Why You Should Do a UK Power of Attorney Online, No Matter Your Age

10th March 2025

Updated: Monday 19th January 2026

Why You Should Do a UK Power of Attorney Online, No Matter Your Age is a message that challenges one of the most common myths about future planning. Many people assume a Lasting Power of Attorney is only relevant later in life. In practice, capacity can be lost temporarily or permanently at any age, and having the right legal authority in place early can prevent serious problems for you and your family.

Is a Lasting Power of Attorney only for older people?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is often associated with ageing or dementia, but the law does not limit it by age. Adults of any age can lose mental capacity due to illness, injury or unexpected events. Road accidents, strokes, complications during surgery or severe mental health episodes can all affect decision making.

Without an LPA, even close family members have no automatic right to manage finances or make health decisions. Age is not the risk factor. Capacity is.

What happens if something unexpected occurs without an LPA?

If you lose capacity without a registered LPA, your loved ones cannot simply step in. Banks may freeze accounts, medical professionals may be unable to discuss treatment, and urgent decisions can be delayed. Families often have to apply to the Court of Protection, a process that can take months and cost thousands of pounds.

An LPA avoids this by allowing you to choose in advance who can act and how decisions should be made.

Why does setting up an LPA early give you more control?

An LPA must be created while you have mental capacity. This is why timing matters. Setting one up early means you can think clearly about your wishes, choose attorneys you trust and add preferences or guidance that reflect your values.

Waiting until a crisis often removes these options. Early planning protects your voice, even if you are temporarily unable to use it later.

How does doing a Power of Attorney online make this easier?

One of the biggest barriers to setting up an LPA is the assumption that it is complex or expensive. Online services have removed much of this friction. With guided questions, plain English explanations and built in checks, most people can complete an application quickly and confidently.

Power of Attorney Online allows you to complete the same legally valid documents you would through a solicitor, but at a lower cost and in your own time.

Does an online LPA offer the same legal protection?

Once registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, an LPA has the same legal authority regardless of how it was created. Organisations look only at whether the document is valid and registered. Online preparation using a service like Power of Attorney Online does not reduce its legal standing in any way.

What matters is accuracy, correct signing and successful registration.

Why waiting is often the biggest mistake people make

Many families only discover the importance of an LPA when it is already too late to create one. At that point, stress, delays and court involvement become unavoidable. This is why professionals often advise adults of all ages to put an LPA in place as part of routine life planning.

It is similar to insurance. You hope you never need it, but it is invaluable if you do.

Planning ahead at any age

A UK Power of Attorney is not about pessimism or loss of independence. It is about preparedness. By setting one up online early, you protect yourself, reduce future uncertainty and make things easier for the people who care about you.

No matter your age, an LPA is one of the simplest ways to stay in control, whatever life brings next.