Decide who looks after you, while you still can
Lasting Powers of Attorney give you control, even if you lose capacity
You need capacity to put Lasting Powers of Attorney in place
Most people put Lasting Powers of Attorney on a to-do list and never get round to it. The thinking is usually, ‘I’m fine. I’ll sort it eventually.’
The catch is you need mental capacity to put one in place. The moment that’s gone, the option is gone with it.
After that your family is looking at applying to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order which is slow, expensive and only appoints one person to act. Until that point nobody has the legal authority to act on your behalf. Bills don’t get paid, banks won’t release funds, the local authority make your care decisions.
The best option is to put Lasting Powers of Attorney in place while you still can.
How we can help you put Lasting Powers of Attorney in place
We don't start with the documents. We start with what matters to you.
01
Understand who matters most, and what you have
Your family, your assets, your home, your business, your specific concerns. No two estates are the same, and no plan worth signing is built without understanding the person signing it.
02
Identify what actually needs to be in place
Most people don’t need every product. We tell you what you genuinely need, what you don’t, and why. You will have clarity before you commit to anything.
03
Get the documents in place, properly.
We handle the drafting, the signing, and registration with the Office of the Public Guardian.
What the process looks like
The process is designed to be straightforward and low pressure, because putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place should feel like a weight off your shoulders, not another job on the list.
01
A free, no-obligation consultation
A no-obligation consultation, in person, over the phone, or by video call. You tell us about your situation. We listen, and help you understand what you might need (and what you might not).
02
We tell you what you need
We give you a clear recommendation. What should be in place, why, and how much it will cost. If you already have something in place that works, we will tell you that too.
03
We draft your documents
We prepare your Lasting Power of Attorney documentation, ensuring it is filled out properly to avoid delays in the process.
04
Your signing meeting
Signatures have to be completed in a strict order. We manage every step of this process.
05
Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian
We submit your application and the registration feel. We chase, review, and respond to anything they need from us.
06
Your registered documents
When we receive the registered documents, we review them and send you the originals. Then they sit somewhere safe, ready in case they are ever needed.
You can't put Lasting Powers of Attorney in place early enough
The people who need it most are those closest to losing the chance to. With Lasting Powers of Attorney you can’t wait until you need them. You have to plan ahead, but you don’t have to do that alone.
You have just had a child and want a plan in place in case anything happens to you
You are approaching retirement and want everything in order
You have had a recent diagnosis that might affect your capacity later
You own a business and want to be sure it keeps running if you ever can't run it
You have watched family members lose capacity without having Lasting Powers of Attorney in place
You are putting Wills in place and want the lifetime equivalent sorted too
What Clients Have to Say
It is a pleasure to deal with Elwyn and Mabel. The process was easy and they helped me with a Lasting Power of Attorney recently. They asked all the right questions. I felt I could ask the team anything. They were very thorough.
ADRIAN M
Elwyn & Mabel recently helped us arrange our Powers of Attorney and Trust work. The team is super knowledgeable and really thorough. Highly recommended.
RICHARD coulson
I reached out to Elwyn & Mabel Estate Planning as I wanted to check that our Wills were up to date and to do some Lasting Powers of Attorney. I gound that everything was explained to me very clearly and professionally, and the process was very straight forward. I would highly recommend Elwyn & Mabel Estate Planning to my friends and family.
GLENDA KINSEY
The Elwyn & Mabel team have been absolutely brilliant in helpgin myself and several family members with Wills. They are extremely efficient and work to resolve matters as quickly as possible. I would highly recommend Elwyn & Mabel Estate Planning, simply brilliant.
mike williams
Lasting Power of Attorney FAQs
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Book a free call and we will answer any question you have.
Will my attorneys get access to my money the moment I sign?
No. Your attorneys can only act when you have lost capacity, or when you specifically consent to them acting on your behalf. While you have capacity and the ability to make your own decisions, you remain in full control. This is the single most common worry, so it’s worth being clear about: signing an LPA doesn’t hand anyone the keys.
How much does a Lasting Power of Attorney cost?
We charge £250 plus VAT per document, plus a £92 OPG registration fee for each. So one LPA is £250 + VAT + £92. Both LPAs (Health and Welfare, plus Property and Financial Affairs) is £500 + VAT + £184. No hidden fees on top of that.
Can't I just do it myself online?
You can. But the majority of DIY applications get rejected. The Office of the Public Guardian processes around 3,000 documents a day with very little tolerance for errors. Common rejection reasons include signatures completed out of order, contradictions between preferences and powers, and details that don’t match what financial institutions hold on their systems. A rejected application means starting over.
I already have an Enduring Power of Attorney. Do I still need a Lasting Power of Attorney
Probably yes. Enduring Powers of Attorney are pre-2007 documents that cover financial matters only, not health and welfare. They also can’t be registered until after capacity is lost, and financial institutions are increasingly preferring Lasting Powers of Attorney.
How long does the whole process take?
On the Elwyn & Mabel side, drafting and signing usually takes a few weeks. The Office of the Public Guardian currently takes 8 to 12 weeks to register, though it can take longer. We typically advise clients to plan for around six to eight months from the initial conversation to having the registered documents in hand.
What happens if I don't have a Lasting Power of Attorney and I lose capacity?
Your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship Order. It’s slow (often six months or more), expensive (typically thousands of pounds), and only ever appoints one person to act. While the application is being processed, no one has the legal authority to act on your behalf. Bills can’t be paid, banks won’t release funds, and care decisions get made by the local authority.
Find out what your family needs you to put in place.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. We will talk about your family, and what you would like to put in place. We will walk you through your options in plain English. No paperwork. No pressure.
Download the Estate Planning Guide.
Take your time. The guide walks you through your options, and what the process actually looks like, at your own pace and on your own terms.