Quick Answer
You do not need a solicitor to make a Lasting Power of Attorney in England and Wales. An LPA is made on the Office of the Public Guardian’s own forms (LP1F for property and finances, LP1H for health and welfare), signed in a set order with a certificate provider and witnesses, then registered with the OPG for £92 per LPA. ClearLegacy fills in and checks the forms for £69 for one LPA or £119 for both. You pay the OPG fee directly.
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you, the donor, choose one or more people you trust, your attorneys, to make decisions for you if you lose the mental capacity to make them yourself, or (for money matters) if you simply want help. It is made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and only works once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian.
There are two types and they do different jobs. Most people make both, because a bank cannot act on a health LPA and a hospital cannot act on a finance one.
| Property and financial affairs (LP1F) | Health and welfare (LP1H) | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Bank accounts, bills, pensions, benefits, investments, selling or letting your home | Medical treatment, care, where you live, daily routine and (option A) life-sustaining treatment |
| When it can be used | As soon as it is registered if you allow it, or only when you lack capacity | Only when you cannot make the decision yourself |
| ClearLegacy price | £69 | £69 |
| OPG registration fee | £92 (paid to the OPG) | £92 (paid to the OPG) |
Both LPAs for one person: £119 →
What happens without an LPA?
If you lose capacity without an LPA, nobody, not even your husband, wife or children, has an automatic right to run your bank account or sell your home. Your family would have to apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed your deputy, which costs more, takes months and is supervised every year. An LPA can only be made while you still have capacity, which is why people make them years before they are needed. What happens without an LPA →
Why the signing order matters
The commonest reason the OPG sends an LPA back is not the answers but the signatures: people sign in the wrong order, use a witness who isn’t allowed, or choose a certificate provider who is barred. Every ClearLegacy pack includes a signing guide written for your forms, naming each person and the section they sign:
- You sign first: section 9 (and section 5 on a health and welfare LPA), with a witness who is not one of your attorneys.
- Your certificate provider signs section 10, confirming you understand the LPA and are not under pressure.
- Each attorney and replacement signs section 11, each with a witness who is not you.
- You sign section 15 to apply for registration, then post the forms with the fee.
How ClearLegacy compares
Online LPA prices vary more than Will prices, partly because an LPA is the OPG’s own form rather than a bespoke document. Every price below excludes the £92 OPG fee per LPA.
| One LPA | Both LPAs | What you get | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClearLegacy | £69 | £119 | Online questions, forms filled in and checked, personalised signing guide, usually within 24 hours |
| Zenco Legal | £99 | £198 | Online form, expert check, printed pack posted to you |
| Octopus Legacy (online) | — | £120 | Online forms for both LPAs; check their site for what is included |
| Octopus Legacy (full service) | — | £699 | Consultation with a legal expert, documents checked and sent to you |
| Co-op Legal Services | £354 | — | SRA-regulated solicitor service, price inc. VAT, excludes disbursements |
| Do it yourself on GOV.UK | £0 | £0 | Free online tool with error checks; you complete everything yourself |
Prices from each provider’s own website, checked 6 November 2026: Zenco, Octopus Legacy, Co-op Legal Services. Prices change; check before you buy. Doing it yourself is genuinely free and works well if you are confident with the rules — we would rather you knew that.
Who can be an attorney, a certificate provider and a witness?
Attorneys must be 18 or over. For a property and financial affairs LPA they cannot be bankrupt or subject to a debt relief order. You can appoint one or several and choose whether they act jointly (always together), jointly and severally (together or on their own) or a mix. Replacement attorneys step in if an attorney can no longer act.
Your certificate provider must be 18 or over and either have known you personally for at least two years or have relevant professional skills, such as your GP or a solicitor. They cannot be an attorney, family member, partner, business partner, employee or care home manager. Full step-by-step guide →
Witnesses must be 18 or over. Your attorneys cannot witness your signature and you cannot witness theirs. Your certificate provider can witness both.
What ClearLegacy includes as standard
- A guided questionnaire that checks the OPG’s rules as you go: ages, barred certificate providers, attorneys and people to notify.
- The official OPG form for each LPA, filled in from your answers.
- A check by the ClearLegacy team before anything is issued, including any preferences or instructions you write (unworkable instructions are a common reason the OPG removes wording or refuses an LPA).
- A personalised signing guide and a checklist to tick before you post.