Solicitor vs doing it yourself
For a straightforward LPA — clear choice of attorneys, united family, ordinary assets — doing it yourself with a checked online service is the sensible choice. For anything with a complication in it, pay for advice. See LPA vs solicitor for the full comparison.
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.
Choose DIY if
- The donor clearly has capacity and is making the decision freely.
- You know who the attorneys are and nobody objects.
- The assets are a home, savings, and a pension.
- You want no unusual restrictions in the document.
Choose a solicitor if
- Capacity is uncertain, borderline, or likely to be challenged later.
- There is a business, a farm, a trust, or property abroad.
- The family disagrees about who should be appointed.
- You are considering restrictions on how or when attorneys can act.
- There is any history of pressure or financial abuse.
We will tell you which you are
The free choose your LPA check exists partly to send people to a solicitor when that is the right answer.
The decision, side by side
| Factor | Points to DIY / guided | Points to a solicitor |
|---|---|---|
| Family agreement | Everyone agrees | Any disagreement |
| Capacity | Clearly present, no doubts raised | Borderline or previously questioned |
| Assets | Home, savings, pension | Business, trust, farm, overseas property |
| Wording wanted | Standard preferences and instructions | Bespoke restrictions or conditions |
| Budget for one LPA | Around £141 all in | Around £392-£692 all in |
A worked example of the borderline case
Frank, 71, wants to appoint his three children jointly and severally, but one of them has previously fallen out with the others over money. Nothing about his capacity is in doubt and his assets are simple. The family disagreement alone is enough reason to see a solicitor rather than proceed with a guided service, even though every other factor points to DIY.
Cost side by side
| DIY / guided, one LPA | Solicitor, one LPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | £0-£49 | £300-£600 |
| OPG fee | £92 | £92 |
| Total | £92-£141 | £392-£692 |
Timescales for each route
| Stage | DIY / guided | Solicitor |
|---|---|---|
| Preparing the document | 20-40 minutes to a few hours | Days to weeks around appointments |
| Signing | Arranged by you | Sometimes coordinated by the firm |
| OPG registration | 8-10 weeks | 8-10 weeks |
A second worked example, favouring DIY
Susan, 58, is single with no children, a flat, a workplace pension and modest savings. She wants her sister as attorney with her niece as replacement, and there is no disagreement in the family. Every factor here points towards a guided online service rather than a solicitor: clear capacity, agreed attorneys, simple assets, and no unusual wording needed. She completes both LPAs for £79, registers both for £184, and has no cause to involve a solicitor at any stage.
Common questions
Can I start with a guided service and switch to a solicitor if it turns out to be complicated?
Yes. Nothing is submitted anywhere until you print and sign, so you can stop and take your situation to a solicitor at any point.
Is there a middle option between DIY and a full solicitor?
Some solicitors offer a fixed-fee review of a document you have already prepared, which is worth asking about directly if you want a second check without full drafting fees.
Is there a wrong answer between DIY and a solicitor?
The main risk is choosing DIY when your situation actually needs judgement — family disagreement, doubtful capacity, or complex assets — since a checked service cannot supply advice a solicitor would give.
Can I do part of the process myself and pay a solicitor for the rest?
Yes, some people prepare the document through a guided service and separately pay a solicitor for a short consultation on one specific concern, rather than paying for full drafting.
Read next
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.