How to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney UK 2026

UK adults who have made a lasting power of attorney need to register it with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. This guide explains how registration works in England and Wales: who can apply, the steps involved, the £92 fee, how long it takes, and how objections are handled. It cites the Office of the Public Guardian and the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Kael Tripton is an editorial publisher and not a regulated legal services provider. This article is information only and is not legal advice. Anyone dealing with their own or a relative's LPA should consult an SRA-authorised solicitor or Citizens Advice.

What registering an LPA means

Registration is the formal step that brings a lasting power of attorney into legal force. Until the Office of the Public Guardian has registered it, the document gives the attorney no authority, even if it has been signed and witnessed correctly (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The legal basis for registration sits in the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which requires LPAs to be registered before they can be used (Mental Capacity Act 2005, legislation.gov.uk).

It is generally sensible to register an LPA soon after it is made rather than waiting until it is needed. Registration takes weeks, and an unregistered LPA cannot be used in an emergency. Registering early also means any errors are caught while the donor still has capacity to correct them. The donor can register the LPA themselves, or an attorney can do it, and either can do so at any time while the donor has capacity (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

When and why registration matters

Because the property and financial affairs LPA can be used as soon as it is registered, with the donor's permission, registering early lets an attorney help with banking and bills during a period of illness without delay. The health and welfare LPA cannot be used until capacity is lost, but registering it in advance means it is ready the moment it is needed (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

Leaving registration until capacity has already gone is the most common cause of difficulty. An LPA cannot be made or registered once the donor has lost the capacity to make it, so a family in that position may have no option but to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship, which is slower and more expensive. Registering while the donor is well removes that risk.

The process step by step

1. Check the LPA is complete. Confirm the document has been signed and dated by the donor, certificate provider, and attorneys in the correct order (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
2. Notify any people to be told. If the donor named people to be told about the application, they must be sent notice and given three weeks to raise concerns (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
3. Apply to register. The donor or an attorney submits the application to the Office of the Public Guardian, online or by post (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
4. Pay the fee. Pay the £92 fee per LPA, or apply for a reduced fee or exemption using form LPA120 where eligible (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
5. Wait through the statutory period. The OPG holds the LPA for a 4-week waiting period set by law, allowing objections to be raised (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
6. Receive the registered LPA. The OPG returns the registered document, usually within 8 to 10 weeks where there are no errors, after which it can be used (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

Costs and fees

Registration costs £92 per LPA for applications received from 17 November 2025 (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). A person registering both a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA pays the fee twice. A 50 percent reduction is available where the donor's gross income is below £12,000 a year, and a full exemption applies where the donor receives certain means-tested benefits, both claimed using form LPA120 (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

If the application contains errors and is rejected, a further fee may be payable to apply again, which is one reason to check the document carefully before submitting. There is no separate charge for using the government online service to complete and submit the registration. Money Helper explains the routes available and where to find help (moneyhelper.org.uk, accessed June 2026).

Objections and rejection reasons

During the statutory waiting period, certain people can object to registration. An attorney or named person can raise a factual objection, for example that the donor has died or that an attorney is bankrupt, and concerned parties can object to the Court of Protection on grounds such as fraud or undue pressure (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The OPG also rejects applications that contain errors before registration is completed.

Common rejection reasons include signatures dated in the wrong order, missing signatures or dates, an attorney also acting as certificate provider, and instructions that cannot lawfully be carried out (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Catching these before submission avoids both the delay and a possible repeat fee.

How this connects to wills and probate

Registering an LPA is part of planning for the window during a person's life when capacity might be lost. It works alongside the LPA for property and financial affairs and the costs set out in the LPA cost guide. Once the donor dies, every LPA ends, and authority passes to the executor named in the will, who applies for a grant of probate to administer the estate.

Because the LPA covers life and the will covers death, registering the LPA and making a will are often handled together. Registering the LPA in good time ensures there is no gap during which a family cannot act, and the will ensures the estate passes according to the donor's wishes after death rather than under the intestacy rules.

When to use a solicitor versus doing it yourself

The Office of the Public Guardian provides an online service that lets a donor or attorney register an LPA without professional help, and for a straightforward document this route is widely used at no cost beyond the fee (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

A solicitor can be useful where the LPA was professionally drafted with complex instructions, where there is a risk of objection from family members, or where the donor's capacity to make the LPA might be questioned. A solicitor can check the document before submission to reduce the risk of rejection and can advise if an objection is raised. The Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority maintain registers of authorised solicitors (lawsociety.org.uk and sra.org.uk, accessed June 2026). The decision depends on the complexity of the document and the likelihood of dispute.

FAQ: registering a lasting power of attorney

Who can register an LPA?

Either the donor or an attorney named in the LPA can apply to register it with the Office of the Public Guardian (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Registration can happen at any time while the donor still has the mental capacity to have made the LPA. Registering early is generally sensible because the document cannot be used until registration is complete.

How long does registration take?

Registration usually completes in 8 to 10 weeks where the application contains no errors, and can take up to 16 weeks in some cases (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). This includes a statutory 4-week waiting period during which people can object. Errors in the application can cause rejection and further delay, so checking the document before submission helps.

How much does it cost to register?

The fee is £92 per LPA for applications received from 17 November 2025 (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). A 50 percent reduction applies where the donor's income is below £12,000 a year, and a full exemption applies on certain means-tested benefits, both claimed using form LPA120. Registering two LPAs means paying the fee twice.

Can I use the LPA before it is registered?

No. A lasting power of attorney has no legal effect until the Office of the Public Guardian has registered it (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). A signed but unregistered LPA gives an attorney no authority, which is why registering soon after making the document, rather than waiting until it is needed, is generally recommended by the guidance.

Can someone object to registration?

Yes. During the statutory waiting period, attorneys or named people can raise factual objections, and concerned parties can object to the Court of Protection on grounds such as fraud or undue pressure (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The OPG also rejects applications containing errors. Case-specific advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice helps where an objection is likely.