Should I appoint a friend as attorney?

Guidance from Estate Advisory Group

Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026

A friend can be a better attorney than a relative — no inheritance in the background, no old family scores.

When it works well

You have no children, or none you would want to burden.
The friend is financially organised and lives nearby.
They have no expectation of inheriting from you.
They are younger than you, or you name a younger replacement.

The risks to weigh

Friendships shift, and a friend has no family standing to fall back on if relatives question their decisions. Detailed record keeping protects them, and appointing a family member alongside them, jointly and severally, defuses most suspicion.

Ask them properly

Being an attorney can mean years of admin. Tell them what is involved, and confirm they are willing before you name them.

Boundaries worth setting

Reimburse reasonable expenses — write it into your preferences.
Be explicit if you want the friend to consult a named relative.
Do not ask them to be attorney and certificate provider — they cannot be both.

Common questions

Can a friend be paid for acting?

Not as a wage unless the LPA allows it. They can claim reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Professional attorneys are the paid exception — see professional attorneys and fees.

Can my friend act on both LPAs?

Yes, one person can be attorney on both, or on just one.

Where this fits

This page is part of Attorneys and certificate providers. The pages below take it further.

Make an LPA online
The whole journey end to end: questions, documents, signing and registration.
The LPA forms explained
LP1F, LP1H and LP3 — what each section asks and where people go wrong.

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

Making your own LPA?

Name your attorneys, set how they must decide together, and we prepare the forms for £49.

Appoint your attorneys

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