Lasting Powers of Attorney are one of the most important documents your clients will ever sign, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood areas of estate planning. For will writers and estate planners, offering LPAs alongside wills is not just good practice — it is a significant revenue opportunity that serves your clients' genuine needs.
If you are an estate planner who only offers wills, you are leaving money on the table and, more importantly, leaving your clients exposed. This guide covers everything you need to know about LPAs: the two types, the registration process with the Office of the Public Guardian, common client questions, current fees, and how to position LPAs as an essential part of your service offering.
Around 60% of adults in the UK do not have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place. For estate planners, this represents an enormous gap in the market and a genuine opportunity to help families protect themselves.
What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person (the "donor") to appoint one or more trusted individuals (the "attorneys") to make decisions on their behalf. The key point is that an LPA must be set up while the donor still has mental capacity. Once capacity is lost, it is too late.
This is the single most important fact you need to communicate to your clients. Many people assume their spouse or children can automatically step in and manage their affairs if they lose capacity through illness, accident, or old age. They cannot. Without an LPA, the family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order — a process that typically takes six to twelve months and costs several thousand pounds.
LPAs replaced the older Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) in October 2007, when the Mental Capacity Act 2005 came into full effect. While existing EPAs made before that date can still be used, all new powers of attorney must be LPAs.
The Two Types of LPA
There are two distinct types of Lasting Power of Attorney, and it is important that your clients understand the difference. In most cases, you should recommend that clients set up both types.
1. Property and Financial Affairs LPA
This type of LPA gives the appointed attorney(s) the authority to make decisions about the donor's finances. This includes:
- Managing bank accounts and savings
- Paying bills and household expenses
- Collecting income, benefits, and pensions
- Buying and selling property
- Managing investments and tax affairs
- Running a business on the donor's behalf
A Property and Financial Affairs LPA is unique in that it can be used while the donor still has mental capacity, provided the donor gives consent. This makes it useful for elderly clients who may simply find it difficult to get to the bank or manage their finances day to day.
2. Health and Welfare LPA
This type covers personal welfare decisions and can only be used once the donor has lost mental capacity. It gives attorneys the authority to make decisions about:
- Where the donor lives (for example, moving into a care home)
- Daily care, including diet, dress, and daily routine
- Medical treatment and ongoing healthcare
- Life-sustaining treatment (if the donor specifically grants this authority)
- Community care services and social activities
The Health and Welfare LPA is particularly important because it can include or exclude the authority to give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment. This is a sensitive area that requires careful discussion with the client.
The LPA Registration Process
An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before it can be used. Here is how the process works:
- Drafting the document: The LPA form is completed with all relevant details, including donor information, attorney appointments, preferences, and instructions.
- Choosing a certificate provider: Every LPA requires an independent certificate provider who confirms that the donor understands the LPA and is not being pressured into making it. This must be someone who has known the donor personally for at least two years, or a professional such as a doctor, solicitor, or social worker.
- Signing in the correct order: The LPA must be signed in a specific order. The donor signs first, then the certificate provider, and finally the attorneys. Getting this wrong will cause the OPG to reject the application.
- Submitting to the OPG: The completed LPA is sent to the OPG along with the registration fee.
- Notification period: If the donor has named people to be notified, they have three weeks to raise any objections.
- Registration: Assuming no objections, the OPG will register the LPA. This currently takes around 20 weeks, although the government has committed to reducing waiting times through the digitalisation of the LPA process.
From July 2025, the OPG began rolling out a modernised digital LPA service. While paper applications remain available, the new system aims to significantly reduce registration times.
Current LPA Fees
Understanding the fee structure helps you price your LPA services appropriately and explain costs to clients clearly.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| OPG registration fee (per LPA) | £82 |
| Reduced fee (income under £12,000) | £41 |
| Fee exemption (on certain means-tested benefits) | £0 |
| Repeat application (if OPG rejects for errors) | No additional fee |
Remember, each LPA is a separate registration. A client who wants both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA will pay £82 for each — a total of £164 in OPG fees alone.
Common Client Questions About LPAs
When you offer LPAs to your clients, you will hear the same questions repeatedly. Being prepared with clear, confident answers builds trust and positions you as an expert.
"Can't my family just handle things if something happens to me?"
No. Without an LPA, even a spouse has no automatic legal right to manage their partner's finances or make healthcare decisions. The family would need to apply for a deputyship order through the Court of Protection, which is expensive, time-consuming, and stressful during an already difficult period.
"I'm too young to need an LPA."
Mental incapacity is not just about old age. Accidents, strokes, and sudden illnesses can affect anyone at any age. An LPA is a form of insurance — you hope you will never need it, but if you do, having one in place makes an enormous difference to your family.
"What if my attorney misuses the power?"
There are safeguards built into the system. Attorneys have a legal duty to act in the donor's best interests and must follow the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. The OPG also has an investigations team that looks into concerns about attorneys. Additionally, donors can appoint more than one attorney and require them to act jointly, providing an extra layer of protection.
