How to Check the LPA Register UK
Updated 8 November 2026 · 7 min read · England & Wales
How do you check if a lasting power of attorney is registered?
There is no public online search. If you know an LPA exists, the attorney or donor creates a 13-character access code (valid for 50 days) on GOV.UK's Use an LPA service, and you enter it with the donor's surname on the View an LPA service for an instant summary. If you cannot get a code, request a search of the OPG registers using form OPG100; it can take up to 10 working days.
Making your own LPA? Get the LPA Guidance Pack for £25 → Plain-English help completing the official OPG forms. Not the forms themselves.
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is only valid once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Searching the OPG register lets banks, care providers, solicitors, and family members verify that an LPA exists and has not been revoked, without having to inspect a paper original. This guide explains how to use the register and what to do when no record is found.
Why the Register Matters
Anyone can print a document purporting to be an LPA. The only authoritative source is the OPG register, which records every LPA registered under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. An LPA that is not on the register has no legal force, even if it looks authentic and bears signatures.
Checking the register also confirms whether the LPA has been revoked (cancelled by the donor while they still had capacity) or suspended (by a court order). A third party relying on a revoked LPA without reasonable cause may face liability.
Use an LPA and View an LPA: the Two OPG Services
The Office of the Public Guardian runs two linked GOV.UK services. The attorney or donor uses Use an LPA (gov.uk/use-lpa) to create an access code: 13 characters, beginning with the letter V, valid for 50 days. A bank, care provider or other organisation then enters the donor's surname and that code on View an LPA (gov.uk/view-lasting-power-of-attorney) to see a one-page summary of the LPA. You need a separate code for each LPA, so a health and welfare LPA and a property and financial affairs LPA each need their own. The summary covers:
- The donor's name and date of birth
- The type of LPA (property and financial affairs, or health and welfare)
- The attorneys' names and how they are authorised to act (jointly, jointly and severally, or a combination)
- Whether the LPA can be used while the donor still has capacity (property LPAs only)
- Any instructions or preferences included by the donor
- The registration date
It is a summary rather than the full document. The registered paper LPA remains the complete record, and the online version always shows the most up-to-date details held by OPG.
Step-by-Step: Searching the Register
- Ask the attorney or donor for an access code. They sign in to their Use an LPA account, choose the right LPA (health and welfare, or property and financial affairs) and select "Give an organisation access" to create a code.
- Go to View an LPA on GOV.UK. The service is at gov.uk/view-lasting-power-of-attorney.
- Enter the donor's surname and the access code. The code is 13 characters long and begins with V.
- Check the summary against your own records. Confirm the donor's details match, that the person in front of you is an attorney on the LPA, how decisions must be made if there is more than one attorney, and any instructions or preferences the donor recorded.
- If you cannot get a code, ask OPG to search its registers with form OPG100 (up to 10 working days).
Access codes are valid for 50 days. GOV.UK extended this from 30 days on 29 April 2026. If the code has lapsed, ask the attorney or donor to create a new one.
Who Typically Needs to Check
| Who | Why | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Banks / building societies | Before accepting instructions from an attorney on the donor's account | Property & financial |
| Care homes / NHS trusts | Before acting on an attorney's health or care decisions | Health & welfare |
| Solicitors / conveyancers | Verifying authority to sell the donor's property | Property & financial |
| Family members | Checking whether an LPA was made before a parent lost capacity | Either |
| Investment platforms | Before allowing an attorney to manage a portfolio | Property & financial |
What the Register Does Not Tell You
The register confirms registration and revocation status only. It does not:
- Confirm the donor currently lacks mental capacity (that requires a clinical assessment)
- Show whether the attorney is acting within the scope of any conditions or restrictions (you must read those on the summary carefully)
- Reveal whether there are safeguarding concerns or OPG investigations into the attorney
- Confirm the donor is still alive (check the death register or death certificate separately)
LPAs Made Before the Online Register
Access codes only work for LPAs that can be added to a Use an LPA account. An LPA registered before 1 January 2016 has no 12-digit LPA number and cannot be added, so it cannot produce a code. LPAs registered on or after that date can be added using the activation key OPG posts when the LPA is registered (valid for 12 months; a new key can be requested through the account if it has expired). For older registered LPAs the options are:
- Show the registered paper LPA: The attorney takes or posts the registered LPA (or a certified copy) to the organisation. It bears the OPG registration stamp on every page, which is the key indicator that it is registered.
