LPA Solicitors London
Supportive and caring Lasting Power of Attorney services at an appropriate cost.
Lasting Power Of Attorney Solicitors
Planning ahead for a time when you may not be able to make decisions for yourself is one of the most important steps you can take. Our specialist LPA solicitors in London guide you through both types of lasting power of attorney on a clear, fixed fee basis, so you always know exactly what to expect. Whether you are planning alone or as a couple, we make the process straightforward and reassuring.
Why You Need a Lasting Power of Attorney
Without an LPA, even your spouse has no automatic legal authority to access your bank accounts, manage your property, or make healthcare decisions on your behalf. Many people are surprised to learn this, often at the very moment they need that authority most.
If you lose capacity without an LPA in place, your family must apply to the Court of Protection to appoint a deputy. This route takes months, costs considerably more than an LPA, and involves ongoing annual reporting to the Court.
The need is far from rare. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 1 in 3 people born in the UK today will be diagnosed with dementia in their lifetime, and 1.4 million people are expected to be living with dementia by 2040. Capacity can also be lost suddenly through an accident or illness, not only gradually through dementia.
An LPA is inexpensive to set up now and invaluable if it is ever needed. The cost of not having one in place is far higher.
The Two Types of Lasting Power of Attorney
There are two types of LPA, each covering a different part of your life. You can choose to make one or both.
Property and Financial Affairs LPA
This covers decisions about your money and property, including managing bank accounts, paying bills, collecting income and benefits, buying and selling property, making investments, and handling your financial affairs more generally. You can choose to let your attorney act while you still have capacity, with your permission, or you can restrict the power so it can only be used once capacity is lost. The choice is yours.
Health and Welfare LPA
This covers decisions about your medical treatment, care arrangements, where you live, and your day-to-day care. It can only be used once you have lost the capacity to make these decisions yourself. If you choose to grant the power, it can also include decisions about life-sustaining treatment, an important responsibility worth discussing carefully with your chosen attorney.
Most people choose to make both types, so that every aspect of their life is covered. At Freeman Harris, we often draft LPAs alongside a will, so all your affairs are in order at the same time.
What Happens If You Do Not Have an LPA
Without an LPA, no one, not even a spouse or adult child, can legally manage your affairs on your behalf. There is no automatic right for a family member to step in.
The only route is an application to the Court of Protection to be appointed as a deputy. This process is slower and more expensive than registering an LPA, and a deputy must submit annual accounts and remain under the ongoing supervision of the Court. A deputyship order is also more restrictive, limiting what the deputy can do far more tightly than an LPA would.
Most importantly, an LPA puts you in control. You decide who acts for you and on what terms. A deputyship order removes that choice and leaves it to the Court.
How Our LPA Solicitors Work With You
We keep the process clear and supportive from start to finish. Here is what to expect when you instruct us.
- Initial consultation – We discuss your circumstances, who you would like to appoint as your attorney or attorneys, and the powers you want them to have.
- Drafting your LPA – We prepare the documents and write to you with a full explanation of the key terms, along with our advice.
Signing – Your LPA must be signed in a specific order: you first, then your certificate provider (a person who confirms you understand the document and are not under any pressure), and finally your attorneys. We guide you through each step.
Registration – We submit your LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration. This currently takes around 9 to 12 weeks. The OPG registration fee is £92 per LPA (as of November 2025), and your LPA cannot be used until it is registered.
Safekeeping – We store your original LPA securely and provide you with certified copies for your records.
Our fixed fees mean you know the full cost from the outset, with no surprises along the way.
Please contact us using our form below, call us on 0207 790 7311 or email contact@freemanharris.co.uk.
LPA Solicitors Team
Frankie Nelson
SolicitorFrancesca is our established Solicitor who deals with all estate planning matters. She has a deep understanding of all legal aspects of estate planning.Rohana Khan
SolicitorRohana works on all all legal aspects of private client matters and can assist you in our Dunstable branch.
Lasting Power of Attorney Fees
Common Lasting Power Of Attorney Questions
- Why is a lasting power of attorney important?
Many individuals are unaware that even their closest relative does not have automatic legal authority to manage their affairs without an LPA.
While we hope you will never need to use your LPA, if you ever come to need it, it is utterly invaluable.
