How much does an LPA cost?

The questionnaire is completely free. Seeing your completed document is free. If you want us to generate your completed, checked document and email it to you — that is £39 per document, or £69 for both. Optional extras like our signing guide (£67) and print and post service (£25) are just that — optional. The government charges a registration fee of £82 per document to register your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian. This is paid directly to them, not to us, and is the same regardless of who helps you with your LPA. You may qualify for a 50% reduced registration fee if you earn less than £12,000 a year, or a full exemption if you receive certain means-tested benefits.

Can I do an LPA without a solicitor?

Yes — completely. The government provides LPA forms for free and anyone can complete them. Solicitors charge £400-£900 to fill in the same free forms. We charge £39 for our software to do the same thing — and we check the document before we send it to you, which many solicitors do not do as standard. The challenge is that the forms and signing process can be confusing, and mistakes can lead to rejection. That is exactly why we built myLPA Guide — to guide you through every question in plain English, show you exactly where your answers go on the official form, and check the completed document before we email it to you.

What happens if my LPA gets rejected?

If your LPA is rejected you usually have to pay the £82 registration fee again to resubmit it. The most common reasons are signing mistakes — wrong order, wrong date format, or witnesses signing in the wrong place. Our signing guide (£67) walks you through every step of the signing process to prevent this. We also check every document we generate before emailing it to you. Common reasons for rejection include errors in the signing process, ineligible certificate providers, and incorrectly completed forms. The OPG rejects thousands of applications every year. Our step-by-step signing guide is specifically designed to prevent these mistakes.

What is the difference between Property & Financial and Health & Welfare LPAs?

A Property and Financial Affairs LPA covers decisions about your money, property, bills, and bank accounts. A Health and Welfare LPA covers decisions about your medical treatment, care, and daily routine. Most people choose to make both types, as they cover very different aspects of your life. Your Property LPA can be used while you still have capacity (with your permission), but your Health LPA can only be used when you lack capacity to make decisions yourself.

How long does an LPA take to register?

Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian currently takes around 20 weeks from the date they receive your application. This is why it is so important to set up your LPA while you are well and able. If you wait until capacity is declining, the registration time could mean it is too late. There is a mandatory 4-week waiting period built into the process to allow anyone to object.

Do I need a certificate provider?

Yes. Every LPA requires a certificate provider — an independent person who confirms that you understand the LPA and that nobody is pressuring you into making it. Your certificate provider can be someone who has known you personally for at least 2 years (but not a family member or one of your attorneys), or a professional such as a solicitor, GP, or registered social worker. This is the section where the most mistakes are made, so we take extra care to guide you through it.

What is the signing process for an LPA?

The LPA must be signed in a specific order: first the donor (you), then the certificate provider, then each attorney, and finally any replacement attorneys. Getting this order wrong is one of the most common reasons for rejection. Each person must sign in the presence of a witness, and the witness must then also sign. Witnesses must be 18 or over, and your attorneys cannot witness your signature (or each other's). Our signing guide walks you through exactly who signs where, when, and in front of whom.

Can my spouse and I both make LPAs?

Yes. Most couples choose to create LPAs at the same time, often naming each other as attorneys. You each complete your own separate documents — there is no such thing as a joint LPA. Every adult needs their own LPA in their own name, because an LPA only ever covers the person who made it (the donor). Naming your spouse as your attorney does not give you any authority over their affairs — they would need to make their own LPA naming you. We recommend most couples make all four documents: a Property and a Health LPA each.

Is myLPA a legal service?

No. myLPA Guide is a document preparation and software service. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We ask you the same questions a solicitor would ask, fill in the same official government forms, check the document, and email it to you — for a fraction of the cost. For complex situations involving business assets, overseas property, or contentious family circumstances, we always recommend seeking professional legal advice. For the vast majority of people, the LPA process is straightforward and you do not need a solicitor to complete it.

Ordinary Power of Attorney vs LPA — Which Do You Need?

Q: What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf, if you ever become unable to make them yourself. There are two types: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, which covers decisions about your money, property, and bills; and a Health and Welfare LPA, which covers decisions about your medical care and daily life. You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity to make an LPA. It only comes into effect when registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.

What is the difference between an Ordinary Power of Attorney and an LPA?

