How much does an LPA cost in 2026?

The Office of the Public Guardian charges £82 to register each LPA in 2026. Most people make both types (health-and-welfare and property-and-finance), so the total OPG fee is £164. You can complete the LPA yourself via gov.uk for that fee alone. If you use a solicitor, expect to add £150 to £600 per LPA in solicitor fees plus VAT, depending on complexity and the firm.

Can the LPA registration fee be waived?

Yes. The OPG offers a 50% reduction if the donor (the person making the LPA) has gross income under £12,000 a year, and a full exemption if they receive Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, or guarantee-credit Pension Credit. Apply using form LPA120 alongside the LPA registration.

Do I need a solicitor for an LPA?

Not for a straightforward LPA. The OPG provides the forms (LP1H for health and welfare, LP1F for property and finance) and step-by-step guidance at gov.uk/power-of-attorney. A certificate provider (someone aged 18+ who knows the donor and is not a family member or attorney) signs to confirm the donor understands the LPA. Solicitors typically charge £150 to £600 per LPA to draft, advise on attorney structure, and arrange the certificate. Complex situations (split attorneys, restrictions, large estates) usually justify the solicitor fee.

Home/LPA Cost

Lasting Power of Attorney

Lasting Power of Attorney Cost UK 2026

£82 registration fee per LPA at the Office of the Public Guardian. Free if you qualify for fee remission. Plus £150 to £600 per LPA if you use a solicitor. Updated May 2026.

Headline numbers

Component	Cost
OPG registration -- one LPA	£82
OPG registration -- both LPAs (H&W + P&F)	£164
50% reduction (gross income under £12,000)	£41 per LPA
Full exemption (qualifying benefits)	£0
Solicitor fee per LPA (typical)	£150 to £600 + VAT
Solicitor for both LPAs (typical)	£300 to £950 + VAT

Sources: OPG LPA registration fees (gov.uk), OPG fee reduction and exemption.

The two types of LPA

Health and Welfare LPA (LP1H) -- gives your attorney(s) power to make decisions about your medical treatment, daily care, and (if you opt in) life-sustaining treatment. Only takes effect once you lose mental capacity.
Property and Financial Affairs LPA (LP1F) -- gives your attorney(s) power to manage your money, property, and financial affairs. Can take effect immediately on registration (you choose) or only once you lose capacity.

Most people make both. The OPG charges £82 per LPA, so the total registration fee for both is £164.

OPG fee reduction and exemption

The Office of the Public Guardian offers two routes to a reduced or zero OPG fee, applied for using form LPA120 alongside the LPA registration:

50% reduction -- if the donor's gross annual income is under £12,000. Income includes salary, pensions, rental income, and savings interest; it excludes means-tested benefits.
Full exemption -- if the donor receives Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit (with annual gross income under £20,000), Housing Benefit, or guarantee-credit Pension Credit.

The decision is made by the OPG based on supporting documents (recent payslips, bank statements, benefit award letters). Apply at the same time as registration.

DIY route via gov.uk

The OPG's online tool at gov.uk/power-of-attorney walks you through the LPA application step by step. You answer questions about your attorneys, restrictions, and certificate provider, then print the form to sign.

You need to organise:

An attorney (or attorneys) you trust to act for you.
A certificate provider -- an adult who knows you and is not a family member, your attorney, or your partner. They sign to confirm you understand the LPA and are not being pressured.
Witnesses to your and your attorneys' signatures.
The £82 registration fee per LPA (waived/reduced per the section above).

When a solicitor is worth the money

A solicitor typically charges £150 to £600 plus VAT per LPA. They are worth the fee where:

You want multiple attorneys with split powers or replacement attorneys (the form supports this but configuring it correctly is fiddly).
You want to add specific restrictions on what an attorney can do (e.g. cannot sell the family home without a second attorney's consent).
You have a complex estate (overseas property, business interests, large investment portfolio).
You have any concern about future challenge from family members.
You are also instructing the solicitor to draft or update your will (most firms bundle both at a discount).

Registration timeline

The OPG's published service standard for registering an LPA is 16 weeks from receipt. In practice, processing has been faster in 2025-26 (8 to 12 weeks). Do not wait until you lose capacity -- an LPA must be registered while the donor still has capacity. If capacity has already been lost, the alternative is a Court of Protection deputyship, which is significantly more expensive (£1,500 to £3,000+ in solicitor fees plus £371 court fee).