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.

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.

No. A registered LPA cannot be amended. If you need to make changes, you must revoke the existing LPA and create a new one. This can only be done while you still have mental capacity.

How much does it cost to replace an LPA?

The cost is the same as creating the original: £39 per document with myLPA Guide (or £69 for both types) plus £92 per document for OPG registration. There is no fee for revoking the old LPA.

Does divorce affect my LPA?

Yes. If you divorce or your civil partnership is dissolved, your former spouse or civil partner is automatically removed as an attorney. If they were your only attorney, the LPA effectively becomes unusable and you should create a new one.

How often should I review my LPA?

There is no fixed schedule, but review your LPA whenever there is a significant life change — marriage, divorce, death of an attorney, major financial changes, or a breakdown in your relationship with an attorney.

Can an attorney update the LPA on my behalf?

No. Only the donor can revoke and replace an LPA, and only while they have mental capacity. Attorneys have no power to amend the document.

What if I lose capacity before updating my LPA?

If you lose capacity, you can no longer revoke or replace your LPA. The existing LPA remains in force as it is. Only the Court of Protection can revoke an LPA on behalf of someone who lacks capacity, and only in specific circumstances.

Updating Your LPA — When and How to Change Your Lasting Power of Attorney

Can you amend a registered LPA?

No. Once a Lasting Power of Attorney has been registered with the OPG, it cannot be amended, updated, or edited. The form is a legal document, and any changes require starting again with a new LPA.

If you need to make changes — for example, adding a new attorney, removing an attorney, or changing your preferences — you must:

Revoke (cancel) the existing LPA
Create and sign a new LPA with the updated details
Register the new LPA with the OPG

This can only be done while you still have mental capacity.

When should you review your LPA?

There is no legal requirement to review your LPA at any particular time, but it is good practice to review it whenever there is a significant change in your life. Key triggers include:

Marriage or civil partnership — getting married automatically revokes a will, but it does not revoke an LPA. However, you may want to add your new spouse as an attorney.
Divorce or separation — if your ex-partner is named as an attorney, you almost certainly want to replace them. Note: divorce automatically terminates a spouse or civil partner's appointment as attorney.
Death of an attorney — if an attorney dies, you may need to appoint a replacement. If you already have replacement attorneys, they step in automatically.
Breakdown of a relationship with an attorney — if you no longer trust an attorney, replace them
An attorney becomes unable to act — due to their own illness, bankruptcy (financial LPA), or other reasons
Change in financial circumstances — major changes in assets or income may require different attorney arrangements
Moving house — update your address details by creating a new LPA
Birth of children or grandchildren — you may want to consider new attorneys or update preferences

How do you revoke an LPA?

To revoke (cancel) a registered LPA, the donor must:

Make a written statement — called a "deed of revocation" — signed and witnessed
Send the original registered LPA to the OPG with a covering letter stating it is being revoked
Notify all attorneys that the LPA has been revoked
Inform any organisations that hold a copy (banks, care homes, etc.)

The donor must have mental capacity to revoke an LPA. If the donor has lost capacity, only the Court of Protection can revoke it. For a full guide, see our article on revoking an LPA.

How much does it cost to create a new LPA?

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.

Creating a replacement LPA costs exactly the same as creating the original:

£39 per document to generate with myLPA Guide (or £69 for both types)
£92 per document for OPG registration

There is no additional fee for revoking the old LPA. Compare this to solicitors, who typically charge £400-£900 for LPA preparation.

What happens if you do not update your LPA?

An outdated LPA can cause serious problems:

An ex-partner could make decisions about your finances or health
A deceased attorney could leave you without anyone to act (unless you have replacement attorneys)
Outdated preferences may not reflect your current wishes
An attorney you no longer trust could access your bank accounts

Keeping your LPA up to date is as important as keeping your will up to date. Start your free LPA questionnaire today if you need to create a replacement.

How long does a new LPA take?

The process of creating a new LPA is the same as creating the original. You can complete the questionnaire in about 15 minutes with myLPA Guide. After signing and submitting, OPG registration takes approximately 20 weeks. During this time, your old LPA (if not yet revoked) can still be used, so there need not be a gap in coverage.

Can attorneys update the LPA?

No. Only the donor can decide to revoke and replace an LPA. Attorneys have no power to amend or update the document. If an attorney believes the LPA needs changing, they should discuss this with the donor while the donor still has capacity.

Updating Your LPA — When and How to Change Your Lasting Power of Attorney

Can you amend a registered LPA?

When should you review your LPA?

How do you revoke an LPA?

How much does it cost to create a new LPA?

What happens if you do not update your LPA?

How long does a new LPA take?

Can attorneys update the LPA?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I amend my LPA?

How much does it cost to replace an LPA?

Does divorce affect my LPA?

How often should I review my LPA?

Can an attorney update the LPA on my behalf?

What if I lose capacity before updating my LPA?

Related Articles

Revoking an LPA — How to Cancel a Lasting Power of Attorney

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

LPA Preferences and Instructions — How to Add Conditions to Your LPA

Replacement Attorneys Explained — When and Why You Need Them

LPA for Married Couples — A Complete Guide for 2026

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