The difference between the two types of LPA
There are exactly two Lasting Powers of Attorney in England and Wales. Property & Financial Affairs (form LP1F) covers money and property. Health & Welfare (form LP1H) covers care, treatment and where the donor lives. They are separate legal documents, separately signed and separately registered, and one cannot stand in for the other.
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- £49 per LPA, or £79 for both types
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The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.
They are separate in every way
- Separate forms: LP1F and LP1H.
- Separate attorneys, if you want different people.
- Separate registration, and a separate £92 fee for each.
- Separate decisions about how attorneys act together.
- One can be revoked without touching the other.
This matters practically: an attorney appointed only on the LP1F has no authority whatsoever over health or welfare matters, no matter how obviously sensible their view might be, and the reverse is equally true. A hospital asked to accept instructions from an LP1F-only attorney about a treatment decision is legally right to refuse.
What they have in common
- Both need a certificate provider.
- Both must be signed in a strict order and witnessed.
- Both must be registered before they can be used.
- Both end on the donor's death.
- Both cost £92 each to register with the Office of the Public Guardian.
Where the two overlap in practice
| Real-life situation | Document(s) actually needed |
|---|---|
| Moving into a care home | LP1H decides the move; LP1F pays the fees |
| Selling the family home to fund care | LP1F only — this is a property transaction |
| Refusing a hospital treatment | LP1H only |
| A pension provider needs a decision maker | LP1F only |
| Choosing a new GP or care agency | LP1H only |
Care situations are the clearest illustration of why both are usually needed together: the decision about care and the decision about paying for care are legally distinct, even though they happen in the same conversation.
Cost of getting both in place
Making both LPAs with us costs £79 rather than £98 for two separate ones, plus £184 in OPG registration fees regardless of who prepares the documents. See LPA cost for a full breakdown, or pricing for our current fees.
A worked example: two attorneys, two documents
Margaret, 74, makes both LPAs and appoints her son Peter as attorney on the LP1F and her daughter Claire as attorney on the LP1H, because Peter is better placed to deal with her rental property and Claire lives closer and knows her wishes on care. Two years later Margaret has a stroke. Peter immediately starts handling her bank accounts and the rental income, using authority he already had because Margaret had allowed the LP1F to be used with her consent while she still had capacity. Claire, separately, agrees the rehabilitation plan with the hospital under the LP1H, which only became usable once doctors confirmed Margaret could not make that decision herself. Neither attorney has any authority over the other's area — Peter cannot be asked about the rehabilitation plan, and Claire cannot be asked to authorise a withdrawal from Margaret's account.
Attorney rules that differ between the two
| Rule | LP1F | LP1H |
|---|---|---|
| Can a bankrupt person act as attorney | No | Yes |
| Can be used before capacity is lost | Yes, if the donor allows it | No, never |
| Contains the life-sustaining treatment question | No | Yes |
| Typically shown to | Banks, HMRC, pension providers | Doctors, hospitals, care homes |
These are not minor drafting quirks; they follow directly from what each document is for. Money can sensibly be managed on someone's behalf while they are still capable, if they choose to allow it, whereas the law does not let anyone else make a health decision that the donor is still able to make themselves.
Common questions
Can I convert one type into the other?
No. They are entirely separate documents from the outset; there is no process for converting or upgrading one into the other.
Is an Enduring Power of Attorney the same as either?
No. An EPA is an older document, largely replaced by LPAs since 2007, and only ever covered property and financial affairs.
If I only need one now, does making the other later cost more?
Yes. Preparing both together with us is £79; adding the second one after the first has already been made costs a further £49 on top of what was already paid, plus another £92 OPG registration fee — see can I add another LPA later.
Do both documents need the same certificate provider?
No, but it is common and convenient to use the same person for both if they are willing and eligible, since it avoids arranging two separate signing sessions.
Read next
Where this fits
This page is part of Choosing which LPA you need. The pages below take it further.
- Property & Financial Affairs LPA
The LP1F: money, bills, savings, property and everything a bank will ask for.
- Health & Welfare LPA
The LP1H: care, treatment decisions and life-sustaining treatment.
- What an LPA costs in 2026
Our £49 and £79 prices, the £92 OPG registration fee, and solicitor comparisons.
Most people make both LPAs
Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare together cost £79 instead of £98 separately.
The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.
This is general information about Lasting Powers of Attorney in England and Wales. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice about your situation. What we do and do not do.