Lasting Power of Attorney: What It Costs, What It Does, and Why You Need One

Nobody likes to think about losing the ability to make their own decisions. But accidents and illness do not discriminate, and without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place, your family could face a lengthy, expensive, and distressing legal process just to manage your affairs on your behalf.

An LPA is one of the most important legal documents you can have — yet most people in the UK do not have one. Here is everything you need to know about what an LPA does, what it costs, and why you should set one up sooner rather than later.

What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people — known as your attorneys — to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself. This might happen because of dementia, a stroke, a serious accident, or any other condition that affects your mental capacity.

The key word is lasting. Unlike an ordinary power of attorney (which only works while you have capacity), an LPA continues to have effect even after you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. That is precisely when you need it most.

The Two Types of LPA

There are two separate types of LPA in England and Wales, and they cover different areas of your life:

1. Property and Financial Affairs LPA

This gives your chosen attorney the power to manage your finances, including:

• Operating your bank accounts
• Paying your bills and mortgage
• Managing your investments
• Selling or letting your property
• Dealing with your tax affairs

This type of LPA can be used while you still have capacity (with your permission) as well as after you lose it — which can be helpful if, for example, you are physically unable to get to the bank.

2. Health and Welfare LPA

This gives your attorney the power to make decisions about your personal welfare, including:

• Where you live and who you live with
• Your day-to-day care, including diet and clothing
• Medical treatment and ongoing healthcare
• Whether to consent to or refuse life-sustaining treatment

A Health and Welfare LPA can only be used after you have lost the capacity to make these decisions yourself.

What Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Cost?

The cost of setting up an LPA depends on who helps you and how many documents you need. Here is a breakdown:

Government Registration Fee

Each LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. The registration fee is currently £82 per document. Since there are two types of LPA, registering both costs £164. (Reductions or exemptions may apply if you receive certain means-tested benefits.)

Professional Drafting Costs

You can fill in the LPA forms yourself for free via the government website, but many people prefer professional help to ensure the documents are completed correctly. Mistakes can cause delays or even invalidate the LPA entirely.

At Abrahams Wills, our LPA pricing is straightforward and affordable:

• £75 per LPA document as an add-on when you are also having a will drafted
• £175 for a standalone LPA for one person
• £325 for both LPA documents (health and welfare + property and financial affairs) for one person
• £600 for both LPA documents for a couple

All prices include VAT. I also act as your Certificate Provider — the independent person required to confirm that you understand what you are signing and that nobody is pressuring you into it.

What Happens If You Do Not Have an LPA?

If you lose mental capacity without an LPA in place, your family cannot simply step in to manage your affairs. Instead, they must apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order — a process that is:

• Expensive — court fees, solicitor costs, and ongoing supervision fees can run into thousands of pounds
• Slow — applications can take several months to process
• Stressful — your family must deal with legal proceedings at an already difficult time
• Not guaranteed — the court decides who becomes deputy, which may not be the person you would have chosen

Many families in Chiswick, Brentford, and across West London have found themselves in this situation. An LPA costs a fraction of a deputyship application, and it gives you the power to choose who makes decisions for you.

Common Misconceptions About LPAs

"I'm too young to need one"

Accidents and sudden illness can happen at any age. An LPA is not just for elderly people — anyone over 18 can and should consider having one.

"My family can just sort things out"

Without an LPA, your closest relatives have no automatic legal authority to access your bank accounts, sell your property, or make medical decisions on your behalf. Even a spouse cannot do these things without the proper legal authority.

"I already have a will, so I'm covered"

A will only takes effect after you die. An LPA covers you while you are alive but unable to make decisions. They serve completely different purposes, and ideally you should have both.

"It means giving up control"

Setting up an LPA does not mean handing over control of your life. You choose exactly who acts for you, and the LPA only comes into effect in the circumstances you define. While you have capacity, you remain fully in charge.

How to Set Up a Lasting Power of Attorney

The process is straightforward, especially with professional guidance:

1. Choose your attorneys — the people you trust most to act in your best interests
2. Decide on the type(s) — property and financial affairs, health and welfare, or both
3. Complete the forms — either online or on paper, with professional help if you prefer
4. Have it certified — a Certificate Provider confirms you understand the document
5. Register with the OPG — the document must be registered before it can be used

I offer home visits across Ealing, Hounslow, Richmond, Twickenham, and throughout London and Surrey to guide you through the process in the comfort of your own home.

Why Act Now?

The single most important thing to understand about an LPA is this: you can only make one while you have mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, it is too late. There is no way to create an LPA retrospectively.

Many people put it off, thinking they will get around to it eventually. But the whole point of an LPA is to prepare for the unexpected — and by definition, you cannot plan for when the unexpected will happen.