How to Apply for a Lasting Power of Attorney

Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can feel overwhelming, but with Power of Attorney Online, the process is simple, clear, and stress-free. Whether you’re setting up an LPA for yourself or helping a loved one, our step-by-step guide ensures you know exactly what to expect at each stage. We’ll walk you through each step, from gathering the necessary information to submitting your completed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian. With our easy-to-use tools and expert checks, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that everything is handled smoothly and accurately.

See our step to step guide

    How to Apply for Lasting Power of Attorney

    Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can feel overwhelming, but with PowerofAttorneyOnline.co.uk, the process is simple, clear, and stress-free. Whether you’re setting up an LPA for yourself or helping a loved one, our step-by-step guide ensures you know exactly what to expect at each stage.

    We’ll walk you through each step, from gathering the necessary information to submitting your completed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian. With our easy-to-use tools and expert checks, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that everything is handled smoothly and accurately.

    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 a 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

    his 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

    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 LPA 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 LPA 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! 

    Let’s get started