To view an LPA online, go to the government's View an LPA service, enter the donor's surname and a 13-character access code that begins with the letter V, then check the summary that appears. The code is created by the donor or an attorney and shared with whoever needs to see the document.
Can you view an LPA online?
You can view an LPA online if the lasting power of attorney was registered on or after 1 January 2016 in England or Wales, and you have a valid access code plus the donor's surname. LPAs registered before that date, or in Scotland, Northern Ireland or abroad, are not on the service and are shown on paper instead (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
The donor and the attorneys can each view their own summary, and either can create a code so a bank, care provider or adviser can see it. It is a routine part of lasting power of attorney planning.
What do you need to view an LPA online?
You need two things: the donor's surname and a 13-character access code starting with V. Which government service you use depends on who you are. Anyone given a code uses View an LPA; a donor or attorney managing the document uses Use a lasting power of attorney.
| Service | Who uses it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| View an LPA view-lasting-power-of-attorney.service.gov.uk | A bank, care home, adviser or anyone given an access code | Shows a one-page summary from a surname plus access code |
| Use a lasting power of attorney gov.uk/use-lasting-power-of-attorney | The donor or an attorney named on the LPA | Lets you see your own LPA and generate access codes to share |
Each code is unique to the organisation you share it with, and a separate code is needed for each LPA, so a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA each have their own.
How do you view an LPA online step by step?
With an access code, you view the LPA through the View an LPA service in four steps, and no account is needed. You open the service, enter the 13-character code, add the donor's surname, then check the summary that appears. The service is free, and if the code is valid the whole process usually takes a couple of minutes.
- Go to the View an LPA service. Open view-lasting-power-of-attorney.service.gov.uk. There is no login and no fee.
- Enter the access code. Type the 13-character code beginning with V exactly as given, with no spaces.
- Enter the donor's surname. Add the surname of the person who made the LPA, then continue.
- Check the summary. Confirm the donor's name and that the LPA type fits the decision you need, read the details, then download the summary as a PDF if needed.
If the code is rejected, it may have expired, been mistyped, or belong to a different LPA, so ask the donor or attorney for a new one.
How do you view your own LPA and share it?
If you are the donor or an attorney, you view your own LPA and create codes through the Use a lasting power of attorney service: set up an account, add the LPA with an activation key, then generate codes to share.
- Create an account. Register at gov.uk/use-lasting-power-of-attorney with your name and email.
- Find your activation key. It is on the letter the Office of the Public Guardian sent when the LPA was registered, and is valid for 12 months. If it has expired or you never had one, request a new key through the service (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Add the LPA. Enter the activation key and the LPA reference number to link it to your account.
- Generate an access code. Choose to give an organisation access; the service creates a 13-character code beginning with V to pass on.
The online services are free; the £92 people ask about is the one-off fee to register the LPA, not a cost to view it (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
What does the online LPA summary show?
The summary is a one-page snapshot confirming the LPA is valid and registered, showing the details an organisation needs before it will act on the document. It sets out who the donor and attorneys are and how the attorneys may make decisions, but it does not reproduce the full signed LPA that the donor originally executed.
- Whether the LPA is valid and registered.
- The donor's name, address and date of birth.
- The attorneys' names, addresses and dates of birth.
- How the attorneys must make decisions (jointly, or jointly and severally).
- Any restrictions, conditions or preferences the donor set, and whether attorneys can make life-sustaining treatment decisions on a health and welfare LPA.
What if the LPA was registered before 1 January 2016?
An LPA registered before 1 January 2016 cannot be viewed online, because it lacks the reference number the service needs. The attorney then proves authority with the paper LPA or a certified copy, not a code. That is the first of three things that most often catch people out.
- Pre-2016 registrations are paper only. There is no code and no online summary; show the original stamped LPA or a certified copy instead.
- Access codes expire. A code currently lasts 50 days, so one shared weeks earlier may no longer open; the donor or an attorney just generates a fresh one (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
- Scotland, Northern Ireland and EPAs are excluded. The service covers LPAs registered in England and Wales only. Scottish and Northern Irish powers of attorney, and older enduring powers of attorney, are handled on paper.
Setting the account up early, while the LPA is fresh, avoids a scramble later. Our team can explain what a power of attorney costs and how it fits your wider estate planning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I view my own LPA online?
Yes, if it was registered on or after 1 January 2016 in England or Wales. As the donor or an attorney, you see a summary through the Use a lasting power of attorney service at gov.uk/use-lasting-power-of-attorney, once you add it with an activation key.
How long does an LPA access code last?
A code is temporary, currently lasting 50 days from when it is created, and each one is unique to the organisation it was shared with (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). If it expires, the donor or an attorney can create a new one.
Where do I find my LPA access code?
You do not receive one automatically. The donor or an attorney generates it through the Use a lasting power of attorney service, then passes it on. The code is 13 characters long and begins with the letter V, and a separate code is created for each organisation that needs access.
Can you view an LPA registered before 2016 online?
No. Only LPAs registered on or after 1 January 2016 in England or Wales can be viewed online, because earlier ones lack the reference number the service needs. For those, the attorney shows the paper document or a certified copy.
Does it cost anything to view an LPA online?
No. Viewing a summary and generating access codes is free. The £92 people sometimes ask about is the one-off fee to register the LPA in the first place, not a cost to view it or to share it once it has been registered (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).