Adding an attorney to a bank account
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Every bank has its own attorney team, its own form and its own waiting time. The paperwork is the same everywhere.
What every bank wants
- The registered LPA — the original, a certified copy or an OPG access code.
- Photographic identification and proof of address for every attorney.
- A completed attorney mandate form telling them how the account should operate.
- For joint attorneys, signatures or instructions from all of them.
How it usually goes
- Book an appointment with the branch's attorney service, or post the documents to the bank's LPA team.
- Expect two to six weeks for the account to be updated.
- Ask specifically for online and telephone banking access as attorney, and a debit card if you need one.
- Check what happens to any direct debits, overdraft and standing orders.
Common snags
Do not sign as the donor
Sign in your own name and add "as attorney for [donor's name]". Using the donor's signature, or their card and PIN, is what triggers bank fraud investigations even when your intentions are good.
- Some banks restrict attorney online banking to viewing and payments to existing payees.
- Joint accounts sometimes need the other account holder to agree to new arrangements.
- Savings products with fixed terms may not allow an attorney to reinvest at maturity.
Common questions
Can I use the donor's existing online banking?
No. Even with permission it breaches the terms and looks like fraud. Get your own attorney access.
Do I need to register with every bank separately?
Yes, and with each provider — pensions, investments, insurers and utilities all need telling separately.
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This is general information about how Lasting Powers of Attorney work in England and Wales. It is not legal advice about your situation. What we do and do not do.
Published by Estate Advisory Group