Comparison · Estate Planning · 2026
LPA Property and Financial Affairs vs Health and Welfare 2026
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) comes in two distinct types in England and Wales: one for property and money, one for health and personal welfare. They cover different decisions, can be used at different times, and most people benefit from setting up both. Here is how they compare for 2026.
TL;DR - 30-Second Summary
- - Property and Financial Affairs LPA: covers bank accounts, bills, property; usable with your consent before you lose capacity
- - Health and Welfare LPA: covers medical treatment and care decisions; usable only after you lose capacity
- - Cost: £82 registration fee each, £164 total for both, versus a much costlier and slower Court of Protection deputyship if you have neither
Side by Side: The Two LPA Types
| Feature | Property & Financial Affairs | Health & Welfare |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Bank accounts, bills, property, investments | Medical care, daily routine, where you live |
| Can be used before loss of capacity | Yes, with your permission | No |
| Registration fee (2026) | £82 | £82 |
| Life-sustaining treatment authority | N/A | Optional, must be explicitly granted |
| Typical attorney choice | Financially capable family member/professional | Spouse/close family, aligned with your wishes |
Why Most People Need Both
The two LPAs are not interchangeable and do not overlap. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA gives no authority over medical or care decisions, and a Health and Welfare LPA gives no authority to access bank accounts or manage bills. Without both in place, a family can find itself able to make care decisions but unable to pay for that care, or vice versa.
The Cost of Not Having an LPA
If someone loses mental capacity without an LPA in place, their family must apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order — a process that typically takes several months, costs several hundred pounds in court and application fees (often more with solicitor involvement), and requires an annual supervision fee and, in many cases, a security bond, on top of ongoing reporting duties. This is significantly more expensive and slower than the £164 combined cost of setting up both LPAs in advance.
Who Should Set Up What?
Prioritise Property and Financial Affairs if...
- - You want a trusted person to manage finances now, e.g. while travelling or unwell
- - You have complex assets someone will need to manage
Set up Health and Welfare alongside it if...
- - You want your wishes on care and medical treatment respected
- - You want to name someone to decide on life-sustaining treatment
- - You are completing estate planning generally (most people should do both)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the two types of Lasting Power of Attorney?
In England and Wales there are two separate LPAs: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, covering bank accounts, bills, property and investments, and a Health and Welfare LPA, covering medical treatment decisions, daily care and where you live. They are registered and used separately, and you can set up one, the other, or both.
How much does it cost to register each LPA in 2026?
The Office of the Public Guardian registration fee is £82 per LPA in 2026, so registering both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA for one person costs £164 in total. A reduced fee or exemption may apply if you receive certain means-tested benefits or have low income.
When can a Property and Financial Affairs attorney start acting?
Unlike a Health and Welfare LPA, a Property and Financial Affairs LPA can be used as soon as it is registered, with your permission, even while you still have mental capacity — useful if you want help managing finances due to a physical illness or being abroad, for example. You can restrict this in the LPA document if you only want it used once you lack capacity.
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When can a Health and Welfare attorney start acting?
A Health and Welfare LPA can only be used once you have lost mental capacity to make the relevant decision yourself — it cannot be used earlier, even with your consent, because health and welfare decisions are considered too personal to delegate while you can still decide for yourself.
Can I choose different attorneys for each LPA?
Yes. You can appoint different people (or the same people) as attorneys for your Property and Financial Affairs LPA and your Health and Welfare LPA — for example, an adult child who is good with money for finances, and a spouse for health and welfare decisions.
Does a Health and Welfare LPA cover life-sustaining treatment decisions?
Only if you specifically give your attorney authority to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment in the LPA document — this is an explicit, separate option you must tick, not an automatic power granted by default.
What happens if I lose capacity without having made an LPA?
Your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which is significantly slower (often several months), more expensive (court fees plus, often, solicitor fees), and requires ongoing annual supervision fees — compared to a one-off £82 registration fee per LPA set up in advance.
Do I need both LPAs or just one?
Most solicitors and Age UK/Alzheimer's Society guidance recommend setting up both, since financial and welfare needs are both likely to arise if you lose capacity, and having only one leaves a significant gap — for example, a Property and Financial LPA alone gives no one authority to make care home or medical decisions on your behalf.
Can I make an LPA myself or do I need a solicitor?
You can complete an LPA yourself using the gov.uk online or paper service without a solicitor, which is what the £82 fee covers. Many people still use a solicitor for guidance on more complex family situations or to ensure the document reflects their wishes precisely, which adds a separate professional fee on top of the registration fee.
How long does LPA registration take in 2026?
Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian typically takes around 8-20 weeks, depending on demand and whether the application is complete and error-free. It is strongly recommended to set up LPAs well before they might be needed, since they cannot be created once someone has already lost mental capacity.
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Disclaimer: Fees and process details reflect England and Wales rules for 2026 (fees and rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland). This is educational information, not legal advice. See gov.uk/power-of-attorney for the current application process, or consult a solicitor for complex family situations.
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