A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one of the most important documents you can put in place as part of your estate planning. It allows you to appoint someone you trust — your attorney — to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the mental capacity to do so yourself. Without one, your family could face months of delays and significant expense applying through the Court of Protection for a deputyship order.
For homeowners aged 45-75 thinking about protecting their family’s future, understanding the costs of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney in 2026 is essential. The good news is that LPAs are one of the most affordable pieces of legal protection available — and the cost of not having one can be many times higher. Here, we break down the fees, the process, and how to get the best value.
Our aim is to give you clear, practical guidance on LPA costs so you can make informed decisions about protecting yourself and the people who matter most.
Key Takeaways
- A Lasting Power of Attorney is essential — without one, your family may need to apply for a costly deputyship through the Court of Protection.
- The OPG registration fee per LPA is reviewed periodically — we cover the current position and how to check the latest charges below.
- Professional fees from solicitors vary, but a straightforward LPA typically costs between £300 and £600 per document.
- DIY is possible through the government’s online service, but mistakes can lead to rejections and delays.
- Setting up LPAs is far cheaper than the alternative — a deputyship application can cost £1,000-£2,000+ and take many months.
Understanding Lasting Power of Attorney
Understanding what a Lasting Power of Attorney actually does — and why it matters — is the first step in protecting yourself and your family. An LPA is a legal document, governed by the Mental Capacity Act 2005, that lets you appoint one or more people (your attorneys) to step in and make decisions for you if you ever lose the mental capacity to make them yourself.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal instrument registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) that authorises your chosen attorney to make decisions on your behalf. It only takes full effect — in the case of a Health and Welfare LPA — when you lose mental capacity, though a Property and Financial Affairs LPA can be used as soon as it’s registered, with your consent.
There are two distinct types of LPA, and they cover very different areas of your life. You can create one or both, and you can appoint different attorneys for each. Crucially, an LPA can only be created while you still have mental capacity — once capacity is lost, it’s too late, and your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order. That process is slower, more expensive, and gives your family far less control over who is appointed and how decisions are made.
Importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney
Having LPAs in place is about more than ticking a box — it’s about keeping control. Without an LPA, if you lose mental capacity through illness, accident, or dementia, nobody — not even your spouse — automatically has the legal authority to manage your bank accounts, sell your property, or make decisions about your medical care.
Instead, your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order. This process typically costs £1,000-£2,000+ in legal fees and court charges, takes several months, and requires ongoing supervision fees and annual reporting to the OPG. The court may also appoint someone you wouldn’t have chosen. By contrast, an LPA puts the decision firmly in your hands — you choose who acts for you, and you can include specific instructions and preferences to guide them.
With around 900,000 people in the UK currently living with dementia — a figure projected to rise to over 1 million by 2030 — putting LPAs in place while you’re fit and well is one of the smartest and most affordable pieces of planning you can do. As Mike Pugh often says: “Plan, don’t panic.”
Types of Lasting Power of Attorney
There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA: This authorises your attorney to manage your finances — accessing bank accounts, paying bills, managing investments, dealing with HMRC, collecting your state pension, and buying or selling property on your behalf. This LPA can be used as soon as it’s registered (with your permission), even while you still have capacity, which can be useful if you’re physically unwell but mentally sound.
- Health and Welfare LPA: This authorises your attorney to make decisions about your daily care, medical treatment, where you live, and — if you specify — whether to consent to or refuse life-sustaining treatment. This LPA can only be used once you have lost mental capacity.
Both types are important in their own right, and most estate planning professionals recommend setting up both. They are separate documents, each requiring its own registration fee.
| Type of LPA | Decisions Covered | When Decisions Can Be Made |
|---|---|---|
| Property and Financial Affairs | Managing bank accounts, paying bills, selling property, handling tax affairs, managing investments | As soon as it’s registered (with your consent), or automatically if you lose mental capacity |
| Health and Welfare | Daily care, medical treatment, living arrangements, life-sustaining treatment decisions | Only when you lose mental capacity |
Cost Overview for Lasting Power of Attorney
Understanding the costs involved in setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney is essential for budgeting as part of your wider estate planning. The total expense depends on whether you complete the forms yourself or use professional help — but either way, it’s considerably less than the cost of a deputyship application if you leave it too late.
