Last reviewed: 24 May 2026 by the MP Estate Planning editorial team. Jurisdiction: England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different probate and intestacy rules; the IHT thresholds are UK-wide.

By the MP Estate Planning UK editorial team · Estate planning information for England & Wales · Updated June 8, 2026

Where to Send Lasting Power of Attorney Forms in the UK

Once you’ve completed your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) forms, the next step is critical: knowing where to send them for official registration. Sending them to the wrong place, or missing key documents, can lead to delays, rejections, or legal complications.

This guide explains exactly where to send your LPA forms, what to include in the envelope, how to pay the fee, and how to ensure smooth processing by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).

Want peace of mind from the start? Book a free consultation or explore our fixed-fee services to get everything handled professionally.

What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

For the 2026/27 position, see Where to Get Lasting Power of Attorney Forms in the UK for further information from the MP Estate Planning UK editorial team.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows someone you trust (your attorney) to make decisions on your behalf. There are two types in England and Wales:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA, for managing money, bills, savings, property, and investments.
• Health and Welfare LPA, for decisions about care, living arrangements, and medical treatment.

LPAs must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they are legally valid and usable.

Where to Send Your LPA Forms

All LPA forms, whether for property, health, or both, must be sent by post to the Office of the Public Guardian:

Office of the Public Guardian
PO Box 16185
Birmingham
B2 2WH

This is the official OPG address for registrations in England and Wales.

What to Include in the Envelope

Make sure your envelope contains everything required for successful registration:

• Your completed LPA form (or both if registering two types)
• All necessary signatures in the correct order: donor → certificate provider → attorney(s)
• A cheque or payment confirmation for the registration fee
• Form LPA120 if you’re applying for a fee reduction or exemption

Tip: Missing signatures, incorrect sequencing, or forgetting payment details are the most common reasons for rejection.

How Much Does It Cost?

The current registration fee (2026) is:

• £92 per LPA, so £184 if you’re registering both types

If you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for a discount or full exemption. Complete form LPA120 and include it with your application to apply.

Need help understanding the criteria? Book a free call with us.

How to Pay the LPA Fee

You can pay using any of the following methods:

• Cheque, payable to “Office of the Public Guardian”
• Postal Order
• Card Payment, use the GOV.UK card payment form

Important: Always include your payment in the same envelope as your LPA forms. Do not send cash.

How Long Does Registration Take?

Registration usually takes around 8 to 10 weeks, provided your application is correct and complete. Delays may occur if:

• Forms are missing signatures
• You used correction fluid or made unauthorised alterations
• The signing order was incorrect

Professional review helps avoid these errors. See our affordable pricing for a worry-free submission.

Can You Submit LPA Forms Online?

No. Even if you create your LPA online using GOV.UK tools, the final forms must be:

• Printed
• Signed and witnessed
• Sent physically to the OPG

Digital submission is not currently accepted in the UK. Physical posting remains the legal requirement.

How to Track Your LPA Application

To check the progress of your application, contact the OPG directly:

• Call: 0300 456 0300
• Email: customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk

Have your name, date of birth, and LPA details ready when you call or email.

Tips to Avoid Mistakes When Sending LPA Forms

• Use tracked or recorded delivery
• Photocopy the entire application before posting
• Check that all signatures and dates are correct
• Review the latest GOV.UK guidance before posting

Need help reviewing everything? We’ll check it all for you.

After Registration: What Happens Next?

Once your LPA is approved, you’ll receive an official registered copy from the OPG. This document proves your attorney’s authority and is used with banks, hospitals, or local councils.

Keep your registered LPA:

• In a safe, accessible place
• With extra copies for your attorneys
• Available to send to organisations when needed

You may also request certified copies if required by certain institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hand-deliver my LPA forms?

No. The Office of the Public Guardian only accepts postal submissions.

What if I send forms to the wrong address?

Your forms may be returned or delayed. Always use the official OPG PO Box listed above.

Can I send multiple LPAs in one envelope?

Yes. You can send multiple LPAs (for both types or for more than one person) together, just ensure forms and fees are clearly organised.

What if my LPA is rejected?

The OPG will contact you with instructions to correct the issue. You can usually amend and resubmit without paying the full fee again.

Conclusion

Where to send Lasting Power of Attorney forms in the UK is simple, post them to the Office of the Public Guardian in Birmingham, including all necessary forms, signatures, and payment.

To avoid costly delays, take time to double-check every detail, or let us do it for you. Book your free consultation or visit our transparent pricing page for full-service support.

LPA Form Types, Codes, and the Correct Signing Order

Before you consider where to send your Lasting Power of Attorney forms, it is worth confirming that you have the right forms in the first place, and that they have been signed in the correct order. In our experience, these two issues account for a significant proportion of applications that are returned or rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before they are even assessed.

Which LPA Form Do You Need?

