The new tax year is a good time to get organised. Alongside reviewing your savings, checking your paperwork and making sure your wishes are up to date, it is worth looking at one of the most important legal documents you can put in place for the future: a Lasting Power of Attorney, often shortened to LPA.
An LPA is not just for later life. It is a practical legal document that allows you to choose trusted people to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. That could happen because of illness, an accident, or a loss of mental capacity. Putting an LPA in place early can remove uncertainty and make life much easier for your family if something unexpected happens.
At Evans Legacy Planning, we help clients across England and Wales understand LPAs in plain English and guide them through the process step by step through our Lasting Power of Attorney across England and Wales service:
https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney/
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more trusted people, known as attorneys, to make decisions on your behalf if needed. In England and Wales, there are two types of LPA: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA. GOV.UK confirms both types and explains how they work.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
This allows your attorneys to help with matters such as:
paying bills
managing bank accounts
dealing with pensions
handling property matters
looking after savings and finances
This allows your attorneys to make decisions about:
care and support
medical treatment
daily routine
where you live
life-sustaining treatment, if you choose to give them that authority
A Health and Welfare LPA can only be used if you lack capacity to make the decision yourself at the time. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA can be used once registered, depending on how it is set up. GOV.UK explains that an LPA must be registered before it can be used.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
Many people assume their spouse, partner or adult children can automatically step in if something goes wrong. In reality, that is not always the case. Without an LPA, your family may face delays and may have to go through a more complicated legal process before they can help manage your affairs.
Putting an LPA in place gives you:
more control over who acts for you
more clarity for your family
less risk of delay in a crisis
a clear record of your wishes
If you want a fuller overview of how this works, visit our main LPA page here:
https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney/
That is not true. Anyone aged 18 or over with mental capacity can make an LPA. Illness or injury can happen at any age. GOV.UK confirms that you must be 18 or over and have capacity when making an LPA.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/make-lasting-power
Not necessarily. Marriage or partnership does not automatically give someone legal authority to deal with all your finances, care or medical decisions. That is one of the reasons LPAs are so important.
No. An LPA is about planning ahead while you still have full choice. You choose who your attorneys are, you can appoint replacements, and you can add preferences and instructions to help guide future decisions. GOV.UK’s overview explains this process.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
No, not legally. You can make an LPA yourself using the official process. If you want to read the formal government guidance, start here:
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
However, many people still choose professional help because mistakes are common. Problems with dates, signatures, witness details or instructions can all lead to delays or rejection.
That is why many families prefer support from a professional service that checks the paperwork carefully and helps get things right first time.
You can prepare an LPA yourself, but there are a few common mistakes that regularly cause problems:
signing in the wrong order
incorrect or inconsistent dates
witness details missing
choosing the wrong certificate provider
unclear instructions
no replacement attorney planning
GOV.UK says registration usually takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application. Errors can make the process take longer.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
If you want step-by-step support instead of trying to work it all out yourself, see How We Help here:
https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/how-we-help/
Your attorneys should be people you trust fully. They should also be able to stay calm, communicate clearly and make sensible decisions under pressure.
Good attorneys are usually:
trustworthy
organised
responsible
able to communicate well
willing to act in your best interests
You can appoint attorneys jointly, jointly and severally, or in a mixture of ways depending on your circumstances. You can also appoint replacement attorneys, which gives extra protection if one of your chosen people cannot act in future.
This part is very important, because small mistakes can cause major delays.
GOV.UK explains the official signing and registration process here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/make-a-lasting-power-of-attorney/lp12-make-and-register-your-lasting-power-of-attorney-a-guide-web-version
The certificate provider is the person who confirms that you understand what you are signing and that you are not being pressured into it. The forms also need to be signed in the correct order, with the correct witnesses and dates.
This is one of the main areas where professional guidance can save time and reduce the risk of rejection.
There is a government registration fee of £92 per LPA, unless you qualify for a reduction or exemption. If you make both types of LPA, the total government fee is usually £184. GOV.UK confirms the current fee and explains that reductions or exemptions may apply depending on circumstances.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
Professional support, if you choose it, is charged separately.
GOV.UK says it usually takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application.
https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register
That is why it is usually best not to leave LPAs until there is an urgent problem.
At Evans Legacy Planning, we guide clients through the process in plain English and help reduce the risk of common mistakes.
We can help with:
understanding the two types of LPA
choosing attorneys and replacements
preparing the forms properly
checking signing order and witness details
avoiding mistakes that lead to delays
making sure your LPA planning fits with your wider estate planning
We can also help make sure your LPA planning fits properly with your Will, any Trusts and your broader family wishes. You can read more here:
Trusts page: https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/trusts/
How We Help page: https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/how-we-help/
Putting LPAs in place is not about expecting the worst. It is about being prepared, protecting your interests and making things easier for the people you trust most.
If you want help putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place across England and Wales, Evans Legacy Planning can guide you through the process clearly and carefully.
To get started, request a Complimentary Family Legacy Review here:
https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/contact/
You can also read more plain-English guides in the Evans Legacy Planning News & Advice section here:
https://evanslegacyplanning.co.uk/news/
Enter your details below, and one of our expert advisors will contact you within 24 hours to arrange your free, no-obligation consultation. Together, we’ll ensure your family’s legacy is protected for generations to come.
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