A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you (the donor) to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types of LPA in England and Wales.
| Type | Covers | When it can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Property and Financial Affairs LPA | Bank accounts, investments, property, bills, tax returns | Immediately on registration (with donor's consent) or only when donor lacks capacity — you choose |
| Health and Welfare LPA | Medical treatment, care home decisions, day-to-day care, life-sustaining treatment | Only when the donor lacks capacity to make the decision themselves |
You make an LPA on the official Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) form, either through the online service on GOV.UK or on paper:
The forms are free to download from GOV.UK; you pay only the registration fee. A template cannot replace the official form, but it can help you decide who to appoint, how they should act, what instructions and preferences to include, and how to sign everything in the right order. DocPilot’s Property and Financial Affairs LPA pack and Health and Welfare LPA pack are designed to be used alongside LP1F and LP1H.
An LPA is not valid until it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). The registration process:
Fee exemption: Donors on certain means-tested benefits may not have to pay at all. Donors with income under Β£12,000 a year before tax can pay half (Β£46), and Universal Credit claimants are assessed for a reduction. Check the current rules on form LPA120 at gov.uk/power-of-attorney/fees.
If you lose mental capacity without an LPA in place, no one has automatic authority to manage your affairs — including your spouse or children. Your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which:
LPAs cannot be made after capacity is lost. The donor must have mental capacity when the LPA is signed. This is one of the most common misconceptions. Make your LPA now, while you have capacity — not when you might need it.
From April 2027, unspent pension funds will form part of the taxable estate for inheritance tax. Pension nominations should be reviewed alongside your LPA to ensure they remain aligned with your overall estate plan.
DocPilot's LPA templates for both Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare — updated for the Β£92 OPG fee in force since 17 November 2025.
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