How to Register an LPA in the UK: Step-by-Step 2026
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one of the most important legal documents you can make. It lets someone you trust manage your affairs if you lose mental capacity — whether through dementia, a stroke, an accident, or any other reason. But an LPA is only legally valid once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). An unregistered LPA cannot be used.
What Is an LPA?
There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA — covers bank accounts, investments, property, bills, and other financial decisions
- Health and Welfare LPA — covers medical treatment, care home decisions, day-to-day wellbeing, and (if specified) decisions about life-sustaining treatment
You can make one or both. Most people who make an LPA are advised to make both, as they cover separate areas of life that may both become relevant. An LPA must be made while the donor has mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, it is too late.
Before You Register: Making the LPA
Registration is a separate step from making the LPA. Before you can register, the LPA must be:
- Completed — all sections filled in, including the donor's details, chosen attorneys, replacement attorneys, instructions and preferences, and certificate provider declaration
- Signed in the correct order:
- The certificate provider signs first
- The donor signs
- Each attorney signs
- Witnessed — the donor's signature must be witnessed; attorneys' signatures must also be witnessed
The order of signing matters. If signatures are collected in the wrong order, the LPA is invalid.
Step-by-Step: Registering an LPA with the OPG
Complete the LPA Document
Use the official OPG forms. As of 2026, LPAs can be created online via the OPG's digital service at GOV.UK (faster and less error-prone) or on paper using the downloadable forms. WillSafe's LPA guidance pack provides clear, plain-English guidance for completing your LPA documents without a solicitor.
Have All Parties Sign the Document
Once completed, collect signatures in the correct order: certificate provider signs, then donor signs (in front of a witness), then each attorney signs (each in front of a witness). All signatures must be original wet signatures on paper. Digital signatures are not accepted for LPAs.
Apply to Register the LPA
Once signed, you apply to register with the OPG. Registration can be done by the donor (while they still have capacity) or an attorney on the donor's behalf. Online registration is available if you created the LPA digitally. For paper applications, complete form LP3 and submit the signed LPA with the registration fee.
Pay the Registration Fee
As of 2026, the registration fee is £82 per LPA. If you are registering both an Property & Financial Affairs LPA and a Health & Welfare LPA, the fee is £164 total. Fee remission is available if your income is under £12,000 per year, or if you receive certain means-tested benefits.
Wait for the Registration Period
After the OPG receives your application, there is a mandatory waiting period of 4 weeks before the LPA can be registered. This gives time for anyone named as a 'person to notify' in the LPA to raise any concerns, and for the OPG to check the document is in order.
Receive the Registered LPA
Once registered, the OPG stamps each page of the LPA with a registration stamp. This stamped document is the valid, usable LPA. Keep the original registered document safe and make copies for the attorneys to use with banks, care providers, and other organisations as needed.
How Long Does LPA Registration Take in 2026?
Current OPG processing times as of early 2026:
- Online applications: typically 4–8 weeks after the 4-week waiting period
- Paper applications: typically 8–20 weeks, including the waiting period
Total time from submission to receiving the registered LPA: 8–24 weeks depending on the method and any queries raised.
This is why it is essential to apply early. LPAs made during a medical crisis — when capacity may already be diminishing — are high-risk. The ideal time to make and register an LPA is when you are healthy and under no pressure.
Common Mistakes That Delay Registration
The OPG returns defective LPAs for correction, which adds weeks or months to the process. Common errors:
- Wrong signing order — attorneys signing before the donor is one of the most frequent issues
- Missing witness signatures — every required witness must sign
- Incorrect certificate provider — the certificate provider must meet strict eligibility criteria (cannot be a family member or an attorney)
- Alterations made incorrectly — corrections to the form must be initialled by the relevant signatory
- Missing pages or incomplete sections
What Happens If You Don't Have an LPA?
If you lose mental capacity with no registered LPA in place, your family cannot simply step in to manage your affairs. They would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order — a more complex, expensive, and slow process.
A deputyship application typically:
- Costs £1,000+ in court fees alone
- Takes 6–12 months to resolve
- Requires ongoing annual reports and supervision fees
- Is considerably more restrictive than an LPA
An LPA costs £82 to register and can be completed in weeks. A deputyship application costs many times more and takes far longer. Registering an LPA while you have capacity is one of the most financially sensible things you can do.
Get started with your LPA today
WillSafe's LPA guidance pack provides clear, plain-English guidance for completing your LPA documents correctly — reducing the risk of costly errors that delay registration.
FAQ: How to Register an LPA UK
How much does it cost to register an LPA in the UK?+
The OPG registration fee is £82 per LPA in 2026. Both LPAs together cost £164. Fee remissions and exemptions are available for those on low incomes or certain benefits.
How long does LPA registration take?+
Typically 8–24 weeks from submission, depending on whether you apply online or on paper, and whether the OPG has any queries. The mandatory waiting period is 4 weeks.
Can I use an LPA before it is registered?+
No. An LPA must be registered with the OPG before it can be used. An unregistered LPA has no legal force.
Who registers the LPA — the donor or the attorney?+
Either can apply. Most people register while they still have capacity (as the donor) to avoid the more complex process of an attorney registering later.
What if I made a mistake on my LPA?+
The OPG will return defective forms for correction. Common mistakes include wrong signing order, missing witnesses, and incomplete sections. Using a guidance service reduces the risk of errors.
Does an LPA expire?+
No. A registered LPA does not expire. It remains valid until it is revoked (cancelled by the donor while they have capacity), until a Health and Welfare LPA's donor dies, or until a court order cancels it.
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