Certified copies of an LPA
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
You should not post the original LPA around the country. A certified copy has the same effect, and the donor or a solicitor can certify it.
Who can certify
- The donor, while they have capacity — free, and often overlooked.
- A solicitor or notary — usually a small fee per copy.
- A stockbroker, for some financial institutions.
Attorneys cannot certify copies of their own LPA.
How to do it properly
- Photocopy every page of the registered LPA, including the OPG stamp.
- On each page, write: "I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original Lasting Power of Attorney."
- On the final page add: "I certify this is a true and complete copy of the Lasting Power of Attorney."
- Sign and date every page of the copy.
Every page, every signature
Banks routinely reject copies where only the first page is certified, or where pages are missing. It is the most common reason an attorney's first attempt fails.
The modern alternative
For LPAs registered in recent years the OPG's online Use an LPA service lets an attorney give a bank a secure access code instead, which avoids paper copies entirely where the provider supports it.
Worked example: certifying copies before capacity is lost
As soon as her LPA is registered, Priya sits down with the original and makes five photocopies. She writes the required wording on every page of each copy, signs and dates them, and keeps three at home, gives one to her attorney son, and posts one to her financial adviser. Two years later, after a stroke leaves Priya without capacity, her son needs a further certified copy for a new pension provider — but because Priya can no longer certify one herself, he has to pay a solicitor to do it instead, which costs more and takes longer than it would have while she was well.
Table: certification options compared
| Who certifies | Cost | Available once capacity is lost? |
|---|---|---|
| The donor | Free | No — must be done while capacity remains |
| A solicitor or notary | A per-copy fee, often £10-£50 | Yes |
| A stockbroker | Varies by firm | Only for some financial institutions |
Why the exact wording matters
The wording is not a formality. It creates a statement, signed and dated by a named person, that the copy matches the original page for page. Under the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 this is what allows a bank or other organisation to rely on a copy rather than demanding the original registered LPA, which the attorney needs to keep safe for every other provider they deal with. A copy without the wording on each page — or with the wording but no signature — is simply a photocopy, and most organisations will refuse it outright rather than query it.
How this fits with the wider registration cost
Certifying copies is separate from the £92 OPG registration fee paid once per LPA when it is registered. There is no OPG charge for certification itself — the only cost, if any, is a solicitor's fee for certifying a copy once the donor can no longer do it themselves. Budgeting for a handful of copies at outset, while the donor still has capacity, avoids that later cost altogether.
Certifying for use with the courts or overseas
The same certified copies are usually accepted by UK courts and by most domestic organisations. If a copy is needed for use overseas — for a property or bank account abroad, for example — the receiving country may instead require notarisation or an apostille from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which is a different and separate process from certifying a copy under UK rules. Check the requirement with the overseas institution before assuming a standard certified copy will be accepted.
Keep the original away from the post
Never send the original registered LPA abroad by post. If notarisation is required, a solicitor or notary can usually work from a certified copy rather than the original document.
Common questions
How many copies should I make?
One per provider you deal with, plus a spare. Certifying several at once while the donor still has capacity saves money later.
Is a solicitor's certification better?
No, it carries the same effect. It is simply the option available once the donor no longer has capacity.
Can a certified copy be photocopied again?
No. A copy of a certified copy is not itself a valid certified copy — each one must be certified individually from the original.
Does the OPG certify copies itself?
It can provide an office copy for a fee on request, but most attorneys find it quicker to have the donor or a solicitor certify copies directly.
Do I need to certify every page, or just sign the front?
Every page needs the wording and a signature, with the final page carrying the full certification statement. Signing only the front page is one of the most common reasons a bank rejects a copy.
Is a certified copy valid forever?
Yes, there is no expiry date on a certified copy itself, though some organisations prefer a copy certified within the last twelve months to reduce the risk of it being outdated by a later change to the LPA.
What if the donor has already lost capacity when a new copy is needed?
Then only a solicitor, notary or, for some institutions, a stockbroker can certify a fresh copy — the donor cannot do it themselves once capacity is gone, which is why certifying several copies early is worthwhile.
Can an attorney's spouse or relative certify a copy instead?
No. The certifier must be the donor, a solicitor, notary or, where accepted, a stockbroker. An attorney's family member has no special standing to certify simply because they are related to someone named on the LPA.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of Registration and using an LPA. The pages below take it further.
- How our service works
The four steps from choosing your LPA to a registered LPA.
- Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
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?
Choose one LPA or both, 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