Planning for life
Who would you trust to help with decisions later?
A lasting power of attorney, or LPA, lets you appoint people you trust to support you or make decisions for you.

Why make one before you need it?
You must have mental capacity when you make an LPA. You do not need to predict every future decision. Planning early lets you choose the people, discuss what matters and complete the process without a crisis.
Who should you choose as attorneys?
Choose people who are trustworthy, willing and able to make careful decisions. Think about how they communicate and whether they can work together.
- Ask them before naming them
- Explain what matters to you
- Decide whether they act together or separately
- Consider replacement attorneys
How does it become official?
The document must be completed, signed in the correct order and registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
GOV.UK currently states that registration takes 8 to 10 weeks when there are no mistakes and costs £92 for each LPA, unless a reduction or exemption applies.
Official next step
Ready to use the official service?
GOV.UK has the current forms and instructions.
