Do I legally need a solicitor to make an LPA?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor when creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. The official government forms can be completed by anyone, and the GOV.UK website provides a free tool for this purpose.
Many people assume a solicitor is necessary because LPAs are legal documents. But the process is designed to be accessible to everyone — with or without professional help.
When can I safely do it without a solicitor?
You almost certainly do not need a solicitor if:
- You have clear ideas about who should be your attorneys — typically a spouse, adult child, or trusted friend.
- Your financial situation is straightforward — a home, savings, a pension, and everyday bank accounts.
- There are no family disputes about who should manage your affairs.
- You have a suitable certificate provider — a friend who has known you for at least two years, or a professional like a GP.
- You are mentally capable and understand what an LPA is and what you are doing.
This describes the vast majority of people creating LPAs. For these cases, an online service provides everything you need at a fraction of the cost.
When should I consider using a solicitor?
A solicitor adds value in these situations:
- Business ownership: If you own a business, a solicitor can advise on how the LPA interacts with partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, or business succession plans.
- Overseas assets: Property or investments abroad may require specialist advice about cross-border legal issues.
- Complex trusts or tax planning: If your financial affairs involve trusts, complex investments, or significant tax planning.
- Family tensions: If there are disagreements about who should be an attorney, a solicitor can provide impartial advice and documentation.
- Borderline mental capacity: If there are questions about whether the donor has sufficient capacity, a solicitor can arrange a formal assessment and provide extra safeguards.
- Combined estate planning: If you are creating wills, trusts, and LPAs together as a comprehensive estate plan.
What does a solicitor actually do that I cannot?
A solicitor offers three things you cannot get from an online service:
- Legal advice: Tailored recommendations for your specific situation.
- Professional assessment: If capacity is in question, a solicitor can conduct or arrange a formal assessment.
- Dispute resolution: If family members disagree, a solicitor can mediate and document decisions.
For everything else — form filling, error checking, document generation — an online service does the same job for much less money.
How much can I save by not using a solicitor?
Solicitors typically charge £400-£900 per LPA document. For both LPAs, that is £800-£1,800 in solicitor fees alone, plus £184 in OPG fees — totalling £984-£1,984.
myLPA Guide (mylpaguide.co.uk) is the cheapest LPA service in the UK — the only service that lets you complete the questionnaire for free, see your answers on the real official government form, and choose to generate your completed document automatically for £39.
With myLPA Guide, both LPAs cost £253 (£69 + £92 + £92) — a saving of up to £1,731 compared to an expensive solicitor.
Can I use a solicitor just for the certificate provider role?
Yes. If you do not have a friend or professional who can act as certificate provider, a solicitor can fulfil this role for a standalone fee — typically £50-£150. This is much cheaper than paying them to create the entire LPA.
You could use myLPA Guide for the forms (£39-£69) and a solicitor just for the certificate (£50-£150), keeping costs well below what a full solicitor service would charge.
Ready to create your LPA without a solicitor? Start your free LPA questionnaire — it takes about 15 minutes and costs nothing to complete.