Do I need an LPA if I have a will?
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
A will deals with what happens after you die. An LPA deals with what happens while you are alive but cannot decide.
Two different jobs
| LPA | Will | |
|---|---|---|
| Takes effect | While you are alive | On death |
| Appoints | Attorneys | Executors |
| Covers | Money, property, care, treatment | Distribution of the estate |
| Registered with | Office of the Public Guardian | Nobody — stored privately |
Longer comparison in LPA vs will.
Which to do first
If you have neither, most advisers suggest the LPA first: the risk of losing capacity without authority in place causes more immediate hardship than dying intestate. Ideally, do both within the same few weeks.
Keeping them consistent
- An attorney can be a beneficiary of your will — see can an attorney be a beneficiary.
- Attorneys cannot change or make a will.
- Review both after divorce, bereavement or a major asset change.
- Store them together and tell your family where they are.
Common questions
Can my executor act as my attorney?
Yes, and it is common for the same trusted person to hold both roles.
Where can I make a will?
Our sister service My Posh Will handles wills; this site handles Lasting Powers of Attorney. See about Estate Advisory Group.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of LPA basics. The pages below take it further.
- Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
- Solicitor, GOV.UK or online?
An honest comparison, including when you genuinely should pay a solicitor.
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