Both an Ordinary Power of Attorney (OPA) and a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allow you to appoint someone to act on your behalf. But they serve very different purposes and have critical legal differences.

For official information on both types, visit GOV.UK.

What is an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

An Ordinary Power of Attorney (sometimes called a General Power of Attorney) is a document that authorises someone to handle your financial affairs on a temporary basis. Key features:

It covers property and financial affairs only — not health decisions.
It is valid only while the donor has mental capacity.
It ends automatically when the donor loses mental capacity.
It does not need to be registered with the OPG.
It can be general (covering all financial matters) or limited (covering specific tasks like selling a property).

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is designed for long-term protection. Key features:

It comes in two types: property and financial affairs, and health and welfare.
It continues even if the donor loses mental capacity — this is its primary purpose.
It must be registered with the OPG before it can be used.
It requires a certificate provider to confirm the donor understands the document.
It costs £92 per document to register with the OPG.

When should I use an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

An OPA is appropriate for temporary, practical situations such as:

You are going abroad for an extended period and need someone to manage your finances.
You are having surgery and want someone to pay bills while you recover.
You need someone to handle a specific transaction like selling your house.
You have a physical condition (not mental) that makes it difficult to attend to financial matters.

When should I use a Lasting Power of Attorney?

An LPA is essential when:

You want to plan for the possibility of losing mental capacity in the future.
You want someone to make health and welfare decisions if you cannot.
You want long-term, ongoing protection that does not expire.
You are elderly and concerned about conditions like dementia.

Can I have both?

Yes. Some people have an OPA for immediate practical needs and an LPA for long-term protection. The two documents can coexist without conflicting.

What happens if I only have an OPA and lose capacity?

This is the critical risk. If you lose mental capacity and only have an OPA, the OPA ceases to have effect. Your attorney can no longer act for you. At that point, the only option is for someone to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which is expensive (often £1,000+), time-consuming, and gives you no choice over who manages your affairs.

This is why having an LPA is so important — it ensures your chosen person can continue to act for you even if you lose capacity.

How much does each type cost?

Ordinary Power of Attorney: Can be created for free or very cheaply using a standard form. No registration fee.
Lasting Power of Attorney: £92 per document for OPG registration, plus any service fees.

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.

For the peace of mind that comes with proper long-term protection, start your free LPA questionnaire with the UK's cheapest LPA service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Ordinary Power of Attorney cover health decisions?

No. An OPA only covers property and financial affairs. Only a health and welfare LPA can authorise someone to make health and medical decisions on your behalf.

Do I need to register an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

No. Unlike an LPA, an OPA does not need to be registered with the OPG. However, some organisations (like banks) may want to see the original document.

What happens to an OPA if I get dementia?

The OPA automatically ceases when you lose mental capacity. Your attorney can no longer act under it. You would need a registered LPA or a court-appointed deputy.

Is an OPA cheaper than an LPA?

Yes, an OPA is cheaper to set up — there is no registration fee. However, it provides no protection if you lose mental capacity, which is the main reason most people need a power of attorney.

Can I convert an OPA into an LPA?

No. They are separate legal documents. You cannot convert one into the other. You need to create an LPA separately.

How long does an Ordinary Power of Attorney last?

An OPA lasts until you cancel it, it is replaced, or you lose mental capacity — whichever comes first. It does not have a fixed expiry date.

Ordinary Power of Attorney vs LPA — Which Do You Need?

What is the difference between an Ordinary Power of Attorney and an LPA?

What is an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

When should I use an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

When should I use a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Can I have both?

What happens if I only have an OPA and lose capacity?

How much does each type cost?

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Ordinary Power of Attorney cover health decisions?

Do I need to register an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

What happens to an OPA if I get dementia?

Is an OPA cheaper than an LPA?

Can I convert an OPA into an LPA?

How long does an Ordinary Power of Attorney last?

Related Articles

LPA vs Enduring Power of Attorney — What Changed and Why It Matters

LPA vs Deputyship — When You Need a Deputy Instead of an LPA

LPA and Dementia — What You Need to Know

How to Set Up a Lasting Power of Attorney — Step-by-Step 2026 Guide

LPA for Elderly Parents — Special Considerations and Practical Guide

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