Lasting Power of Attorney Cost Calculator
Calculate LPA registration fees, solicitor costs and total expenses. Compare DIY vs professional routes for Property and Health LPAs in England and Wales.
Last updated: March 2026
LPA Cost Calculator 2026
Calculate Office of the Public Guardian fees and total cost to set up your Lasting Power of Attorney
LPA Registration Fee Summary 2026
| LPA Type | Full Fee | 50% Remission | Full Exemption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property & Financial Affairs LPA | £82 | £41 | £0 |
| Health & Welfare LPA | £82 | £41 | £0 |
| Both LPAs (recommended) | £164 | £82 | £0 |
Complete Guide to Lasting Power of Attorney in England & Wales 2026
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you (the "donor") to appoint one or more trusted people (your "attorneys") to make decisions on your behalf. You create an LPA while you have mental capacity; the document is then registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and can be used if you lose capacity in the future — due to dementia, a stroke, a brain injury, or any other incapacity.
An LPA is one of the most important legal documents you will ever create. Without one, if you lose mental capacity, your family cannot automatically access your bank accounts, sell your property, or make decisions about your care — even if they are your spouse or closest relative. They would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order, a significantly more expensive and time-consuming process (often £2,000–£5,000+ and taking 6–12 months).
The Two Types of LPA
There are two distinct types of LPA in England and Wales. The Property and Financial Affairs LPA covers financial matters: managing your bank accounts and investments, paying your bills, collecting your income and benefits, selling or renting out your property, and handling business matters. Uniquely, this LPA can be used while you still have capacity (if you choose to set it up that way) — for example, if you are abroad and need someone to handle UK finances on your behalf.
The Health and Welfare LPA covers personal decisions: where you live, your day-to-day care, medical treatment, and welfare decisions. It can include life-sustaining treatment decisions if you specifically authorise this. Critically, unlike the Property LPA, a Health and Welfare LPA can ONLY be used when you have lost mental capacity — it cannot be used while you still have capacity to make these decisions yourself. Each type of LPA is a separate document requiring its own registration fee.
The LPA Registration Process — Step by Step
Creating and registering an LPA involves several stages. Step 1: The donor chooses their attorney(s) and decides on any restrictions or guidance to include in the document. Step 2: The donor (or their solicitor) completes the LPA form — either online via the OPG's digital tool or using the paper form LPA001 (Property) or LPA002 (Health). Step 3: A certificate provider — an independent person who knows the donor but is not an attorney — certifies that the donor understands the document, has not been pressured, and has capacity. Certificate providers can be solicitors, healthcare professionals, or someone who has known the donor personally for at least 2 years.
Step 4: The attorneys named in the document sign to confirm they understand their duties. Step 5: All relevant parties must be notified if the donor has named "people to notify" — they have 3 weeks to raise objections. Step 6: The completed form is sent to the OPG in Nottingham with the registration fee. Step 7: The OPG processes the application — currently taking approximately 20 weeks. The OPG stamps the original and returns it. The LPA can only be used once registered — an unregistered LPA has no legal effect.
OPG Fees — Exemptions and Remissions
The standard OPG registration fee is £82 per LPA. However, full fee remission (50% reduction to £41) is available if the donor's gross annual income is £12,000 or below. Full fee exemption (£0) applies if the donor receives certain means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit element), Income Support, income-related Employment Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, or Universal Credit where the household net income is less than £12,000 per year.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, you apply for exemption on form LPA120A, which is submitted with the LPA registration application. The OPG will assess your claim. Note that the income threshold refers to the donor's income — not the attorney's income. A modest-income pensioner who receives Pension Credit would typically qualify for full exemption, saving £164 on the registration of both LPAs.
DIY LPA vs Using a Solicitor — When Each Is Appropriate
Setting up an LPA yourself (DIY) is entirely possible and appropriate for many people. The OPG's online service at gov.uk/power-of-attorney guides you through the process with clear prompts and validations. The main DIY costs are the OPG registration fees (£82 per LPA) plus postage. The risks of DIY are primarily errors in the form — particularly signing in the wrong order, leaving sections blank, or including conflicting instructions — which can result in rejection and the need to start again (losing the fee).