There are currently four key form codes used in the LPA process in England and Wales:

• LP1F, the application form for a Property and Financial Affairs LPA. This covers decisions about bank accounts, property, bills, and investments.
• LP1H, the application form for a Health and Welfare LPA. This covers decisions about medical treatment, care arrangements, and day-to-day welfare. It can only be used when the donor lacks mental capacity, unless the donor has specified otherwise.
• LP3, the Notice of Intention to Register form, sent to named people (known as persons to be notified) to inform them that the LPA is being registered. Not everyone requires this form, it is only needed if the donor has named people to be notified in Section 6 of the LP1F or LP1H.
• LPC, a Continuation Sheet used when there is insufficient space on the main form, for example where multiple attorneys or replacement attorneys need to be listed.

Most donors will need to complete both an LP1F and an LP1H if they wish to cover both financial and welfare decisions. These are treated as separate applications, each attracting its own registration fee. You can find the current versions of these forms on the GOV.UK LPA forms page.

The Correct Signing Order Before Submission

The signing order for LPA forms is prescribed and must be followed precisely. Signing out of sequence is one of the most common reasons the OPG returns applications, and it cannot typically be corrected with a simple amendment.

The order is generally as follows:

• First: The certificate provider signs Section 10 to confirm the donor understands the LPA and is not being pressured.
• Second: The donor signs Section 9 (their declaration). In most cases, the certificate provider must have signed before the donor executes the form.
• Third: The attorneys (and any replacement attorneys) sign their respective sections to confirm they understand their responsibilities.
• Finally: If the donor is registering the LPA themselves, they complete the registration section. If an attorney is registering, they complete this section instead.

It is worth noting that witnesses may be required for certain signatures, attorneys must have an independent witness who is not the donor, another attorney, or a family member of either party. The certificate provider cannot act as a witness for the donor’s signature.

A Note on Physical Presentation

The OPG will typically reject forms that have been bound, stapled through the pages, altered using correction fluid such as Tippex, or from which pages are missing. Any amendments generally need to be crossed through, initialled, and dated by the person who made the change. Our team has seen applications delayed by weeks, and in some cases requiring full resubmission, due to presentation issues that could easily have been avoided at the outset.

Common Questions About LPA Forms and the Registration Process

What is the difference between LPA 1 and LPA 2?

The terminology here can cause confusion. In common usage, LPA1 typically refers to the LP1F (Property and Financial Affairs) and LPA2 to the LP1H (Health and Welfare), though the OPG uses the LP1F and LP1H form codes officially. The key practical difference is that a Health and Welfare LPA generally can only be used once the donor has lost mental capacity, whereas a Property and Financial Affairs LPA may be used while the donor still has capacity, if they wish to authorise an attorney to act on their behalf at that point.

What are the different types of LPA forms?

As outlined above, the two substantive LPA types are the Property and Financial Affairs LPA (LP1F) and the Health and Welfare LPA (LP1H). Supporting forms include the LP3 notice form and the LPC continuation sheet. Each LP1F and LP1H submission requires its own separate registration fee, currently £82 per LPA at the standard rate as of 2024. Applicants receiving qualifying means-tested benefits may be eligible for a reduced fee of £41 per LPA, and in some circumstances fees may be waived entirely. Details of the fee remission scheme are available on the GOV.UK LPA costs page.

What are common POA mistakes to avoid?

In our experience working with clients through the LPA process, the most frequently encountered errors include: signing the form in the wrong order; using correction fluid to amend errors rather than crossing out and initialling; submitting forms with missing pages; binding or stapling documents in a way that prevents the OPG from separating pages; and failing to send LP3 notices to named persons before submitting the registration application. Any of these issues is likely to result in the application being returned, adding considerable time to an already lengthy process. The OPG currently cites an average of around 20 weeks for paper LPA applications to be processed, delays caused by avoidable errors can extend this further, which matters greatly if the donor’s circumstances change in the interim. An unregistered LPA cannot be used, even in a medical emergency.

Can my attorneys make decisions jointly?

Yes, in most cases. When completing the LP1F or LP1H, the donor can specify whether attorneys must act jointly (all attorneys must agree on every decision), jointly and severally (attorneys may act together or independently), or a combination of both for different types of decision. Jointly and severally is generally considered the more practical arrangement for day-to-day decisions, as it avoids deadlock if one attorney is temporarily unavailable. However, the choice has significant implications and is worth considering carefully, if attorneys are appointed jointly and one of them loses capacity or dies, the entire LPA may cease to operate unless replacement attorneys have been named.

Can a family member complete LPA forms?

A family member may assist in completing LPA forms, but there are important restrictions. A family member cannot act as the certificate provider, the certificate provider must be either someone who has known the donor personally for at least two years (but is not a family member or an attorney) or a named professional such as a solicitor, GP, or social worker. Additionally, a family member who is also named as an attorney cannot witness the donor’s signature. Our team would generally recommend that if a family member is helping to complete the forms, they seek independent guidance to ensure the form is correctly executed before submission, particularly where the donor’s capacity may later be questioned.