Setting up an LPA for an elderly parent
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
You cannot make an LPA for your parent. Only they can — and only while they understand it. What you can do is help them do it properly, and soon.
How to start the conversation
- Frame it as planning, not decline: "I'm doing mine, shall we do yours at the same time?"
- Lead with the practical: a frozen account after a stroke is a better argument than dementia.
- Involve all siblings early. Being seen to arrange it privately is what causes rows later.
- Let them choose their attorneys. It may not be you, and that is their right.
What you must not do
Pressure invalidates the LPA
The certificate provider must speak to your parent alone and confirm nobody pushed them into it. If you are to be an attorney, you cannot be the certificate provider or witness their signature, and you should not be in the room for that conversation.
The capacity question
If your parent's memory is already worrying you, act now and consider a GP or solicitor as certificate provider so the assessment is recorded by a professional. If capacity has already gone, an LPA is no longer possible and the route is a Court of Protection deputyship — see what happens without an LPA and mental capacity explained.
Practical help you can give
- Gather names, addresses and dates of birth for everyone involved.
- Sit with them through the questions — our wizard is designed for exactly that conversation.
- Handle the printing, the postage and the fee, and arrange the signing appointments.
- Consider doing both types together, which costs £79 with us rather than £98.
Choosing between siblings
Parents often want to appoint more than one child to avoid the appearance of favouritism. That is workable, but decide early whether they act jointly (every decision needs everyone) or jointly and severally (any one can act alone) — see jointly or jointly and severally. Joint appointments feel fairer but can stall a bank payment if one sibling is on holiday.
| Family setup | Sensible attorney choice | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| One child locally involved | That child, plus a sibling as replacement | Other siblings feeling excluded |
| Several children, evenly involved | Two or three, jointly and severally | Disagreements over big decisions |
| No children nearby | A trusted niece, nephew or friend | See no close family |
A worked example
Margaret, 78, lives alone and has two sons, David and Paul. David raises the subject after Margaret mentions her bank blocked a card payment while she was in hospital for a hip operation. Both sons agree Margaret should choose who acts for her: she appoints David and Paul jointly and severally for finances, and David alone for health and welfare, since he lives ten minutes away. Paul is named as David's replacement attorney for health decisions. Margaret completes the forms with our wizard over two sittings, with her GP acting as certificate provider given her age.
Costs and timing
Registration takes the Office of the Public Guardian around 8 to 20 weeks once submitted. The OPG fee is £92 per LPA, so £184 for both types, plus our service fee. There may be a fee reduction if your parent's income is low. See how much an LPA costs for the full breakdown.
Common questions
Can I sign the LPA on my parent's behalf?
Only if they cannot physically sign, in which case someone can sign at their direction on continuation sheet 3 with two witnesses. They must still have mental capacity.
Can I pay for it?
Yes, there is no restriction on a family member paying the fees.
What if my parent refuses to think about it?
Keep it low-key and revisit later. A recent hospital stay, a friend's story about a frozen account, or simply doing your own LPA at the same time often opens the door.
Should we use a solicitor instead?
Most families do not need one for a straightforward LPA. If there is a second marriage, a disputed will or a family rift, take advice from a solicitor instead.
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