Revoking a Lasting Power of Attorney UK 2026

UK adults who have made a lasting power of attorney sometimes need to change their mind, replace an attorney, or end the document entirely. This guide explains how revoking an LPA works in England and Wales: when a donor can revoke, the deed of revocation, the situations in which an LPA ends automatically, and the role of the Office of the Public Guardian. 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 considering revoking an LPA should consult an SRA-authorised solicitor or Citizens Advice.

What revoking an LPA means

Revoking a lasting power of attorney means formally cancelling it so that the attorneys no longer have authority to act. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 allows a donor who still has the mental capacity to make the decision to revoke an LPA at any time, whether or not it has been registered (Mental Capacity Act 2005, legislation.gov.uk). Revocation is the donor's right and does not require anyone's permission, although the correct process must be followed for it to take effect.

There is a difference between revoking an LPA, which the donor does deliberately, and an LPA ending automatically because of an event such as death or an attorney becoming bankrupt. Both result in the LPA no longer being usable, but they happen in different ways. Understanding which applies matters, because an attorney who continues to act under an LPA that has ended has no legal authority to do so (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

When you might revoke an LPA

A donor might revoke an LPA because their relationship with an attorney has broken down, because an attorney has moved away or become unwell, or simply because they want to appoint different people. Because an LPA cannot be amended once it has been made, a donor who wants to change who their attorneys are, or how they must act, generally revokes the existing LPA and makes a new one (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

Revocation is only available while the donor has capacity to make that decision. A donor who has lost capacity cannot revoke their LPA, and concerns about an attorney's conduct at that stage are dealt with by the Office of the Public Guardian and, where necessary, the Court of Protection. This is another reason to keep an LPA under review while the donor is well, rather than treating it as a document that never needs revisiting.

The process step by step

1. Confirm capacity. The donor must have the mental capacity to decide to end the LPA (Mental Capacity Act 2005, legislation.gov.uk).
2. Write a deed of revocation. The donor prepares a written statement that names the LPA, its type, the date it was signed, and the attorneys, and states that the LPA and the authority granted by it are revoked (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
3. Sign and witness the deed. The deed of revocation is signed and witnessed as required (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
4. Send it to the OPG. The donor sends the Office of the Public Guardian the original registered LPA and the deed of revocation (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
5. Tell the attorneys. The donor informs the attorneys that the LPA has been revoked so they stop acting (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).
6. Make a new LPA if needed. A donor who still wants attorneys in place makes and registers a fresh LPA (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026).

When an LPA ends automatically

Some events end an LPA without any action by the donor. The Office of the Public Guardian cancels an LPA when the donor dies, because all of an attorney's authority ends at that point (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). An LPA also ends if an attorney can no longer act and there is no replacement attorney to step in, for example where attorneys had to act jointly on all decisions and one of them dies or loses capacity.

For a property and financial affairs LPA, an attorney being made bankrupt or subject to a debt relief order ends their appointment. Divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership ends the appointment of a spouse or civil partner who was named as an attorney, unless the LPA states that it should continue (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). An attorney can also choose to stop acting by formally disclaiming their appointment and notifying the donor and the OPG.

How this connects to wills and probate

Revoking an LPA is part of keeping lifetime documents up to date, in the same way that a will is kept current. Just as a person can change a will through a codicil or a fresh will, they can replace an LPA by revoking it and making a new one. The two run on parallel tracks: the LPA governs decisions during life, and the will governs the estate after death.

Because an LPA ends at death, revocation only matters while the donor is alive. After death, the will takes over and the executors deal with the estate, while an unregistered or revoked LPA simply has no further role. A donor who finds they need a different decision-maker for the future might also consider whether their attorney choices match the executor choices in their will, and whether a deputyship would be the route if no valid LPA were in place.

When to use a solicitor versus doing it yourself

A donor with capacity can prepare a deed of revocation and send it to the Office of the Public Guardian without professional help, and gov.uk provides guidance on the wording required (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). For a straightforward decision to end an LPA, this route is open to the donor directly.

Professional advice is more useful where there is a dispute about an attorney's conduct, where the donor's capacity to revoke might be questioned, or where the situation involves both revoking one LPA and making another with complex instructions. A solicitor can ensure the deed is valid and advise on the consequences. Concerns about an attorney where the donor has lost capacity should be reported to the Office of the Public Guardian, and the Court of Protection can intervene in serious cases (Mental Capacity Act 2005, legislation.gov.uk). The Law Society lists authorised solicitors (lawsociety.org.uk, accessed June 2026).

FAQ: revoking a lasting power of attorney

Can I cancel my LPA after it has been registered?

Yes. A donor with the mental capacity to make the decision can revoke a registered LPA at any time (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). The donor sends the Office of the Public Guardian the original LPA and a deed of revocation, then tells the attorneys to stop acting. Registration does not prevent a capable donor from ending the LPA.

What is a deed of revocation?

A deed of revocation is a written statement in which the donor names the LPA, its type, the date it was signed, and the attorneys, and states that the LPA and the authority it granted are revoked (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). It is signed and witnessed, then sent to the Office of the Public Guardian with the original LPA. gov.uk sets out the wording required.

Can I just change one attorney instead of cancelling the whole LPA?

An LPA cannot be amended once it has been made, so changing attorneys usually means revoking the existing LPA and making a new one (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). In some cases an attorney can be removed while others remain, depending on how the LPA was set up, but a change of attorneys generally requires a fresh document. Case-specific advice helps here.

What happens to an LPA if the attorney and donor divorce?

If the attorney is the donor's spouse or civil partner, divorce or dissolution of the civil partnership ends that attorney's appointment, unless the LPA states that it should continue (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). If there is no replacement attorney and the divorced attorney was the only one, the LPA may end. The donor may wish to make a new LPA in that situation.

Can someone else cancel my LPA?

A donor with capacity is the only person who can revoke their own LPA (Office of the Public Guardian, gov.uk, accessed June 2026). Where the donor has lost capacity, concerns about an attorney are reported to the Office of the Public Guardian, and the Court of Protection can cancel an LPA or remove an attorney who has acted improperly (Mental Capacity Act 2005, legislation.gov.uk). Family members cannot simply cancel an LPA themselves.