act jointly or individually
• Any preferences or instructions you’d like to include

Our online process is straightforward and user-friendly!

Step 5: Get Everyone to Sign It

Once your form is complete, it needs to be signed in a specific order:

1. You (the LPA donor) sign first
2. The LPA certificate provider signs next
3. Your LPA attorneys sign after that

All signatures need to be done with a wet signature (physically signed with a pen), as digital signatures aren’t accepted for LPAs.

Step 6: Register Your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)

Once everything is signed, you’ll need to send your forms to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for official registration. There is a standard £82 fee per LPA, but you may qualify for a reduction if you’re on a low income.

Registration can take a up to 10 weeks, so don’t leave it too late!

Step 7: Keep It Safe

Once registered, your LPA is legally valid! Make sure to keep it safe and let your attorneys know where they can find a copy if they ever need it. You can also store a digital scan for easy access.

And that’s it! Seven simple steps to give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Having an LPA in place means that if anything ever happens, your trusted attorneys can step in and handle things smoothly—without long legal delays or court involvement.

If you haven’t set up yours yet, why not get started today? Future You will thank you!