Key Facts
- Higher fees do not always mean better results.
- One client we worked with initially wanted to appoint four children as joint attorneys across four continents.
- Working with a professional service provider takes the stress out of the process by handling correspondence with the Office of the Public Guardian, ensuring all documents are correctly prepared, and monitoring registration.
- A Lasting Power of Attorney protects you and your family, but only if it is properly drafted and registered.
- Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney is one of the most important steps in planning for the future.
creating a Lasting Power of Attorney, one question dominates conversations: should you pay a solicitor? The answer is not what you might expect. You do not need a solicitor to create an LPA, and the costs of using one can be three to five times higher than working with other qualified professionals.
However, getting it wrong can trigger rejections, delays, and the need for expensive alternative arrangements like deputyship orders. This article explores the true cost of using LPA solicitors in the UK, what you actually pay for, and whether it represents value for money. Understanding your options will help you make an informed decision about protecting your future.
What Are You Actually Paying For?
Higher fees do not always mean better results. Solicitors have overhead costs that other professionals do not, including office rental, staff, and professional indemnity insurance. Many solicitors also treat LPA preparation as a small part of their broader practice, meaning they lack the specialisation and experience that comes from focusing on estate planning as a core service.
What matters most is that your LPA is drafted correctly, registered successfully, and tailored to your specific circumstances. Solicitors can certainly deliver this, but so can chartered legal executives, STEP qualified estate planners, and other accredited professionals. The premium you pay does not guarantee a superior outcome. This is where we can help you at Elwyn & Mabel, with a free no-obligation consultation to help you get started. Learn more about what you need to do with the Lasting Power of Attorney Checklist:
What Is A Case Study in Complexity?
One client we worked with initially wanted to appoint four children as joint attorneys across four continents. One child was in England, another in America, a third in South Africa, and the fourth in New Zealand. We explained to the client that requiring all four to act jointly would be virtually impossible due to time zones, distance, and coordination challenges. A well drafted LPA reflected this reality by allowing the children to act severally, meaning each could act independently. This required careful language and a deep understanding of the client’s circumstances and wishes. A template or hastily prepared document would have missed this entirely, creating confusion and conflict when the LPA needed to be used.
What Is Speed and Certainty?
Working with a professional service provider takes the stress out of the process by handling correspondence with the Office of the Public Guardian, ensuring all documents are correctly prepared, and monitoring registration.
This peace of mind has real value, especially if your circumstances are complex or urgent. Getting an LPA right from the start means it will be in place before it is needed, which is the whole point of creating it.
Not sure where to start with your LPA?
Download our free Lasting Power of Attorney checklist to see exactly what’s involved — or book a free consultation and we’ll walk you through it.
Please note: Lasting Powers of Attorney apply in England and Wales only. Different rules apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create an LPA without paying for professional help?
Technically, yes. You can download forms from the Office of the Public Guardian website and complete them yourself. However, this carries significant risk. DIY applications are frequently rejected for reasons including incorrect signatures, conflicting instructions, and formatting errors. For most people, the cost of professional help is far less than the cost of getting it wrong.
Is there a difference between a solicitor and an estate planner?
Solicitors have completed a full law degree and legal training. Estate planners may include solicitors, but also chartered legal executives and other qualified professionals with specialist knowledge in Lasting Powers of Attorney and Wills. What matters is that they are qualified, experienced, and accredited by a professional body. Many specialist estate planners have more hands on experience with LPAs than high street solicitors.
What happens if my LPA application is rejected?
If the Office of the Public Guardian identifies errors, it will return your application and explain the problems. You must correct these and resubmit, causing significant delays. If you cannot register an LPA because you no longer have capacity, your family will need to apply for a deputyship order, which costs thousands and involves court proceedings.
How long does it take to get an LPA registered?
The Office of the Public Guardian registration period currently takes 8 to 12 weeks. Working with a professional service provider, the entire process from consultation to registration typically takes two to four weeks before the OPG stage begins. DIY applications frequently take much longer because errors require correction and resubmission.
TL;DR: Is It Worth Using a Solicitor for Your LPA?
A Lasting Power of Attorney protects you and your family, but only if it is properly drafted and registered.
- You do not need a solicitor. Qualified estate planners, chartered legal executives, and other accredited professionals can draft and register a Lasting Power of Attorney to the same legal standard.
- DIY applications are frequently rejected for errors including incorrect signatures, conflicting instructions, and wrong dates of birth. Rejection causes months of delays.
- If no valid LPA exists when you lose capacity, your family must apply for a deputyship order, which costs thousands of pounds and involves complex court proceedings.
- Elwyn & Mabel manage submission for you and walk you through completion of the forms, giving you certainty and peace of mind that your LPA is in place and properly registered.
More From Elwyn & Mabel
Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney is one of the most important steps in planning for the future. Download the free Lasting Power of Attorney Checklist for a step by step guide to getting your LPA in place, explained in plain language.
For personalised guidance on creating a Lasting Power of Attorney or any aspect of estate planning, book a free consultation with Elwyn & Mabel. The team will answer questions, review individual circumstances, and help put the right plan in place.