The LPA signing order
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Donor, certificate provider, attorneys. In that order, with dates that prove it. This is where most rejected LPAs fail.
The order
- Donor signs section 9, witnessed by an adult who is not an attorney.
- Certificate provider signs section 10, on the same day or later — never earlier.
- Attorneys and replacements sign section 11, on the same day as the certificate provider or later, each witnessed.
- Applicant completes and dates the registration pages last.
Why it is strict
Wrong order means starting again
The certificate confirms the donor understood the LPA when they made it, so it cannot predate the donor's signature. If an attorney signed before the certificate provider, the OPG will reject the application and everyone must sign fresh forms.
Managing it in real life
- Best case: donor, witness and certificate provider in one room, then post to attorneys.
- Write the intended date order down before anyone picks up a pen.
- Use black ink and print names clearly; do not use correction fluid.
- Check every date before posting — including the year, which people get wrong in January.
Our signing pack is personalised: it names each person, the page they sign, who witnesses them, and the earliest date they may sign.
Common questions
Can everyone sign on the same day?
Yes, provided the sequence within the day is correct: donor, then certificate provider, then attorneys.
Does the donor sign every page?
No, only the signature sections and any continuation sheets that apply to them. Our pack marks the exact pages.
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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