LPAs in blended families
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
Second marriages plus adult children from a first is the situation the OPG sees most objections from.
Where the friction comes from
- A new spouse controlling money the first family expects to inherit.
- Stepchildren excluded from care decisions about a parent.
- Sale of a family home occupied by the surviving spouse.
- Suspicion about gifts and spending where records are not kept.
Structures that reduce it
| Approach | Effect |
|---|---|
| Spouse plus one adult child, jointly and severally | Transparency without deadlock |
| Spouse for health, child for finances | Separates care from money |
| Joint for major decisions only | Both must agree on property sales |
| Professional attorney alongside family | Neutral hand on the money |
The "jointly for some decisions, jointly and severally for others" option is powerful but easy to word badly — see jointly or jointly and severally.
Practical safeguards
- Name people to notify so nobody is surprised at registration.
- Ask attorneys to keep and share records.
- Write a letter of wishes about the family home.
- Review your will and LPA together so they tell the same story.
Common questions
Can a stepchild be an attorney?
Yes. There is no requirement to be a blood relative.
Can my children object to my spouse being attorney?
They can object to registration, but only on valid grounds such as fraud, pressure or the attorney being unsuitable. See objecting to an LPA registration.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of Parents, couples and capacity. The pages below take it further.
- Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
- What an LPA costs in 2026
Our £49 and £79 prices, the £92 OPG registration fee, and solicitor comparisons.
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
Helping a parent or partner?
They make the decisions and sign, you can do all the paperwork. Start with the free capacity check.
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