Seven Simple Steps to Set Up a UK Power of Attorney

17th March 2025

Updated: Monday 6th April 2026

It’s pretty easy to set up an LPA and make sure your future is protected so the right people can make decisions on your behalf if you ever need them to. Here’s how to do it in seven easy steps.

Step 1: Which type of LPA Is right for you?

There are two types:

• 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 the other, but most people go for both.

Step 2: Should I choose my LPA attorneys carefully?

Your attorney is the person, or people, who can step in to make decisions for you if you ever lose mental capacity. Examples of an attorney are a trusted friend, family member or even a professional like a solicitor. The key thing is to make sure they are responsible, trustworthy and understand your wishes.

Step 3: Who is the Certificate Provider I need to appoint?

The certificate provider is someone who confirms you are making the LPA of your own free will and that you understand what you’re signing up to. This could be a professional (like a doctor or solicitor), but most people go for someone who has known them personally for at least two years.

Step 4: How do I complete my UK Power of Attorney forms online?

You can do this at Power of Attorney Online using our guided, straightforward service. Examples of details you’ll need to include are:

• Who you want your attorneys to be
• Whether they’ll act jointly or individually if they ever need to use the LPA
• Any preferences or instructions you’d like to include, which can clarify your wishes in the future

Step 5: Is there a correct order I need to sign in?

It’s really important to sign in a specific order because your LPA will be rejected by the OPG if you don’t:

1. The LPA donor signs first
2. The LPA certificate provider signs next
3. The LPA attorneys sign after that

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

Step 6: How do I register my LPA with the OPG?

Once everything is signed, you’ll need to send your forms to the Office of the Public Guardian to be officially registered. There’s a standard £92 registration 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: How do I store my LPA safely?

Once registered with the OPG, your LPA is legally valid and ready to use. Keep it safe and let your attorneys know where they can find a copy if they ever need it. It’s often wise to store a digital scan for easy access too.

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