How to register a Lasting Power of Attorney

Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a wise decision - it gives someone you trust the legal power to make decisions for you if you’re ever unable to do so yourself. But once your LPA forms are complete, there’s one more important step: registering it.

Until it’s registered, your LPA cannot be used. So, how do you register an LPA? Don’t worry - we’ve broken it down into a few simple steps to help you through the process.

Step 1: Choose the right time to register

You can register an LPA as soon as it’s been signed by everyone involved (you, your attorneys, any witnesses and the certificate provider)

• Property and Financial LPAs can be used as soon as they’re registered, with your permission.

• Health and Welfare LPAs can only be used if you lose mental capacity - but they still need to be registered in advance.

It’s a good idea to register your LPA sooner rather than later, as the process can take several weeks.

Step 2: Send the LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)

Once the forms are signed and completed, they need to be sent to the OPG for registration.

You can:

• Post the original signed form, or

• Register it online if it was filled out using the GOV.UK LPA service

The address of where to post it is located at the end of the form.

Step 3: Pay the registration fee

There is a fee of £82* per LPA (so £164* if you’re registering both types - one for health and welfare, and one for property and finance).

You might be eligible for a discount or exemption if you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits. If you appoint Enable and Thrive, we can deal with this for you.

Step 4: You’re registered!

If there are no issues with the form, the OPG will register your LPA and return the official documents to you, stamped and ready to use. It can take up to 20 weeks before you get to this stage - sometimes longer if there are any mistakes or delays. You can now email or post copies of your registered LPA to various companies that you wish to be made aware.

Please note: Many companies out there will assume that because you have a PoA in place, that you lack capacity. You will need to make the state of your mental capacity clear when sending the PoA document to them, to avoid confusion at a later date.

Top tips

• Double check all names, dates and signatures before sending your forms.

• Ensure the donor has signed first or on the same day as the attorneys and certificate provider, not after.

• Keep a copy of the registered LPA safe and let your attorneys know where to find it.

Registering an LPA might seem like paperwork now, but it’s one of the most important ways to protect your future. At Enable and Thrive, we always take the stress off our clients by completing this whole process for them – from making the LPA to getting it safely registered.

If you’re unsure about anything, don’t hesitate to get in touch - 01243 680680.

We're here to help make the process smooth and stress-free for our clients.

*this cost is subject to change.