A first-90-days plan for a new attorney

Guidance from Estate Advisory Group

Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026

Work through it in order and the whole thing takes an afternoon a week for three months.

Weeks 1 to 2

  1. Locate the registered LPA and order certified copies.
  2. List every account, provider, insurer and utility.
  3. Register with the main bank first — see adding an attorney to a bank account.
  4. Set up a notebook or spreadsheet for decisions and spending.

Weeks 3 to 8

  • Register with pensions, DWP, investment providers and insurers.
  • Check benefit entitlements and council tax discounts.
  • Review insurance on the property and its occupancy status.
  • Cancel unnecessary subscriptions and consolidate dormant accounts.
  • Confirm care fee arrangements and invoicing.

Weeks 9 to 12

  1. Draw up an annual budget from actual income and outgoings.
  2. Address tax: registering with HMRC if a return is due.
  3. Write a short summary for family members and share it.
  4. Diarise an annual review of investments, insurance and care needs.

Record as you go

Reconstructing two years of decisions from memory is the hard version. Ten minutes a week is the easy one.

Common questions

Do I have to report to anyone?

Attorneys are not routinely supervised, unlike deputies, but the OPG can require an account at any time. Keep records as though it will.

What if I get something wrong?

Correct it, record what happened, and contact the OPG helpline for guidance. Good faith and clear records count for a great deal.

Read next

Where this fits

This page is part of Money, tax and property. The pages below take it further.

Review and sources

Reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner. Last reviewed 13 August 2026. We recheck fees, forms and Office of the Public Guardian guidance whenever they change — see our editorial policy.

Official sources

Ready to make your LPA?

Answer five quick questions to check the service suits you, then start online for £49 per LPA.

The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.

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