Initial Application Fees
Each LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. The OPG charges a registration fee per LPA document. As fees are periodically reviewed, it’s always advisable to check the latest charges on the GOV.UK website before applying. If you’re setting up both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA, you’ll pay the registration fee twice — once for each document.
Fee exemptions and reductions are available. If you receive certain means-tested benefits (such as Universal Credit, Income Support, or the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit), you may be entitled to a full exemption. If your gross annual income is below a specified threshold, you may qualify for a 50% reduction. These concessions are worth checking, as they can significantly reduce your upfront costs.
Other Potential Costs
Beyond the OPG registration fee, there are several other costs to be aware of when setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney:
- Solicitor or specialist firm fees: If you use a solicitor or a specialist estate planning firm to draft and submit your LPA, their professional fees will be an additional cost — typically the largest single expense.
- Certificate provider fees: Every LPA requires an independent certificate provider to confirm the donor understands the LPA and isn’t being pressured. If you use a professional (such as a solicitor or doctor) rather than a personal acquaintance, they may charge a fee — though many solicitors include this within their overall LPA service.
- Postage and administrative costs: If applying by post rather than online, there are minor costs for printing, postage, and any supporting documentation.
If your application is rejected by the OPG due to errors, you may need to re-submit and potentially pay the registration fee again, so getting it right first time matters.
Comparison with Other Legal Documents
To put LPA costs in perspective, here’s how they compare with other common estate planning documents:
| Legal Document | Typical Cost | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Lasting Power of Attorney (each) | OPG fee + £300-£600 (if using a solicitor) | Appoints someone to make decisions for you during your lifetime if you lose capacity |
| Will | £200-£500 (solicitor-drafted) | Directs how your estate is distributed after death |
| Lifetime Trust | From £850 (depending on complexity) | Protects assets during your lifetime and beyond — from care fees, inheritance tax, family disputes, and probate delays |
| Court of Protection deputyship | £1,000-£2,000+ plus ongoing annual fees | Court-appointed deputy if no LPA exists — much more expensive and far less control |
When you compare the cost of an LPA with the potential cost of a deputyship — or the distress of having no one legally authorised to act for you — it’s clear that an LPA is one of the most cost-effective pieces of legal protection available.
Application Process in the UK
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales follows a defined process. Whether you complete the forms yourself through the government’s online service or use a solicitor, the core steps are the same. Getting them right is important — errors lead to rejections and delays.
Steps to Apply for a Lasting Power of Attorney
Applying for an LPA involves several key steps:
- Choose your LPA type: Decide whether you need a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, a Health and Welfare LPA, or both (most people benefit from both).
- Choose your attorney(s): Select one or more people you trust. Discuss your wishes with them so they understand your preferences and values. You can also appoint replacement attorneys in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act.
- Complete the LPA form: You can do this online through the government’s ‘Make a lasting power of attorney’ service on GOV.UK, or using paper forms. The online process guides you through each section.
- Add any preferences and instructions: You can include specific instructions (which your attorneys must follow) or preferences (which they should consider but aren’t legally bound by).
- Arrange a certificate provider: An independent person must confirm that you understand the LPA and aren’t being coerced. This can be someone who has known you personally for at least two years, or a professional such as a solicitor, doctor, or social worker.
- Sign and witness: The LPA must be signed in the correct order — donor first, then the certificate provider, then each attorney. Each signature must be witnessed by an independent person aged 18 or over.
- Register with the OPG: Submit the completed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian along with the registration fee. The LPA cannot be used until it has been registered.
It’s essential to ensure that all information is accurate, that the signing order is correct, and that all required sections are completed — these are the most common reasons for applications being returned by the OPG.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The OPG rejects a significant number of LPA applications each year due to avoidable errors. The most common mistakes include:
- Signing in the wrong order: The donor must sign first, then the certificate provider, then each attorney. Getting this wrong invalidates the document.