"Can I change or cancel my LPA?"
Yes, as long as the donor has mental capacity, they can revoke (cancel) an LPA at any time by completing a deed of revocation and notifying the OPG. They can also create a new LPA to replace the old one.
"What's the difference between an LPA and a will?"
A will deals with what happens after you die. An LPA deals with what happens if you lose mental capacity while you are still alive. They are complementary documents, and every client who makes a will should seriously consider making LPAs at the same time.
How to Explain LPAs to Clients
The key to selling LPAs is not to "sell" them at all. Instead, it is about educating your clients on the risks of not having one. Here are some approaches that work well:
- Use real-world scenarios: Ask clients to imagine what would happen if they had a stroke tomorrow. Who would pay the mortgage? Who would decide on their medical treatment? This makes the need tangible and immediate.
- Discuss it as part of the will appointment: Do not treat LPAs as a separate product. Bring them up naturally during the will consultation. "While we are planning for what happens after death, let's also plan for what happens if you lose capacity during your lifetime."
- Compare the cost to the alternative: A Court of Protection deputyship application costs upwards of £1,000 in court fees alone, plus ongoing annual supervision fees. An LPA is a fraction of that cost.
- Share statistics: One in three people over 65 will develop some form of dementia. That is a compelling reason to act now.
Start Offering LPAs to Your Clients Today
Willo makes it easy to add LPAs to your estate planning service. Professional will writing software for just £150/month, with no contracts and no accreditation required. View pricing or get in touch to learn more.
Why Offering LPAs Increases Your Revenue
From a business perspective, LPAs are one of the best ways to increase your average order value without acquiring a single new client. Consider this: if you charge £350 for a pair of mirror wills, adding a pair of LPAs at £300 each (for both types, per person) turns that £350 appointment into a £1,550 appointment.
Most estate planners who introduce LPAs into their service offering see their average revenue per client double or even triple. And because you are already sitting with the client, there is no additional acquisition cost.
Here is a typical pricing structure for an estate planner offering LPAs:
| Service | Typical Fee (Single) | Typical Fee (Couple) |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £200 | — |
| Mirror wills | — | £350 |
| Property & Financial LPA | £300 | £500 |
| Health & Welfare LPA | £300 | £500 |
| Full estate plan (wills + both LPAs) | £750 | £1,250 |
These figures are just examples, but they illustrate the point. LPAs significantly increase the value of every client interaction. If you are not offering them, you should be. Our guide on how to become a will writer covers more about building a profitable estate planning business.
How Willo Streamlines LPA Creation
One of the main barriers to offering LPAs has traditionally been the complexity of the paperwork. The forms are lengthy, the signing requirements are strict, and mistakes lead to rejections by the OPG.
Willo, built by Project Will, simplifies the entire process. The software guides you through each section of the LPA, ensures that all required fields are completed, and generates professional documents ready for signing and registration.
Key benefits of using Willo for LPA creation include:
- Step-by-step guided process: The software walks you through each part of the LPA, reducing the risk of errors and rejections.
- Client data integration: If you have already created a will for the client, their personal details are already in the system. No need to re-enter information.
- Professional output: Documents are generated in the correct format, ready for signing and submission to the OPG.
- No accreditation required: Unlike some other software providers, Willo does not require you to hold membership of any professional body. If you want to learn more about whether qualifications are needed to write wills, we have a dedicated article on the topic.
- Affordable pricing: At just £150/month with no contracts, Willo pays for itself after a single LPA appointment.
Getting Started with LPAs
If you are new to estate planning, or if you have been writing wills but have not yet added LPAs to your services, now is the time to start. Here is a simple plan:
- Get trained: Become an Estate Planner offers comprehensive training that covers LPAs alongside wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents.
- Set up your software: Sign up for Willo at £150/month and familiarise yourself with the LPA drafting process. There are no contracts, so you can start immediately.
- Build your client base: Use the Willo lead marketplace to access will writing leads at just £5 each. Many of these leads will also want LPAs once you explain the benefits.
- Market the service: Update your website, business cards, and marketing materials to include LPAs. Check out our marketing ideas for estate planners for practical strategies that work.
Ready to Grow Your Estate Planning Business?
Willo gives you everything you need to offer wills and LPAs professionally. £150/month, no contracts, no accreditation required. Access leads for just £5 each through our marketplace. Get Your Free Demo and start today.
Final Thoughts
Lasting Powers of Attorney are not optional extras — they are essential documents that every adult should have in place. As an estate planner, you are in a unique position to educate your clients about the importance of LPAs and to provide this service alongside will writing.
The combination of wills and LPAs creates a comprehensive estate plan that protects your clients during their lifetime and after death. It also creates a more sustainable and profitable business for you. With tools like Willo making the drafting process straightforward and affordable, there has never been a better time to add LPAs to your portfolio of services.
For more information about starting or growing your estate planning business, visit Project Will or explore our blog for practical guides and industry insights.