The UK government has confirmed that the fees for registering a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) are set to rise. This change, scheduled for late 2025, makes it more important than ever to understand what an LPA is and why putting one in place sooner rather than later is a financially savvy and forward-thinking decision. For many, this news will serve as a crucial prompt to finally formalise their future wishes and protect their interests. This blog will break down what an LPA is, what the fee increase entails, and why the time to act is now.

Before diving into the specifics of the fee change, it’s essential to grasp the fundamental importance of an LPA. To summarise, an LPA is a legal document that enables you, the ‘donor’, to choose one or more trusted people, known as ‘attorneys’, to make decisions on your behalf. These decisions can cover your finances, property, or your personal welfare at a time in the future should you become physically or mentally incapable of dealing with those affairs yourself.

An LPA is a powerful tool for peace of mind. It ensures that if you ever lose the capacity to make your own choices, the people you trust most are legally empowered to act in your best interests. Once prepared and you are happy with the contents of the LPA, it needs to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to be legally valid. It is this registration process that incurs the fee.

There are two distinct types of LPAs, and you can choose to have one or both:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA: This enables an attorney to make decisions on the donor’s behalf about their property and financial affairs. This can include managing bank accounts, paying bills, collecting pensions or benefits, and even selling your home if necessary. This type of LPA can be used as soon as it is registered, with your permission, even if you still have mental capacity.

• Health and Welfare LPA: This empowers an attorney to make decisions on your behalf about your personal welfare. This can include decisions about your daily routine (washing, dressing, eating), medical care, moving into a care home, and life-sustaining treatment. Crucially, this LPA can only be used when you are unable to make your own decisions.

The central piece of news is the upcoming adjustment to the application fees. The cost to register a single LPA with the OPG will increase from the current £82 to £92.

It’s important to note that this fee is per LPA. Since there are two types of LPAs (Health and Welfare, and Property and Financial Affairs), many people choose to create both to ensure all aspects of their future are covered. Under the current fee structure, registering both would cost £164. Following the increase, this will rise to £184. While a £10 increase per document might seem modest, it represents a tangible rise in cost, especially for couples who are both putting LPAs in place, effectively doubling the increase.

The most critical detail is the implementation date. The new £92 fee will apply to all applications received by the OPG from 17th November 2025. This provides a clear deadline. Any application that arrives at the OPG on or after this date will be subject to the higher fee, regardless of when the document was signed.

The government has stated that the increase is necessary to ensure the OPG can continue to provide a sustainable and effective service. The OPG is responsible for registering LPAs, supervising court-appointed deputies, and protecting people who lack mental capacity. The revenue from application fees is essential for funding these vital services, including processing applications, maintaining the register of attorneys, and investigating any concerns raised about an attorney’s actions. As the population ages and awareness of LPAs grows, the workload of the OPG increases. The fee adjustment is intended to cover these operational costs and allow for service improvements, ensuring the system remains robust and secure for the future.

The announcement of a future price increase creates a clear window of opportunity. If you have been considering creating an LPA, this is a compelling reason to move forward with your plans. By preparing and submitting your application before 17th November 2025 deadline, you can lock in the current, lower fee of £82 per LPA.

The process of creating an LPA should not be rushed. It involves careful consideration of who you want to appoint as your attorneys and any specific instructions or preferences you wish to include. You will need to have the document signed by yourself, your chosen attorneys, and a certificate provider (an independent person who confirms you understand the LPA and are not under pressure to make it). This process takes time, so it is wise to start well in advance of the deadline. Waiting until the autumn of 2025 could lead to a rush, potentially causing delays and stress. Speak with

a legal professional, discuss your wishes with your family, and begin the process today. Your future self will thank you for it.