- Missing or incorrect witness details: Each signature needs a witness (who must be aged 18 or over and cannot be the attorney being witnessed).
- Using an unsuitable certificate provider: The certificate provider cannot be a family member, your attorney, or an employee of your care home. They must be genuinely independent.
- Leaving sections blank or incomplete: Every mandatory section must be completed, even if the answer is “none” or “not applicable.”
- Not paying the correct fee: Ensure the correct registration fee is included with the application — check the current amount on GOV.UK before submitting.
For more detailed guidance on the fees involved, you can visit our page on understanding lasting power of attorney fees.
Timeline for Processing Applications
Once submitted to the OPG, there is a mandatory waiting period during which people named in the LPA (such as family members you’ve listed to be notified) can raise objections. After this waiting period, the OPG aims to process applications within a further few weeks, though delays can occur during busy periods or if there are issues with the application.
In total, you should allow around 8-12 weeks from submission to receiving a registered LPA, though the new digital process under the Powers of Attorney Act 2023 aims to reduce this. This is exactly why it’s important to apply well in advance — not when a health crisis is already underway. As Mike Pugh often says: “Plan, don’t panic.” The time to set up an LPA is while you’re fit, well, and have full mental capacity.
If you wait until capacity is in doubt, it may be too late — and your family could face the far more expensive and time-consuming deputyship process instead.
Factors Influencing Costs
The total cost of setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney isn’t one-size-fits-all. Several factors can push the price up or keep it down, and understanding these variables helps you budget realistically and avoid unnecessary expense.
Complexity of the Arrangement
A straightforward LPA — one donor, one or two attorneys acting jointly and severally, with no unusual instructions — is the most affordable to set up. Costs increase when the arrangement becomes more complex. For example:
- Appointing multiple attorneys with different decision-making structures (some acting jointly for certain decisions and severally for others) requires more careful drafting.
- Including detailed instructions or preferences — particularly around medical treatment or specific financial management rules — adds time and complexity.
- Blended families, business interests, or significant assets may require specialist advice to ensure the LPA dovetails with your wider estate planning (including any lifetime trusts, wills, or business succession arrangements).
If your situation is straightforward, the process can be very affordable. If it’s more complex, professional guidance is worth the investment to avoid costly errors or unintended consequences.
Use of Legal Services vs. DIY
This is the single biggest factor affecting what you’ll pay. Using the government’s free online service at GOV.UK means your only cost is the OPG registration fee. Using a solicitor or specialist estate planning firm adds professional fees on top — but those fees buy you expertise, error-checking, and the confidence that your LPA is properly drafted and will work when it’s needed.
The trade-off is straightforward: DIY is cheaper upfront but carries more risk of mistakes and rejections. Professional help costs more but significantly reduces the chance of problems. For anyone with property, pensions, or complex family circumstances, professional drafting is almost always worth it. The law — like medicine — is broad. You wouldn’t want your GP doing surgery, and equally, getting specialist legal help for your LPA ensures it’s done correctly.
For guidance on choosing the right type of LPA for your circumstances, see our detailed guide on what power of attorney you need in the UK.
Regional Variations in Pricing
Solicitor fees vary across the country. London and the South East tend to charge more than firms in the Midlands, North, or Wales — reflecting higher overheads rather than necessarily a better service. A solicitor in central London might charge £500-£700 per LPA, while a firm in a market town might charge £300-£450 for the same work.
It’s worth noting that location matters less than it used to. Many solicitors and specialist firms now offer LPA services remotely — by phone, video call, and secure online platforms — meaning you’re not limited to providers in your immediate area. This gives you the opportunity to compare prices nationally and find good value without compromising on quality.
Professional Fees for Solicitors
If you decide to use professional help for your LPA — which we generally recommend for anyone with property or meaningful assets — it helps to understand what solicitors typically charge and what you’re getting for your money.
