Glossary · UK
What is Lasting Power of Attorney?
A legal document letting you appoint trusted people to make decisions about your finances or health if you lose mental capacity.
Full Definition
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the donor) appoint one or more attorneys to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. In England and Wales there are two types: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, covering things like managing bank accounts, paying bills, and selling property; and a Health and Welfare LPA, covering medical treatment, care arrangements and life-sustaining decisions. An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used, and the registration fee is set by the government. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent regimes. Putting an LPA in place while you still have capacity matters because, without one, your family may have to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship - a slower, costlier process. An LPA is a core part of estate and later-life financial planning alongside making a will.