Solicitor, GOV.UK or an online service?
Guidance from Estate Advisory Group
Three legitimate ways to make a Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales. Here is what each one actually gives you — including the cases where we would tell you to see a solicitor instead of buying from us.
Side by side
| GOV.UK yourself | LPAs Online | Solicitor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preparation cost | Free | £49 one / £79 both | About £300–£650 per LPA |
| OPG registration fee | £92 | £92 | £92 |
| Legal advice on your situation | No | No | Yes |
| Questions explained in plain English | Yes | Yes | Yes, in person |
| Attorney and certificate provider eligibility checked | Partly | Yes | Yes |
| Checks for common completion errors | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| Help wording preferences and instructions | No | Guided, with wording checks | Yes, drafted for you |
| Personalised signing order guide | General guidance | Yes | Often signed in the office |
| Typical time to complete | 1–2 hours | About 30 minutes | Two appointments over weeks |
| Regulated legal service | n/a | No | Yes, SRA regulated |
Do it yourself on GOV.UK if…
- Your situation is straightforward and you are comfortable with forms.
- You are appointing one or two people you trust, with no restrictions or conditions.
- You have time to read the guidance carefully and check the signing order yourself.
The government service is free, well built and produces the same legal document. We say so plainly because it is true, and because you should not pay us if you do not need us.
Use LPAs Online if…
- You want the decisions explained one at a time, without legal jargon.
- You want the rules checked as you answer — attorney eligibility, certificate provider eligibility, and whether your preferences and instructions are the kind of wording the OPG rejects.
- You want a signing pack that names every person, every page and the order they must sign in.
- You are making both LPAs and want them cross-checked against each other.
See a solicitor if…
These are the situations where no automated service — ours included — is the right tool. Our free check flags most of them and tells you so before you pay:
- There is any doubt about whether the donor understands the document.
- You are worried someone is pressuring the donor.
- There is a family dispute, or a real chance the LPA will be challenged later.
- The donor owns a business, farm, trust interests or assets outside England and Wales.
- You want tailored restrictions, conditions or gifting powers drafted.
- The donor cannot sign and needs to make a mark with witnesses.
What we are, plainly
The one thing all three routes share
Whoever prepares it, the LPA is only valid once it has been signed in the correct order and registered by the Office of the Public Guardian. See the full cost breakdown including when the registration fee can be reduced or waived.
Ready to make yours?
Answer five quick questions to see whether our service suits you. No account and no payment needed.
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