Average Costs of Solicitor Services
Solicitor fees for LPA preparation vary depending on the firm, their location, and the complexity of your situation. Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you can expect in 2026:
| Service | Typical Cost Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Single LPA (Property & Financial Affairs OR Health & Welfare) | £300 – £500 | Drafting, advice on attorney choices, submission to OPG (registration fee usually charged separately) |
| Both LPAs (pair) | £500 – £800 | Most firms offer a discounted rate for both LPAs done together |
| Both LPAs for a couple (4 documents) | £900 – £1,400 | Drafting and registration for both partners — significant savings over doing them individually |
These figures are in addition to the OPG registration fee per LPA. Some firms include the registration fee in their quoted price, so always clarify what’s included before instructing a solicitor.
When to Consider Hiring a Solicitor
While DIY LPAs are fine for very simple situations, professional help is strongly advisable if:
- You own property or have significant savings and investments.
- You have a blended family (children from previous relationships) where attorney choices need careful thought.
- You want your LPA to work in harmony with your will and any lifetime trusts you have in place.
- You’re uncertain about the legal implications of different attorney structures (joint, joint and several, or a mix).
- The donor has any existing health conditions that could lead to questions about their capacity to make the LPA.
As Mike Pugh puts it: “The law — like medicine — is broad. You wouldn’t want your GP doing surgery.” Using a specialist ensures your LPA is drafted correctly and works within your wider estate plan.
Benefits of Professional Assistance
Engaging a solicitor or specialist estate planning firm for your LPA offers several concrete advantages:
- Expertise: Professionals understand the nuances of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and can advise on the best structure for your circumstances.
- Error prevention: A professionally prepared LPA is far less likely to be rejected by the OPG, saving you time and the cost of re-submission.
- Integrated planning: A good adviser will ensure your LPA works alongside your will, any trusts, and your wider estate plan — avoiding contradictions or gaps.
- Certificate provider: Many solicitors act as the certificate provider as part of their service, saving you the task of finding a suitable independent person.
- Peace of mind: Knowing that your LPA has been professionally drafted and will stand up when it’s needed is invaluable — because by definition, you won’t be in a position to fix problems at that point.
When you weigh the cost of professional help against the potential expense and distress of a deputyship application — or an LPA that fails when it’s needed most — the investment in getting it right is modest by comparison.
DIY Lasting Power of Attorney Options
If your situation is straightforward and you’re comfortable completing official forms, the government’s online LPA service offers a genuine DIY option that can save you professional fees.
Templates and Resources Available
The primary DIY route is through the government’s own ‘Make a lasting power of attorney’ service on GOV.UK. This free online tool walks you through the process step by step, generating the correct legal forms based on your answers. It’s well-designed and accessible. You can also still use paper forms if you prefer, downloadable from the OPG website.
Additional helpful resources include:
- The Age UK website, which provides comprehensive guidance on LPAs, including step-by-step instructions and factsheets.
- Citizens Advice, which offers free guidance on the LPA process and can point you towards local support.
- The OPG’s own guidance notes, which explain each section of the forms in detail.
Risks of DIY Applications
While DIY LPAs can work well for simple situations, there are real risks to be aware of. The OPG returns a significant number of applications each year due to errors — and each rejection means delay, frustration, and potentially paying the registration fee again.
Common problems with DIY applications include:
- Signing order errors: The most frequent issue. The donor, certificate provider, and attorneys must sign in the correct sequence — getting this wrong renders the entire document invalid.
- Unsuitable certificate provider: Choosing someone who doesn’t meet the OPG’s requirements (for example, a family member or someone who hasn’t known you long enough).
- Contradictory or unworkable instructions: Without legal guidance, people sometimes include preferences or instructions that conflict with each other or are legally unenforceable.
- Choosing the wrong attorney structure: Not understanding the difference between attorneys acting “jointly” (must all agree on every decision) versus “jointly and severally” (can act independently) can create serious problems later — particularly if one attorney becomes unable to act.
Cost Savings in Going DIY
The main advantage of DIY is clear: you save on professional fees entirely, meaning your only cost is the OPG registration fee per LPA. For a couple creating both types of LPA, this could save £900-£1,400 compared to using a solicitor.
