What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney and Do You Need One?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in the UK is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.
In the UK, there are two types of LPA covering financial decisions and health and welfare decisions. Without one in place, your family cannot automatically make decisions for you and may need to apply to the Court of Protection — a process that can take months and involve ongoing costs.
Do You Need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
In most cases, yes — especially if you want to avoid delays and give someone you trust immediate authority to act on your behalf. If you want someone you trust to be able to manage your finances or make decisions about your care if you lose mental capacity, a Lasting Power of Attorney is essential.
Without one, your family does not automatically have the legal authority to act for you. This means decisions can be delayed and more complicated at the exact time they need to be straightforward.
If you are planning ahead for the future, understanding how these legal documents work and whether you need one is an important step. You can also view our main LPA service page, our Wills service, and our Will Trusts page if you would like help putting the right documents in place.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives one or more people, known as attorneys, the authority to make decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. This might be due to illness, injury, or conditions such as dementia. An LPA must be set up while you still have mental capacity and then registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
What Are the Two Types of LPA?
There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney in the UK:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA — This allows your attorney to manage money, pay bills, deal with banks, and handle property matters.
- Health and Welfare LPA — This allows your attorney to make decisions about care, medical treatment, and living arrangements if you lose capacity.
Most people choose to put both in place for full protection.
When Do You Need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
You may need a Lasting Power of Attorney if you want to make sure someone you trust can make decisions for you if you are no longer able to.
This can apply to:
- Managing your finances if you become unwell.
- Making decisions about care or treatment.
- Handling property or household bills.
Many people assume LPAs are only for older individuals, but they can be useful at any age.
A simple way to think about it is this: if you would want someone to step in and handle your finances or care decisions without delay, you should have an LPA in place.
What Happens If You Don’t Have an LPA?
If you lose mental capacity without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, your family cannot automatically make decisions for you. Instead, they may need to apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy.
This process can take several months, involves ongoing fees, and can leave your family unable to act while important financial or care decisions are delayed. Putting an LPA in place in advance avoids this situation.
If you are also putting a will in place, you may find it useful to read our guide on how much a will costs in the UK.
If you are planning ahead more broadly, you may also want to read our guide on what happens if you die without a will in the UK.
When Should You Set One Up?
The best time to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney is while you are still well and able to make decisions clearly. Once mental capacity is lost, it is too late to put one in place.
Many people arrange LPAs alongside writing a will, after buying property, or when planning for later life.
- Choosing your attorneys.
- Completing the legal forms.
- Signing and witnessing the documents.
- Registering with the Office of the Public Guardian.
Many people delay putting an LPA in place until it is too late. Because it must be set up while you still have mental capacity, acting early is the only way to make sure your wishes can be followed.
How Much Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Cost?
There are usually two types of costs when setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Professional fees vary depending on the provider and the level of support you need. The Office of the Public Guardian currently charges a registration fee of £92 per LPA. If you are arranging both types, this fee applies to each one.
Because the fee applies to each LPA, setting up both types typically involves two registration fees. This is something many people are not aware of when planning ahead.
For official guidance on Lasting Powers of Attorney and registration, you can also read the GOV.UK guide on power of attorney.
How Do You Set Up an LPA?
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney usually involves four main steps:
- Choosing your attorneys
- Completing the legal forms
- Signing and witnessing the documents
- Registering with the Office of the Public Guardian
It is important that everything is completed correctly to avoid delays or rejection.
If you are looking for help putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, you can view our main LPA service page or see our local services in areas such as Norwich, Cromer and Great Yarmouth.
The main purpose of a Lasting Power of Attorney is to allow someone you trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity.
Most people choose both types of LPA for full protection, covering financial decisions as well as health and care decisions.
Yes, but mistakes can delay registration or cause problems later. Many people choose professional help to make sure everything is completed correctly.
Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian typically takes around 8 to 10 weeks if there are no problems with the application.
We have helped thousands of clients put the right documents in place, making the process clear, straightforward, and fully compliant.
Get Help Putting an LPA in Place
If you would like help arranging a Lasting Power of Attorney, our team provides clear guidance, fixed fees, and free home visits across Norfolk. We can talk you through your situation, explain which type of LPA you need, and make sure everything is completed correctly so there are no delays with registration.