Tragically, there are instances where individuals regret not having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place. One such case is that of Heather Bateman, who faced an overwhelming and costly legal battle due to the absence of an LPA. Despite being married for years and having written Wills, Heather was unable to access her husband’s funds to continue to support the family after he fell into a coma from a car accident.
To sum up, without an LPA, your family may face difficult and potentially costly legal battles to access your funds or make decisions on your behalf. An LPA also ensures that your wishes are respected and that the people you trust are dealing with your finances and property and making decisions about your health and welfare, rather than a court-appointed stranger.
- What does a lasting power of attorney cover?
There are two types of LPAs: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare.
An LPA for property and financial affairs covers decisions such as managing bank accounts, paying bills, buying and selling property, and making investments.
An LPA for health and welfare covers decisions about a person’s healthcare, such as what medical treatment they should receive and where they should live.
Having both types of LPAs in place provides comprehensive protection and ensures that all aspects of your life are covered.
- Can my daughter/son make a Lasting Power of Attorney on my behalf?
No, an LPA must be made by the individual who is granting the power ( the “donor”).
The donor must have the mental capacity to make the LPA and understand the implications of granting someone else the authority to make decisions on their behalf.
Your daughter or son cannot make an LPA on your behalf, but they can act as your attorney if you grant them the authority to do.
- Can I/ should I appoint two attorneys?
Yes, you can appoint more than one attorney as long as they are over the age of 18.
Appointing multiple attorneys can provide added security, as decisions will be made collectively, ensuring that a variety of perspectives are taken into consideration.
However, it is important to consider the responsibilities of the attorneys and whether they are comfortable working together, as well as any potential conflicts of interest.
In some cases, it may be beneficial to appoint one attorney for financial matters and another for healthcare decisions, so that each attorney can specialize in their area of expertise.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to appoint one or multiple attorneys is a personal onethat should be based on your individual needs and circumstances. It is important to choose attorneys who you trust and who understand your wishes.
- My son lives in France can he still be an attorney?
Yes, the appointment of an attorney is not limited by location, as long as the person is over the age of 18 and has the mental capacity to act in the role.
However, there may be some practical considerations to take into account. Think about potential difficulties with communication or what would happen if an emergency arose.
- Can an LPA be cancelled?
Yes, you can cancel a Lasting Power of Attorney – providing you have the mental capacity to do so.
This is called revoking the LPA. To revoke an LPA, you need to take steps to officially cancel the document, such as informing the attorney and the Office of the Public Guardian in writing.
- Does an LPA continue after death?
No, the LPA becomes void upon the death, and the attorney named in the LPA can no longer make decisions on behalf of the donor. The deceased person’s estate will be administered according to their will or the laws of intestacy if there is no will.
- What should I consider when making my LPA?
When making an LPA, you should consider the following:
1. Who you want to appoint as your attorney: Choose someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf.
2. The scope of the attorney’s powers: Consider what decisions you want your attorney to be able to make, and what restrictions you want to place on their powers.
3. The type of LPA: There are two types of LPAs – one for property and financial affairs and another for health and welfare. You can make one or both types of LPAs.
4. Legal requirements: Make sure your LPA meets the legal requirements and is properly registered and executed.
If you are a couple, you should also consider making a mirror LPA:
In a mirror LPA, each person names the other as their attorney and the terms and conditions of the LPA are the same for both documents. This type of LPA can be useful for couples, partners, or close family members who want to ensure that they can make decisions for each other if one of them loses capacity.
It is important to note that both mirror LPAs must be registered separately with the
Office of the Public Guardian before they can be used.
Contact us today for legal advice to ensure that your LPA is legally valid and meets your specific needs.
- Can I use my Lasting Power of Attorney once all relevant parties signed it?
No, an LPA cannot be used just because all relevant parties have signed it.
The LPA must also be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it takes effect.
While registration is not required to be done immediately, it is important to keep in mind that the registration process with the Office of the Public Guardian can take up to two months to complete. It is therefore advisable to plan ahead and allow sufficient time for the registration to be completed before the LPA is needed.
Only once the LPA has been registered can the attorney named in the LPA make decisions on behalf of the person who created the LPA.
- How much do you charge for making a Lasting Power of Attorney?
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