However, it’s important to be honest about whether DIY is right for you. If you own property, have substantial savings, or have a complex family situation, the savings may not be worth the risk. A rejected application means delays and potentially additional fees. And an LPA that contains errors or ambiguities may cause real problems years later — at exactly the point when you’re not able to fix them yourself.
The key to a successful DIY LPA is careful attention to detail and using the government’s own online tool rather than third-party templates of uncertain quality. If in doubt, even a brief paid consultation with a solicitor to review your completed forms before submission can be money well spent.
Financial Implications of Lasting Power of Attorney
The cost of setting up an LPA is a one-off expense, but the financial implications extend much further. An LPA is not just about the initial fee — it’s about what happens to your money, your property, and your family’s financial security if you lose the ability to manage things yourself.
Managing Costs Over Time
Once your LPA is registered, there are generally no ongoing fees payable to the OPG. The costs of maintaining an LPA are minimal — it sits ready to be used if and when it’s needed. Compare this with a Court of Protection deputyship, where the deputy is typically required to pay annual supervision fees to the OPG (tiered based on the value of assets under management), file annual reports, and potentially seek court approval for certain decisions — all at additional cost.
Here’s a realistic comparison of the cost difference:
| Scenario | Setup Cost | Ongoing Costs |
|---|---|---|
| LPA (both types, professionally drafted) | £700-£1,200 (including OPG fees) | None (unless you choose to create a new LPA) |
| Court of Protection deputyship | £1,000-£2,000+ (application and legal fees) | Annual supervision fees, reporting costs, and potential court application fees for significant decisions |
Impact on Estate Planning
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a vital piece of your wider estate plan — but it’s important to understand what it does and doesn’t do. An LPA allows your attorney to manage your affairs during your lifetime. It does not, on its own, protect your assets from inheritance tax, care fees, or probate delays after death. Those require different tools — such as lifetime trusts, wills, and careful inheritance tax planning.
However, a well-drafted Property and Financial Affairs LPA enables your attorney to continue managing your finances efficiently, which can prevent waste, protect investments, and ensure bills and taxes are paid on time. This is especially important if you need to go into residential care — where average costs currently range from £1,100 to £1,500 per week depending on the level of care and location. Your attorney can manage the financial side of things, deal with local authority means-test assessments, and ensure your assets are handled in line with your wishes.
For a complete estate plan, most people need LPAs and a will and — increasingly — a lifetime trust to protect the family home and other assets. With the average home in England now worth around £290,000, and the inheritance tax nil rate band frozen at £325,000 since 2009, more ordinary families than ever are exposed to a potential 40% IHT bill. These documents work together, and ideally they should be drafted with an awareness of each other. As Mike Pugh puts it: “Trusts are not just for the rich — they’re for the smart.”
Considerations for Future Financial Decisions
When choosing your attorneys, think carefully about who you’re empowering. Your Property and Financial Affairs attorney will have the authority to access your bank accounts, manage investments, sell property, and make financial commitments on your behalf. This is enormous power — and it requires absolute trust.
Practical considerations include:
- Choose someone financially competent: Your attorney doesn’t need to be a financial expert, but they should be sensible, honest, and organised.
- Consider appointing more than one attorney: Two attorneys acting jointly and severally provides both a safeguard and a practical backup if one becomes unavailable.
- Include preferences in your LPA: You can guide your attorneys on how you’d like your finances managed — for example, preferences about maintaining your home, supporting family members, or managing investments.
- Review periodically: While an LPA doesn’t expire, your circumstances change. If your chosen attorney moves abroad, becomes unwell, or your relationship changes, you may want to create a new LPA with updated appointments.
The Role of the Office of the Public Guardian
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is the body responsible for registering and overseeing Lasting Powers of Attorney in England and Wales. Understanding their role — and their fees — is an important part of the LPA process.
Fees Charged by the Office of the Public Guardian
The OPG charges a registration fee for each LPA. This fee is reviewed periodically, so it’s always worth checking the current amount on GOV.UK before you apply. If you’re creating both types of LPA (Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare), you’ll pay the fee twice.
