Registering an LPA with the OPG
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026
A signed LPA does nothing until it is registered. Registration is a postal application to the Office of the Public Guardian, with a statutory waiting period built in.
What to send
- The original signed LPA, with every page and any continuation sheets.
- The £92 fee, or form LPA120 with evidence if you are claiming a reduction.
- Confirmation that any LP3 notices have been sent.
Send it by a tracked service. It is an original document and a lost LPA means signing everything again.
What happens next
- The OPG acknowledges receipt.
- A statutory four-week period runs, allowing objections.
- The OPG checks the document for errors and eligibility.
- If all is well it is stamped as registered and returned to the applicant.
Total time is commonly a couple of months. See how long registration takes.
When it comes back
- Store the original somewhere safe and dry, not in a bank safe deposit the attorney cannot reach.
- Note the OPG reference and the activation key for the online Use an LPA service.
- Register it with banks and providers — see using an LPA with banks.
- Make certified copies rather than handing over the original.
Worked example: registering two LPAs together
Harold signs both an LP1F and an LP1H on the same day, with his daughter Ruth as sole attorney on each. He posts both originals to the OPG together with a single cheque for £184 — £92 per LPA. Both run their own four-week objection windows in parallel, so they are typically stamped and returned together roughly eight to ten weeks later. Ruth keeps the originals in a fireproof folder at home and later makes certified copies of each for the bank and Harold's pension provider, rather than sending the originals out again.
Fee reductions and exemptions
The standard OPG registration fee is £92 per LPA — so £184 to register both a financial and a health and welfare LPA for the same person. If the donor receives certain means-tested benefits they may qualify for a full exemption, and if their gross annual income is under £12,000 they may qualify for a 50% reduction. Both routes use form LPA120 with supporting evidence, sent alongside the application rather than afterwards. See the LPA registration fee and fee exemption and remission for the current thresholds and evidence required.
Table: what a returned registration pack contains
| Outcome | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Registered | The original LPA, stamped on every page, plus an activation key for the online service |
| Rejected | The original document back, with a letter explaining the fault — see what if the OPG rejects your LPA |
Common questions
Who should be the applicant?
Either the donor or an attorney. The donor applying is slightly simpler because they can also handle the fee.
Can registration be rushed?
No. The four-week objection period is set by law and applies to every application.
Can I register an LPA myself without help?
Yes, the OPG accepts applications directly from donors and attorneys. Our service focuses on getting the document itself right before it reaches that stage.
What happens to the £92 fee if I withdraw the application?
A partial refund may be available if you withdraw before the OPG has completed its checks; contact the OPG directly for the current position.
Do both LPAs have to be registered at the same time?
No, but most people find it simpler to sign and post both together, since the same attorneys and correspondence address usually apply to each.
Can I track the application online?
The OPG does not offer a public tracking portal for postal applications. It will contact the applicant if there is a query, and otherwise the registered document is your confirmation.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of Registration and using an LPA. The pages below take it further.
- How our service works
The four steps from choosing your LPA to a registered LPA.
- Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
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?
Choose one LPA or both, 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