TL;DR: A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in England and Wales has two costs: the Office of the Public Guardian's registration fee, which is set by statute, and (optionally) a solicitor's fee for drafting and lodging the documents. The OPG fee is currently 82 pounds per LPA. Solicitors in England and Wales typically charge a few hundred pounds for a single LPA and more for both types together, with the exact figure depending on the firm, the complexity and the location. Doing the application directly through the OPG online service costs only the registration fee. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalents with different fees and processes.
Last reviewed May 2026
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets one or more people (the "attorneys") make decisions on behalf of someone else (the "donor") if that person becomes unable to do so. There are two types in England and Wales: an LPA for property and financial affairs and an LPA for health and welfare. Each type has its own fee.
The cost of putting an LPA in place falls into two parts. The first is the registration fee charged by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for processing and registering the document. That figure is fixed in regulations. The second is whether the donor uses a solicitor to draft, witness and submit the LPA, or completes it themselves through the OPG's online service. The solicitor's fee is where the variation is.
This guide sets out what the registration costs, what solicitors typically charge for handling an LPA, what the work involves, and the cheaper alternatives. Scottish and Northern Irish equivalents are summarised at the end.
The fixed cost: the OPG registration fee
An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. The registration fee in England and Wales is currently 82 pounds per LPA. A donor who wants both a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA will pay 82 pounds twice, totalling 164 pounds.
A reduction or exemption from the fee is available in some circumstances. A 50 percent reduction is available where the donor has a low gross annual income (currently below 12,000 pounds), supported by evidence of income. A full exemption is available where the donor receives certain means-tested benefits, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit. Universal Credit is considered separately on a case-by-case basis.
The reduction or exemption is claimed at the time of registration on form LPA120, which is submitted with the LPA forms and supporting evidence. The OPG processes the LPA and the fee request together.
What solicitors typically charge for an LPA
Solicitor fees for an LPA in England and Wales vary by firm, location and complexity. The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires firms to publish indicative pricing for certain consumer services, but probate and LPAs may or may not be in that scope, and many firms publish only ranges or "from" prices.
Typical price ranges seen in practice are roughly in the low hundreds of pounds for a single LPA and a higher figure for both types of LPA at the same time, often discounted as a package. Couples making mirror LPAs together may attract a further discount. The OPG registration fee is normally separate and either added to the bill or paid by the donor directly to the OPG.
Some firms quote a fixed fee inclusive of registration; others quote net of registration with the OPG fee added on. Donors should ask for a written, fixed-fee quote covering the LPA itself, the registration submission, the certificate provider role (if the solicitor is acting as certificate provider), and any disbursements.
What the solicitor's work actually covers
For a straightforward LPA, the work involved is moderate but specific. The solicitor takes instructions from the donor, advises on the choice and number of attorneys (acting jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly for some decisions and jointly and severally for others), explains the role of the certificate provider, and explains how preferences and instructions in the document are interpreted in law.
The solicitor then drafts the LPA forms, arranges signatures (donor, certificate provider, attorneys and witnesses, in the correct order required by the regulations), and submits the application to the OPG. The OPG conducts a four-week notice period during which named persons (if any) can object, and registers the LPA after that period if no valid objection is received.
Where there is added complexity (a donor with diminished but not absent capacity, family disputes, business interests within the property and financial affairs LPA, or non-standard preferences) the work and the fee can rise. Some firms charge for face-to-face capacity assessments by the solicitor as the certificate provider where they have not previously known the donor.
Doing it without a solicitor: the OPG online service
Donors can complete an LPA themselves directly through the GOV.UK Office of the Public Guardian online service, or by downloading and posting the paper forms (LP1F for property and financial affairs, LP1H for health and welfare). The cost is the OPG fee only.
The DIY route is feasible for donors with capacity who have a clear idea of who they want as attorneys, what powers they want to give, and who the certificate provider will be. The certificate provider is a person who confirms that the donor understands the LPA and is not under undue pressure. They can be either someone who has known the donor personally for at least two years or someone with the relevant professional skills (such as a doctor, solicitor or social worker).