Fee reductions and exemptions are available for people on low incomes or receiving means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. If your gross annual income is below a set threshold, you may qualify for a 50% reduction even if you don’t receive means-tested benefits. Always check the latest eligibility criteria on GOV.UK, as these can change.
Certificate Provider Requirements
Every LPA requires a certificate provider — an independent person who confirms that the donor understands the LPA, knows what powers they’re granting, and hasn’t been put under pressure to create it. The certificate provider can be either:
- A person who has known the donor personally for at least two years — this is free but must be someone independent (not a family member or the attorney).
- A professional — such as a solicitor, doctor, social worker, or other qualified person. A professional may charge a fee for this service, but many solicitors include it as part of their LPA drafting package at no extra charge.
If you’re using a solicitor to draft your LPA, they will typically act as certificate provider as part of the service. If you’re doing it DIY, choosing a friend or colleague who has known you for two years or more is a simple way to avoid this cost — provided they meet the independence requirements.
Understanding the Oversight Role
The OPG’s role goes beyond simple registration. They have a duty to protect people who lack mental capacity, and their oversight functions include:
- Maintaining the register: The OPG keeps a register of all LPAs (and older Enduring Powers of Attorney). Authorised parties can search this register to verify an attorney’s authority.
- Investigating concerns: If anyone — family members, care providers, financial institutions — raises concerns about how an attorney is acting, the OPG has the power to investigate. In serious cases, they can refer matters to the Court of Protection.
- Supervising deputies: Where the Court of Protection has appointed a deputy (because no LPA exists), the OPG supervises their activities, reviews annual reports, and charges supervision fees.
- Providing guidance: The OPG publishes extensive guidance for donors, attorneys, and other interested parties, helping everyone understand their rights and responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
This oversight is one of the reasons an LPA is a secure and trustworthy document. It’s not simply a piece of paper — it’s backed by a regulatory framework designed to prevent abuse and ensure your attorneys act in your best interests.
Updates and Changes in 2026
The LPA system has been undergoing a period of significant modernisation, and 2026 has brought some notable changes that affect both the process and the costs. Here’s what you need to know.
Recent Legislative Changes
The government has been implementing reforms under the Powers of Attorney Act 2023, which received Royal Assent in September 2023. These reforms are designed to modernise the LPA system, improve safeguards against fraud and abuse, and make the process more accessible. Key changes being rolled out include:
- A fully digital process: The reforms enable LPAs to be created, signed, and registered entirely online (though paper options remain available for those who prefer them). This is intended to speed up the process and reduce errors caused by manual form-filling.
- Improved identity verification: New procedures for verifying the identity of donors, attorneys, and certificate providers — aimed at preventing fraud and ensuring the person creating the LPA genuinely intends to do so.
- Strengthened objection process: Third parties named in the LPA (such as family members listed to be notified) will have clearer mechanisms to raise objections before the LPA is registered.
These changes represent the most significant overhaul of the LPA system since the Mental Capacity Act 2005 came into force in 2007.
New Fees and Charges
The OPG periodically reviews its fee structure. When checking the current registration fee, always refer to the GOV.UK website, as fees can change with relatively short notice. The core principle remains the same: there is a per-document registration fee for each LPA, with exemptions and reductions available for those on low incomes or receiving means-tested benefits.
Factors that may affect costs in 2026 include:
- Any fee adjustments announced by the OPG as part of the modernisation programme.
- Changes to the eligibility criteria for fee exemptions and reductions.
- Potential new charges related to the enhanced identity verification process.
We recommend checking the latest fees before starting your application, as even small changes can affect your budget — particularly if you’re creating multiple LPAs as a couple (four documents in total).
Impact of Changes on Consumers
Overall, the reforms are positive for consumers. The move to a fully digital system should reduce processing times and make the application more straightforward. Improved identity checks add a layer of security without significantly adding to costs. And the strengthened objection process provides additional protection for vulnerable donors.
