DIY Lasting Power of Attorney (UK)
In England and Wales you can prepare and register an LPA yourself, paying only the Office of the Public Guardian's £92 registration fee per document. Nothing about the process requires a solicitor — the difficulty is getting the details right first time, on forms that give little room for error.
Make your LPA online for £49
Answer simple questions. We prepare your LPA documents from your answers, ready for the next steps.
- £49 per LPA, or £79 for both types
- No solicitor required for straightforward LPAs
- Plain English questions, one screen at a time
- Save your progress and come back to it
- Checked for common completion errors as you go
- Review everything before you pay
The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.
Where the rules come from
LPAs in England and Wales are governed by the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems — a continuing or welfare power of attorney in Scotland, an enduring power of attorney in Northern Ireland — so an English LP1F or LP1H is not the right document there.
- LP1F — Property & Financial Affairs
- LP1H — Health & Welfare
- LP3 — notice to people to notify, if any are named
- LP2 — the application to register
The real cost of DIY
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Official forms | Free |
| OPG registration | £92 per LPA |
| Professional certificate provider, if used | Often £50-£150 |
| Certified copies, postage, printing | Small but real |
The OPG fee can be halved on a low income or waived on certain benefits. That reduction is available whether you do it yourself or use a service like ours — see LPA fee reductions.
DIY rules that catch people out
| Rule | Common DIY mistake |
|---|---|
| Certificate provider must not be a relative or attorney | A sibling or child used because they are trusted, not because they are eligible |
| Donor must sign before attorneys | Attorneys asked to sign first for convenience of timing |
| Witness must not also be an attorney | The same person witnesses two signatures on the same form |
| Preferences are guidance; instructions are binding | The two are used interchangeably in the wording |
The GOV.UK process end to end
- Register for a GOV.UK account, or order paper forms LP1F and/or LP1H by phone or post
- Enter the donor's and each attorney's details, including national insurance numbers if using the online tool
- Choose how attorneys must act: jointly (all must agree on everything), jointly and severally (each can act alone), or a mixture you specify
- Add a replacement attorney if you want one to step in should an original attorney be unable to act
- Write preferences and instructions carefully, or leave both sections blank — vague or contradictory wording is a common rejection reason
- Select and approach a certificate provider, then have them complete their section separately
- Add anyone to be notified using form LP3, or arrange a second certificate provider instead
- Sign in the correct order: donor first, then certificate provider, then attorneys, each witnessed
- Complete the LP2 registration application and send everything with the £92 fee per LPA to the OPG
- Wait through the four-week statutory notice period, then OPG processing, before the LPA is returned registered
Signing order and witnessing, precisely
| Who signs | When | Who witnesses them |
|---|---|---|
| Donor | First, on every page and the signature section | An independent witness — not an attorney |
| Certificate provider | After the donor | No witness required |
| Each attorney | After the certificate provider | An independent witness, who can be a different attorney's witness but not their own |
Getting this order wrong is one of the most common reasons the OPG returns a DIY form. There is no way to fix it after the fact other than re-signing correctly.
What the OPG actually checks on registration
Registration is an administrative check, not a legal review of your wishes. The OPG confirms the form is the current version, complete, signed in the right order by eligible people, and that any notified parties had their four weeks to object. It does not assess whether your choice of attorney is wise or whether your instructions are sensible — that judgement is yours, made before you sign.
Deciding whether DIY suits you
- Straightforward affairs, one or two attorneys, no unusual wording — DIY is realistic
- Business assets, trusts, property abroad or a family dispute — take advice from a solicitor
- Somewhere in between — a guided service checks the common errors without solicitor fees
If you would rather be guided through it, making an LPA online costs £49 per LPA or £79 for both, with the OPG's registration fee still paid separately to them.
Common questions
Does DIY mean it is more likely to be challenged?
Not inherently. Challenges usually turn on capacity or pressure at the time of signing, which is what the certificate provider addresses.
Can I use the GOV.UK service and then use you?
You can use either. Our value is the error checking, plain English questions and personalised signing guide.
Is a DIY LPA valid across all of the UK?
No — LP1F and LP1H only apply in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different documents entirely.
Can I get a fee reduction if I do it myself?
Yes, the fee reduction and exemption rules are the same whoever prepares the form — they depend on your income and benefits, not your preparation route.
What if I make a mistake filling in the paper form?
Cross out clearly, initial the correction, and do not use correction fluid — the OPG can reject forms with unclear alterations.
Do I need to register both LPAs at the same time?
No, you can register them separately and at different times, though most people find it more efficient to complete both together while the details are fresh.
Read next
- Do It Yourself LPA — What You Take On, and the Middle Option
- How to Make an LPA Yourself — step by step
- Low Cost Lasting Power of Attorney — £49 per LPA
- Is an Online LPA Legal? — Yes, If the Requirements Are Met
- The LPA registration fee: £92 explained
- LPA fee exemption and remission: paying less than £92
Where this fits
This page is part of LPA costs and fees. The pages below take it further.
- What an LPA costs in 2026
Our £49 and £79 prices, the £92 OPG registration fee, and solicitor comparisons.
- Solicitor, GOV.UK or online?
An honest comparison, including when you genuinely should pay a solicitor.
See the full cost before you commit
£49 per LPA, £79 for both, plus the £92 the Office of the Public Guardian charges to register each one.
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.