Is this the official government service?
No. The Office of the Public Guardian is the government body that registers LPAs, and you can apply to them directly. We prepare the documents from your answers, and an experienced legal professional checks them before they are signed, which is the part the government service does not do.
Is the registration fee included?
No, and it is not ours to charge. The OPG's fee is currently £92 for each LPA and is paid to them, not to us. Some people qualify for a reduction or an exemption, and the questionnaire asks about it.
Do I need both LPAs?
Most people take both, because they cover different things: one is about money and property, the other about care and medical treatment. Neither covers the other. You are free to take just one.
Can I do this for my mother or father?
Only the person making the LPA can make it, and they must have mental capacity at the time. You can absolutely help them through it — many of our customers do — but the decisions and the signature have to be theirs. If capacity is already in doubt, an LPA is no longer the right route and we will tell you so rather than take the payment.
How long does the whole thing take?
Two different clocks, and only the first is ours. Most documents are back with you within 24 hours of finishing the questionnaire. Registering with the Office of the Public Guardian is the slow part — they currently advise allowing around 8 to 10 weeks. An LPA cannot be used until it is registered, which is the reason to start it while there is no hurry.
Can I change it later?
Yes, for as long as you have mental capacity. You revoke the old one and make a new one, and the new one has to be registered again with a further fee to the Office of the Public Guardian. What you cannot do is amend an LPA that has already been registered, so it is worth taking your time over who you appoint now.
What if I do not have a printer?
Your documents arrive as a PDF, so they can be printed anywhere — a library, a print shop, or by a son, daughter or friend you forward the email to. Nothing has to be printed at home. If that is awkward, ring us on 0800 246 1961 before you order and we will talk through the options with you.
Who is allowed to witness my signature?
Any adult who is not one of your attorneys or replacement attorneys — usually a neighbour, a friend, or a relative who is not being appointed. They have to be with you in person: a signature witnessed over the telephone or by video call is not accepted. Your certificate provider is a different person again, and their own signature does not need a witness. Clear signing and witnessing instructions come with every document, and they say who signs which page, in which order.
What if something is wrong when it arrives?
Tell us. Every price includes a free re-issue if you spot a typo. Signing in the wrong order is the mistake the Office of the Public Guardian turns down most often, which is exactly why the signing instructions are part of what you receive rather than something extra — and if the OPG does come back to you, an LPA is returned for correction rather than lost.