What does Lasting Power of Attorney mean?

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)

31st March 2025

Updated: 6th April 2026

What Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Really Mean for You?

What does Lasting Power of Attorney mean? It’s all about making sure that, no matter what happens, the right people can step in and make decisions for you if you can’t. Sounds sensible, right?

What actually is a UK Power of Attorney?

An LPA is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make important decisions on your behalf if you ever lose the ability to do so yourself. That could be due to illness, an accident or a condition like dementia.

There are two types of LPA. You can choose to have one or the other, but most people apply for both:
✔️ Health & Welfare LPA – Covers decisions about medical care, living arrangements and your daily wellbeing.
✔️ Property & Financial Affairs LPA – Covers decisions about money, bills, investments and even selling property if strictly necessary.

Why is having an LPA so important?

Many people assume that if something happens to them, their partner, children, or close family members will automatically be able to step in and make decisions for them. That’s unfortunately not the case.

Without an LPA:
🚫 Your loved ones can’t access your bank accounts, even if you have joint financial obligations.
🚫 They can’t make medical decisions on your behalf.
🚫 They may have to apply to the Court of Protection to act for you, which is costly, stressful and time-consuming.

With an LPA in place:
✅ You stay in control by choosing who makes decisions for you.
✅ Your loved ones can act immediately, if they ever need to, without legal delays.
✅ Your wishes are respected in the future, whether it’s how your money is managed or what medical treatment you’d want to receive.

Who really needs a Lasting Power of Attorney?

The common myth is that LPAs are just for the older generation. But, of course, anyone can lose capacity at any time.

Let’s think about it for a second:
💡 A serious accident could leave you unable to communicate or make decisions.
💡 A sudden illness might mean you need someone to manage your finances from then on in.
💡 Progressive conditions like dementia could make future decision-making increasingly difficult, which is what happened in my family.

Setting up an LPA is really about future-proofing your life. And the best part? Once it’s done, you don’t necessarily have to think about it again, it can just sit in the bottom drawer.

How can I set up an LPA easily?

Setting up an LPA can definitely be easier than you think. A guided service like Power of Attorney Online walks you through the process step by step. It’s quick, reliable, affordable and gives you peace of mind that your future is in safe hands. There’s not really an excuse to not do it and, let’s be honest, ticking off an important life admin task always feels good!

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.