Powers of attorney · 10 min read · Published
How to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney: Step by Step
How to register a lasting power of attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian: the steps, the £92 fee, the 8 to 10 week wait and the mistakes to avoid.
By Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, a solicitor in Bridlington who writes every guide himself.
Guides · Powers of attorney · No. 8 of 11Published · 10 minutes
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) only works once it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Many people complete the forms without realising that an unregistered LPA cannot be used, even in an emergency.
This guide takes you through registration from start to finish, so you know what to expect and how to avoid the common mistakes.
What LPA Registration Is
Registration means sending your completed LPA to the OPG for checking. The OPG confirms the document is properly completed, the donor had capacity and the legal requirements are met.
Without registration an LPA is just paper. Banks, hospitals and care homes will not accept an unregistered LPA, however well it was completed.
Before You Register: Getting the LPA Right
You need a correctly completed LPA first. That involves several decisions:
- Choose the type: property and financial affairs, health and welfare, or both (they are separate documents)
- Choose your attorneys: one or more people you trust to make decisions for you
- Decide how they act: jointly (all must agree), jointly and severally (each can act alone), or jointly for some decisions and severally for others
- Choose a certificate provider: someone who confirms you understand the LPA and are not being pressured (a professional such as a solicitor or doctor, or someone who has known you for at least two years)
- Name people to notify: as a safeguard, you can name people who will be told when the LPA is registered
Registration Step by Step
How to Register Your LPA
- Complete the LPA formsFill in the LPA online through the GOV.UK 'Make a lasting power of attorney' service, or on paper forms LP1F (finance) and LP1H (health). Include every attorney, any replacement attorneys, and your preferences and instructions.
- Sign in the right orderThe donor signs first, then the certificate provider, then each attorney. The order matters. Get it wrong and you start again.
- Notify the people to notifyIf you named people to notify, send each of them the notification form (LP3). They have three weeks to raise a concern with the OPG.
- Wait three weeksYou cannot apply to register until three weeks after the people to notify have been told. This is a safeguard against misuse.
- Submit to the OPGSend the signed LPA to the OPG with the £92 fee for each LPA. Online applications are sent digitally; paper forms go by post.
- OPG checks the documentThe OPG checks the document and the signatures. It will contact you if anything needs clarifying.
- Receive the registered LPAOnce approved, the OPG stamps each page and returns the original to you or your solicitor, with a registration summary.
Online vs Paper
Online vs Paper Registration
| Online Registration | Paper Registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Guided form, so fewer errors | Print, complete and post the forms | |
| Sent digitally (signatures still by hand) | No automatic checking, so more errors | |
| Save your progress and come back later | Posted to the OPG, so it can be lost in transit | |
| Built-in checks catch common mistakes | Suits people less comfortable with technology | |
| Faster for the OPG to process | Same fee (£92 per LPA) |
Fees and Exemptions
The registration fee is £92 per LPA. Most people make two (property and financial affairs, and health and welfare), so the total is £184.
Reductions and exemptions:
- Income under £12,000 a year: you can apply to pay half the fee (£46 per LPA)
- Certain means-tested benefits, such as Income Support: you can apply to pay no fee
The reduction applies only to the OPG fee. A solicitor's fee for preparing the LPA is separate. Aaron's LPA fees are fixed, and doing them with your will takes a fixed amount off the fee, once for the whole matter. Every fee, with VAT, is on the fees page.
LPA Help in Bridlington
If you are in Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Scarborough or anywhere in East Yorkshire, Aaron can handle your LPA from start to finish: preparing the documents, guiding you through the signing and submitting the registration.
Many clients come to Aaron after trying it themselves and hitting problems: rejected forms, confusing signing rules or doubts about how the attorneys should act. Getting it right first time saves time and money.
An LPA is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. It deserves the same care as your will.
Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 20 March 2026 · Ends