However, there may be a transitional period where processing times fluctuate as the OPG implements new systems. If you’re planning to set up LPAs in 2026, it’s worth getting the process started sooner rather than later — both to take advantage of the new system and to avoid any transitional delays.
For anyone who already has an existing registered LPA, the good news is that these changes don’t affect existing documents. Your current LPAs remain valid and fully functional.
How to Save Costs When Setting Up
While LPAs are already one of the most affordable pieces of estate planning available, there are practical ways to reduce the cost further without compromising quality.
Tips for Minimising Expenses
Here are straightforward ways to keep LPA costs down:
- Create both LPAs at the same time: Most solicitors and specialist firms offer a discount for drafting both Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare LPAs together. Couples creating all four documents (two each) can save even more.
- Use the government’s online service: If your situation is simple, the GOV.UK tool is free to use — you only pay the OPG registration fee.
- Choose a personal certificate provider: Using a friend or colleague who has known you for two years or more avoids any professional certificate provider fee.
- Check fee exemptions: If you receive means-tested benefits, you may qualify for a full exemption from the OPG registration fee. Even if you don’t, a low income may qualify you for a 50% reduction.
- Get it right first time: Errors lead to rejections, which mean re-doing paperwork and potentially paying fees again. Take your time, follow the instructions carefully, and double-check everything before submitting.
Advanced Planning Strategies
Thinking more broadly about costs, the best savings come from integrating your LPA into a comprehensive estate plan:
- Bundle services: Many solicitors and estate planning firms offer package deals combining LPAs, wills, and lifetime trusts. Bundling these together is almost always cheaper than doing them separately at different times — and ensures all your documents work together.
- Plan as a couple: If you’re married or in a civil partnership, setting up LPAs for both of you simultaneously is more cost-effective than doing them individually.
- Don’t wait: Setting up an LPA while you’re healthy and there’s no urgency is always cheaper and less stressful than trying to arrange one in a crisis — or worse, having your family go through the deputyship process because it’s too late. The cost of a deputyship — £1,000-£2,000+ upfront plus ongoing supervision fees — dwarfs the cost of an LPA.
Seeking Financial Advice
While solicitors and estate planning specialists handle the legal side of LPAs, it can also be worth discussing your broader financial position with a qualified financial adviser. They can help ensure that the powers you grant in your LPA align with your investment strategy, pension arrangements, and long-term financial goals.
This is particularly relevant if you have a SIPP, investment portfolio, or business interests that your attorney may need to manage. The cost of a financial planning review is modest compared to the potential for poor decision-making by an attorney who doesn’t fully understand your financial picture.
Conclusion: Making Informed Decisions
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney is one of the most important — and most affordable — steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. The cost of creating LPAs is a fraction of what you’d pay for a deputyship application, and the peace of mind it provides is immeasurable. Not losing control of your finances and care decisions provides the greatest peace of mind above all else.
Key Points to Consider
To summarise the key cost considerations for LPAs in 2026:
- The OPG registration fee applies per LPA document — check the current amount on GOV.UK before applying.
- Professional drafting by a solicitor typically costs £300-£600 per LPA, with discounts for pairs and couples.
- DIY is possible using the free government online service, but carries a higher risk of errors and rejections.
- Fee exemptions and reductions are available for those on low incomes or means-tested benefits.
- The alternative — a Court of Protection deputyship — costs £1,000-£2,000+ upfront, with ongoing annual supervision fees.
Seeking Professional Guidance
For personalised advice on LPAs as part of your wider estate plan — including how they work alongside wills and lifetime trusts to protect your home and assets — consider speaking to a specialist. You can find more information about comprehensive estate planning, including inheritance tax planning and asset protection trusts, on the MP Estate Planning website.
Final Considerations
Don’t put this off. An LPA can only be created while you have mental capacity — and none of us knows when that might change. As Mike Pugh says: “Plan, don’t panic.” The cost of an LPA today is a small price to pay for the certainty that your affairs will be managed by someone you trust, in the way you want, if you’re ever unable to manage them yourself.