- Ask OPG to search its registers: If you cannot get the paper LPA or are not sure an LPA exists, request a search with form OPG100. OPG says this can take up to 10 working days. It covers LPAs, enduring powers of attorney, deputyships and guardianships registered in England and Wales.
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs)
EPAs were the predecessor to LPAs, available before October 2007. They are still valid if they were made and signed before that date, but they must be registered with OPG at the point the donor is losing or has lost mental capacity. View an LPA only covers LPAs, so to verify an EPA, inspect the registered paper original or ask OPG to search its registers with form OPG100 (OPG: 0300 456 0300).
EPAs only cover property and financial affairs; they have no health and welfare equivalent. If the donor has an EPA but no health and welfare LPA, any health decisions must be made in their best interests under s.5 MCA 2005 or by a Court of Protection deputy.
No LPA Found: Next Steps
If a search reveals no registered LPA and the person has lost capacity, options include:
- Court of Protection deputyship: Apply for a property and financial affairs deputy order and/or a personal welfare deputy order. Fees start at £400 (court application) plus annual supervision fees. See our guide to Court of Protection deputyship.
- Statutory will: If the person has no will and lacks capacity, the Court of Protection can authorise a statutory will on their behalf.
- Small amounts, benefits and DWP: For people receiving only state benefits, DWP's appointee scheme allows a trusted person to manage benefits without a court order.
Prevention is cheaper than cure. Registering an LPA while you have capacity costs £92 per document. A Court of Protection deputyship application typically costs £1,000–£3,000 in professional fees alone. Making an LPA now is one of the most cost-effective steps in estate planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone search the OPG register?
Not online. There is no public self-service search of the register. If you know an LPA exists, you need an access code from the attorney or donor, which you enter with the donor's surname on GOV.UK's View an LPA service. If you cannot get a code, or you are not sure an LPA exists, you can ask the Office of the Public Guardian to search its registers using form OPG100; OPG says a search can take up to 10 working days.
What if the LPA was registered before 2016 and has no access code?
LPAs registered before 1 January 2016 cannot be added to the Use an LPA service, so they cannot produce an access code. The attorney has to show the registered paper LPA (or a certified copy) to the organisation instead.
Does a search confirm the LPA is still valid?
A successful search confirms the LPA is registered and not revoked as at the date of search. It does not confirm the donor lacks capacity, that is a clinical assessment. It also does not show whether any conditions or restrictions apply beyond those visible on the summary.
What happens if someone presents a paper LPA without a registration stamp?
An unregistered LPA has no legal effect, an attorney cannot act under it. The OPG registration stamp (on every page) is the key indicator. You can cross-check by asking the attorney for an access code and using GOV.UK's View an LPA service, or by asking OPG to search its registers (form OPG100). If no registered record exists, the LPA cannot be used.
Can a bank or care home refuse to accept a valid LPA?
Organisations have a right to take reasonable steps to verify an LPA, including a register search, but they cannot refuse an LPA that is confirmed valid without good reason. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 s.6 and OPG guidance make clear that unreasonable refusal can be challenged.
What if there is no LPA and the person has lost capacity?
If there is no registered LPA and the person can no longer make decisions, a family member or professional must apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order. This is significantly more expensive (court fees typically £400+) and time-consuming than making an LPA in advance.
Make Your LPA While You Still Can
An LPA can only be made while you have mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, it is too late. Our DIY will kit includes guidance on LPA planning alongside your will, protect your family now.
Get the WillSafe Kit →Related Articles
- What is a lasting power of attorney?
- How much does an LPA cost in 2026?
- LPA and the Mental Capacity Act
- Using an LPA for bank accounts
- Power of attorney and dementia
- Enduring power of attorney, is yours still valid?
- Court of Protection deputyship
- The cost of making a will
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. OPG registration procedures may change, always verify current requirements at gov.uk/opg.
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