In England and Wales it costs £92 to register one lasting power of attorney (LPA) with the Office of the Public Guardian, so registering both the property and financial affairs LPA and the health and welfare LPA costs £184 (gov.uk, register an LPA, as at August 2026, subject to change).
That government fee is the only unavoidable cost if you prepare and register the documents yourself. If you ask a will writer, solicitor or other professional to draft the LPAs and handle the registration, their fee sits on top of the £92 per LPA, and it varies from firm to firm. This guide sets out each element so you can see what you are paying for. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
The cost of a power of attorney, broken down
A lasting power of attorney has two separate costs: the government registration fee, which is fixed, and any professional drafting fee, which is not. The registration fee is paid to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), the government body that oversees attorneys in England and Wales.
| What you pay | Cost (August 2026) | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Register one LPA | £92 | Office of the Public Guardian |
| Register both LPA types | £184 | Office of the Public Guardian |
| Reduced fee (income under £12,000) | £46 per LPA | Office of the Public Guardian |
| Exemption (certain means-tested benefits) | £0 | Office of the Public Guardian |
| Repeat application to correct a mistake (within 3 months) | £46 per LPA | Office of the Public Guardian |
| Professional drafting fee | Varies by firm | Will writer, solicitor or adviser |
Source: gov.uk, register an LPA and gov.uk, reduced or no LPA fees, as at August 2026, subject to change.
Doing it yourself or using a professional
You can make and register an LPA yourself through the OPG without paying anyone else, in which case £92 per document is all it costs. Many people take that route for straightforward affairs. Others prefer help, because an LPA is a legal document that gives someone wide authority over money or health decisions, and errors can mean the OPG rejects the application or the document does not work the way you intended.
Professional fees are not set by the government and vary widely, so a single headline figure would not be meaningful. What a fee includes also differs: some cover one LPA, some cover both, and some form part of a wider estate planning package alongside a will. When comparing quotes, it helps to check whether the £92 registration fee is included or added separately, and whether the price is per person or per couple. Our own approach to fees is set out on our pricing page.
| Route | What it costs | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself via the OPG | £92 per LPA, nothing more | Straightforward affairs and confident applicants |
| Will writer or estate planner | £92 per LPA plus a drafting fee that varies | Those wanting guidance and checking |
| Solicitor | £92 per LPA plus a professional fee that varies | Complex assets, businesses or family situations |
Government fee from gov.uk, register an LPA, as at August 2026, subject to change. Professional fees are set by each provider and are not government figures.
The two types of LPA, and whether you need both
There are two types of lasting power of attorney in England and Wales, and each is registered and charged separately (gov.uk, lasting power of attorney, as at August 2026).
- Property and financial affairs. Covers things like managing a bank account, paying bills, collecting a pension and selling a home. It can be used, with your permission, while you still have capacity.
- Health and welfare. Covers decisions such as daily care, medical treatment, moving into a care home and, if you choose, life-sustaining treatment. It can only be used once you have lost the capacity to make those decisions yourself.
You do not have to make both, but many people do, because the two cover different situations. Each one you register costs £92, which is why the combined figure is £184 (gov.uk, register an LPA, as at August 2026, subject to change). Planning who would manage your affairs if you could not is a common companion to writing a will and to planning for the impact of care fees. Our fuller guide to lasting power of attorney explains how each type works.
Fee reductions and exemptions
Not everyone pays the full £92. The OPG offers a reduction or a full exemption depending on income and benefits, which can bring the cost down significantly.
| Your situation | What you pay per LPA |
|---|---|
| Gross annual income below £12,000 | Half fee: £46 |
| Receiving certain means-tested benefits (for example Income Support, income-based ESA or Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit) | Exempt: £0 |
| Standard rate | £92 |
Source: gov.uk, reduced or no LPA fees, as at August 2026, subject to change. You need to apply for a reduction or exemption and provide evidence.
How long registration takes
Cost is not the only thing to plan around. The OPG takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application (gov.uk, register an LPA, as at August 2026, subject to change). An LPA cannot be used until it is registered, so it is worth allowing for that time rather than waiting until it is urgently needed.
| Stage | Typical timescale |
|---|---|
| Preparing and signing the LPA | Depends on you and your attorneys |
| OPG registration (no mistakes) | 8 to 10 weeks |
Source: gov.uk, register an LPA, as at August 2026, subject to change.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
The £92 fee and the LPA system apply to England and Wales. Scotland has its own arrangements, with continuing and welfare powers of attorney registered through the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland), and Northern Ireland uses a separate enduring power of attorney system. The documents, processes and fees differ, so if you or your assets are in Scotland or Northern Ireland it is worth checking the rules for that nation before you apply.