Using a solicitor is advisable in several situations: where you have complex estate or business interests; where there are family tensions that might lead to disputes; where you want to include very specific instructions or restrictions; where you want legal advice on choosing attorneys and backup attorneys; or where you simply want peace of mind that the document is correct. Solicitor fees for LPAs typically range from £300–£600 per LPA, or £600–£1,200 for both. Some solicitors offer a fixed-fee package including both LPAs and related legal advice.
LPA vs Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) were replaced by LPAs in October 2007. If you made an EPA before this date, it is still valid but must be registered with the OPG once the donor starts to lose capacity (it can be registered immediately if you choose). Unlike LPAs, EPAs only covered financial matters — there was no equivalent of the Health and Welfare LPA under the old EPA system.
If you have an unregistered EPA, it is worth considering whether to register it now (even before capacity is lost) to avoid delays. You should also consider making a new Health and Welfare LPA to supplement the EPA, as the EPA cannot cover healthcare decisions. Many people with existing EPAs choose to make a new Property and Financial Affairs LPA as well, to benefit from the more modern framework and clearer safeguards for attorneys.
Attorney Duties and Responsibilities
Being appointed as an attorney under an LPA is a significant legal responsibility. Attorneys must act in the donor's best interests at all times, considering the donor's past and present wishes, beliefs, and values. They must apply the Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles — never assuming the donor lacks capacity, always helping them make their own decisions where possible, and only acting under the LPA when the donor genuinely lacks capacity (for a Health LPA) or has specifically authorised use while they have capacity (for a Property LPA with this option).
Attorneys must keep the donor's finances separate from their own, keep accounts and records, and not benefit themselves (except where the LPA specifically authorises this, such as paying themselves a reasonable fee). The OPG can investigate and remove attorneys who abuse their position — there were over 3,000 safeguarding cases opened by the OPG in 2024/25. Choosing trustworthy, capable attorneys is the most important decision in the entire LPA process.
The Digital LPA — What's Changing in 2025–2026
The Ministry of Justice and OPG have been developing a new digital LPA service since 2022, with the stated aim of making the process faster, safer, and more accessible. A pilot of the new digital service was launched in 2025, allowing some users to create and submit LPAs entirely online, with digital identity verification for the donor and attorneys. The digital service aims to reduce the current 20-week processing time to a matter of weeks once fully operational.
The digital LPA will retain the same fee structure (£82 per LPA) but aims to reduce errors through built-in validations, allow attorneys to confirm acceptance digitally, and notify people-to-notify via email rather than post. The paper system will remain available throughout the transition. For people who are comfortable with digital processes and have straightforward circumstances, the digital LPA is expected to be significantly more convenient once fully rolled out.
5 Reasons to Set Up Your LPA Now (Not Later)
1. You must have mental capacity to create an LPA: Once you lose capacity, it is too late. An LPA cannot be created after the donor lacks capacity — the Court of Protection process (Deputyship) is the only alternative, costing £2,000–£5,000+ and taking months. 2. 20-week processing time: With the OPG currently taking ~20 weeks, even if you act immediately after a diagnosis, it may not be registered in time to be useful in an emergency. 3. It can sit unused: A registered LPA that is never needed costs you nothing extra — but if you need it and don't have one, the consequences can be severe. 4. Peace of mind for the whole family: Family members know who has authority to act, avoiding disputes and uncertainty during already difficult times. 5. Low cost relative to the alternative: DIY cost of £164 for both LPAs vs £2,000–£5,000 for a Deputyship application if you leave it too late.
5 Common LPA Mistakes to Avoid
1. Signing in the wrong order: The donor must sign first, then the certificate provider, then the attorneys. Signing out of order invalidates the form and means starting over. 2. Choosing the wrong certificate provider: The certificate provider cannot be an attorney, a relative of the donor, or an employee of a care home where the donor lives. They must be truly independent. 3. Not appointing replacement attorneys: If your only attorney dies or loses capacity and you have not named a replacement, the LPA cannot be used. Always name at least one replacement attorney. 4. Being vague about "jointly and severally": Attorneys can act "jointly" (all must agree on every decision) or "jointly and severally" (can each act alone). Joint decision-making can create deadlock. Most advisers recommend "jointly for major decisions, severally for day-to-day". 5. Not registering until it's needed: Unregistered LPAs cannot be used. Registration must be done before the LPA is needed — during the registration period, the document is with the OPG and unavailable.