Planning for the future
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 cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).
There are two types of lasting power of attorney
· health and welfare
· property and financial affairs
You can make either type of LPA or both and you have various options for choosing your attorneys. You do not have to appoint a solicitor to do this as you can complete the process yourself at www.gov.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney or have the forms sent in the post by calling 0300 456300. The cost for doing it yourself is £92 for each LPA although there are certain fee exemptions or discount depending on your financial circumstances. Please be aware that it can take several weeks for the LPA to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and you will need to have mental capacity at the time of choosing your attorneys.
A really helpful guide can be found here ID205701 Age UK Power of attorney_September 2025.