Is an LPA worth it?
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
The honest comparison is not £92 against nothing. It is £92 now against a court application, an annual supervision fee and someone else choosing your decision-maker.
The comparison that matters
| LPA made in advance | Deputyship after capacity is lost | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front cost | £92 per document plus preparation | Court fee, capacity assessment, often a bond |
| Ongoing cost | None | Annual supervision fee, annual reporting |
| Timescale | Weeks | Commonly several months |
| Who is appointed | Your choice | The court's choice |
| Oversight | Light | Annual accounts to the OPG |
When it is clearly worth it
- You own a home, especially jointly.
- You have a spouse or children who would have to manage your affairs.
- There is any family history of dementia or stroke.
- You live alone, or your family is spread out.
When you might reasonably wait
If you are young, single, renting and hold few assets, the urgency is lower — though capacity can be lost at any age through accident or illness, which is why the average age of donors is falling. What you should not do is wait until there is a reason, because by then it may be too late.
Common questions
Does an LPA expire?
No. Once registered it lasts until you revoke it or die, so the cost is one-off.
What if my attorneys never need to use it?
That is the good outcome. It is insurance: the value is in it existing, not in it being used.
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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