A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and can’t make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

There are 2 types of LPA: Health & welfare and Property & financial affairs. You can choose to make one type or both.

Health and welfare lasting power of attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:

  • Your daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating
  • Medical care
  • Moving into a care home
  • Life-sustaining treatment

It can only be used when you’re unable to make your own decisions.

Property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney

Use this LPA to give an attorney the power to make decisions about money and property for you, for example:

  • Managing a bank or building society account
  • Paying bills
  • Collecting benefits or a pension
  • Selling your home

It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your permission.

How to make a lasting power of attorney

  1. Choose your attorney (you can have more than one).
  2. Fill in the forms to appoint them as an attorney.
  3. Register your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian (this can take up to 10 weeks).

It costs £110 to register an LPA, although you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption.

You can cancel your LPA if you no longer need it or want to make a new one.

For further information and for copies of the relevant forms, please visit Office of the Public Guardian or call 0300 456 0300.