LPA Registration Fee Increase
The Ministry of Justice has announced a registration fee increase for Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPA’s). The increase goes from £82 to £92 on 17th November 2025. Repeat application fees will rise from £41 to £46.
Having a Lasting Power of Attorney in place is an essential part of planning for the future. It allows you to appoint a trusted friend or relative as your attorney. They can them make decisions and manage affairs on your behalf, should you ever be unable to do this yourself.
What does an LPA allow an attorney to do?
There are two types of LPA:
- A property and financial affairs LPA; and
- A health and welfare LPA
You can make either or both types of LPA, and choose the same attorneys or different attorneys for each.
Property and financial affairs LPA
You can choose what powers to give your attorneys. Authority commonly given to attorneys under a property and financial affairs LPA includes:
- Managing bank accounts
- Paying bills
- Receiving benefits
- Making investments
- Arranging for insurance and maintenance of property
- Paying for care
Health and welfare LPA
You can tailor your health and welfare LPA to give your attorney the authority you want them to have. This could include allowing them to:
- Decide what your day-to-day living will look like
- Choose who you will see
- Decide where you will live
- Select what medical treatment you will receive and what will be refused on your behalf
How many attorneys can you appoint in your LPA?
You can appoint as many attorneys as you want in your LPA, but for practical purposes, it is common to have one or two. With two or more attorneys, you choose if they can act alone or together. It is possible to require them to make major decisions jointly, such as deciding on care or the sale of a property. When it comes to dealing with minor issues, such as routine bill payments, they can act individually. A replacement attorney is also a sensible choice. This person can step in and speak for you if your original choice is unable or unwilling to do so at some point in the future.
When is an LPA registered?
An LPA cannot be used by an attorney until it is registered. Professionals will advise registration as soon as the document is signed. The registration fee is rising from £82 to £92 on 17 November 2025. Should you need to reapply, for example, because there was an error on the form or a previous application was rejected, the repeat fee is £41, rising to £46. The Office of the Public Guardian aims to deal with registrations within 40 days.
How do you use an LPA?
A property and financial affairs LPA can be used by the attorney as soon as it is signed and registered. There is no need to wait until the person giving the authority loses the capacity to manage their own affairs. For example, you might want your attorney to deal with a financial matter while you are away, and they could use the LPA for this. A health and welfare LPA can only be used if the person who made it has lost mental capacity.
The attorney’s obligations
Attorneys must act in the following way:
- Observe the donor’s best interests at all times
- Avoid any conflict of interest
- Assume that the donor has the mental capacity to deal with their own affairs unless there is evidence to the contrary
- Assist the donor to make a decision for themselves wherever possible
- Allow the donor to make an unwise decision if they wish to do so
Why is it important to have an LPA?
Should you lose mental capacity, an LPA allows your attorney to step in and manage your affairs on your behalf. Without an LPA, your loved ones would not be able to access your bank account, deal with other financial matters or make healthcare decisions for you. They would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order. This is a lengthy process, and in the meantime, they would not be able to pay bills on your behalf or make necessary arrangements for you. The process of obtaining a deputyship order is also lengthier and more complicated than putting LPAs in place. In addition, there is more yearly supervision and higher fees. By making LPAs now, you can avoid the risk of this and be assured that your family will be able to step in immediately, should this be needed at any point in the future.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team about Lasting Powers of Attorney please call us FREE on 0800 781 6658 or email us at enquiries@estplan.co.uk
Our services help numerous clients and their families to proactively safeguard their wealth and optimise inheritance for cherished beneficiaries. Plan for the future now, ensuring later-life protection and certainty for your loved ones.