Who can be a certificate provider for an LPA?
Someone who qualifies under one of two routes: personal knowledge of the donor for at least two years, or relevant professional skills such as a GP, solicitor or social worker. Whichever route, they must be 18 or over, must not be related to the donor or any attorney, and must be independent of everyone involved in the LPA.
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.
The two routes to eligibility
| Route | Who qualifies | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal knowledge | A friend, neighbour or colleague who has known the donor personally for two years or more | Nothing — done as a favour |
| Professional skills | GP, solicitor, barrister, registered nurse or other healthcare professional, social worker, or an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate | Set by them individually; often £50-£150 |
Knowing the donor "personally" means a genuine, ongoing relationship rather than a passing acquaintance. A neighbour of ten years, a former colleague still in regular contact, or a long-standing member of the same club all qualify. Someone met once or twice through mutual friends does not.
The full list of who is barred
- Any attorney or replacement attorney under this LPA
- A member of the donor's family — including in-laws, step-relations and half-relations
- A member of any attorney's family
- The donor's business partner or paid employee, or an attorney's
- An owner, director, manager or employee of a care home where the donor lives, or a member of their family
- Anyone under 18
- Anyone who lacks the mental capacity to understand the role themselves
The most common cause of rejection
Using a relative — even a distant one, or an in-law — as certificate provider invalidates the certificate, and the OPG will reject the whole LPA once it discovers the relationship. Our questions check the relationship before you get that far.
What a certificate provider actually does, in order
- Reads the LPA, in particular the powers being given and any restrictions or preferences recorded
- Speaks to the donor privately, without the attorneys present, to discuss what the document does
- Satisfies themselves that the donor understands the LPA and is not being pressured, tricked or coerced into signing it
- Signs the certificate section of the LPA, confirming their assessment
They are not vouching for the donor's finances, the wisdom of the attorney choice, or how the attorneys will behave once appointed. Their role is limited to capacity and freedom from pressure at the point of signing.
Two certificate providers, or one
The standard LPA needs only one certificate provider. A second is only required in narrow circumstances — for example where the first certificate provider is a relative of an attorney by a route that is not obviously disqualifying and a second, independent view is wanted for reassurance. In the great majority of cases, one properly qualified person is all that is needed.
Common questions
Can the same person certify both LPAs?
Yes, and it is usual for one person to certify both the Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare LPAs. Each document still needs its own separately signed certificate.
Can they also be a witness?
A certificate provider can witness the donor's signature as well as signing their own certificate, but the two roles are recorded separately and the paperwork must show clearly who did what.
What if I don't know anyone who qualifies?
Use a professional route instead — a GP, solicitor or other qualifying professional does not need a two-year relationship with you, only the relevant professional standing.
Does the certificate provider need to see the whole form?
Yes. They need to read the LPA to understand the powers granted before they can properly assess whether the donor understands it.
Read next
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.
Making your own LPA?
Name your attorneys, set how they must decide together, and we prepare the forms for £49.
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.