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.
This guide is general information about the law of England and Wales, not legal advice. Each case is assessed on its own merits.
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. You will 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 checks the document is properly completed and the legal requirements are met. It does not assess the donor's capacity. The certificate provider confirms the donor understands the LPA and is not under pressure.
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 personally for at least two years). They cannot be an attorney, a replacement attorney, or a member of your family or an attorney's family.
- Name people to notify: as a safeguard, you can name up to five people. They are told just before the LPA is sent for registration, so they can raise a concern
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. An adult must witness the donor's and each attorney's signature. No attorney or replacement attorney can witness the donor's signature.
- 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.
- The objection periodYou do not have to wait before applying. Send the LP3 forms just before you send the LPA to the OPG. The three weeks for objections then run while the OPG processes the application.
- Submit to the OPGSend the signed LPA to the OPG with the £92 fee for each LPA. Online and paper LPAs both go by post. An LPA made online must be printed and signed by hand first, but the fee can be paid online.
- OPG checks the documentThe OPG checks the document and the signatures. It will contact you if anything needs clarifying.
- Receive the registered LPAOnce registered, the OPG stamps the original LPA to show it is valid and posts it back to you or your solicitor. The registration letter also gives an activation key for the online Use a lasting power of attorney service.
Online vs paper
Online vs Paper Registration
| Online Registration | Paper Registration |
|---|---|
| Guided form, so fewer errors | Print, complete and post the forms |
| Fee can be paid online (the LPA is still printed, signed by hand and posted) | 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 of £12,000 a year or less: 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
Aaron can handle your LPA from start to finish in Bridlington, Driffield, Filey, Scarborough or anywhere in East Yorkshire. He prepares the documents, guides you through the signing and submits the registration.
Many clients come to Aaron after trying it themselves and hitting problems. The usual ones are 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.
Sources
The official pages behind the rules this guide explains. Each was checked on .
Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP · Law of England and Wales as at 20 March 2026 · Ends