The trade-off in doing it without a solicitor is that mistakes in the order of signatures, the wording of preferences and instructions, or the choice of attorney decision-making structure can lead to the LPA being rejected at registration or being unenforceable in part. Some donors take a hybrid approach, using a solicitor for advice and document review and submitting the application themselves.
Hidden or one-off costs to be aware of
There are some costs that sit outside the headline solicitor fee. Photocopying or certifying copies of the LPA for use with banks, pension providers and the Land Registry can carry a small charge. Office of the Public Guardian fees apply to subsequent applications too: applying to replace a lost LPA, removing or replacing an attorney, or registering an LPA created some years earlier all attract fees set out in the OPG's fee schedule.
There is no time limit on registering an LPA. Some donors create the LPA and register it immediately, so it is ready when needed. Others sign it but delay registration to save costs in the short term. Delaying registration can backfire if the donor's capacity later declines, because the LPA cannot be used until it is registered, and the OPG registration process takes weeks.
For couples making LPAs together, asking the solicitor for a packaged quote covering both partners and both types of LPA usually produces a lower per-document figure than four separate engagements.
Scotland and Northern Ireland: different documents, different fees
Scotland uses Continuing and Welfare Powers of Attorney under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland). The registration fee is set separately and exemptions apply for low-income donors.
Northern Ireland uses an Enduring Power of Attorney under separate legislation, registered with the Office of Care and Protection. Reform to introduce a Lasting Power of Attorney equivalent has been under discussion. Anyone in Northern Ireland creating a power of attorney should check the latest position with the Office of Care and Protection.
Solicitor fee ranges in Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be similar to England and Wales, although the underlying documents and registration arrangements differ. The Law Society of Scotland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland publish guidance on instructing solicitors in their jurisdictions.
Disclaimer: This article is general information about the cost of putting a power of attorney in place in the UK. It is not legal or financial advice. Solicitor fees vary by firm, location and the complexity of the donor's circumstances. The Office of the Public Guardian fees and rules can change. Anyone setting up a power of attorney should check current GOV.UK guidance and obtain a written, fixed-fee quote from the solicitor or service they intend to use.
Frequently asked questions
Is the OPG registration fee charged once or each time the LPA is used?
The OPG registration fee is charged once per LPA when the document is first registered. Banks, pension providers and other organisations should accept a registered LPA without additional registration costs, although they will usually want to see a certified copy on first use.
Can I get a fee reduction or exemption?
A 50 percent reduction is available where the donor has a low gross annual income (currently below 12,000 pounds), supported by evidence such as a payslip or HMRC document. A full exemption applies where the donor receives certain means-tested benefits. The reduction or exemption is claimed on form LPA120 submitted with the LPA.
How long does an LPA take to register?
The OPG must give a four-week notice period before registration so that named persons (if any) can object. Total processing usually takes a number of weeks beyond that, depending on demand and whether the application is correctly completed. Online applications are generally faster than postal applications.
Is it cheaper to do an LPA online without a solicitor?
Yes. Using the OPG's own online service costs only the registration fee per LPA. A solicitor adds professional fees for drafting, signing arrangements and submission. The right choice depends on the complexity of the donor's circumstances and how confident the donor is in completing the legal questions correctly.
Does the LPA cost the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different powers of attorney with their own legislation, registration bodies and fees. Solicitor charges in those jurisdictions are broadly similar to England and Wales but the underlying registration process and statutory fees are set separately.
How we verified this
The OPG registration fee, the fee reduction and exemption rules, and the LP1F and LP1H form references were checked against current GOV.UK and Office of the Public Guardian guidance. The structure of an LPA, the role of the certificate provider and the four-week notice period reflect the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007. Solicitor fee ranges referenced are descriptive of typical published indicative pricing in England and Wales; firms vary, and donors should obtain individual quotes. Scottish and Northern Irish equivalents are summarised from the relevant statutory bodies. Fees and rules should be reconfirmed before any decision is acted on.
