A general power of attorney (also called an ordinary power of attorney) is a legal document that lets one person, the donor, give another person, the attorney, authority to deal with their money and property while the donor still has mental capacity. It is quick and free to set up, but it ends automatically if the donor loses capacity, which is where many people appoint it by mistake.
What is a general power of attorney?
A general power of attorney is a deed under which you authorise someone to act for you on money and property matters, made under section 10 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1971. General and ordinary describe the same document.
Its scope is your choice. A general power covers anything you could lawfully do through an attorney; a limited power restricts them to one task, such as selling a named property or running one account. Either way it covers money and property only, never health and welfare.
To be valid it must be executed as a deed: signed by you and witnessed. It takes effect immediately, with no registration and no fee (Powers of Attorney Act 1971, as at August 2026, subject to change).
When does a general power of attorney end?
A general power of attorney ends automatically if the donor loses mental capacity, and cannot be used afterwards. This is its most important feature, and the opposite of what many assume when they set one up to plan for later life.
It also ends on any expiry date or completed task, when the donor revokes it, and on the donor's death.
If your aim is for someone to act precisely when you no longer can, a general power of attorney will not do it. That job belongs to a lasting power of attorney, built to survive a loss of capacity.
When is a general power of attorney the right choice?
A general power of attorney suits short-term or specific situations where you keep mental capacity but cannot act yourself, such as a spell abroad, a property sale you cannot attend, or a temporary illness you expect to recover from. It is a tool for a defined job with a finite end, not a lifelong safety net for later life or failing health.
- Travelling or living abroad. Someone in the UK manages your accounts, bills or paperwork while you are away for a stretch of time.
- A property transaction. You cannot sign at a key point, so a trusted person or your conveyancer acts on that deal.
- A temporary illness or hospital stay. You expect to recover but need help keeping finances running meanwhile.
- A one-off task. You delegate a single matter, such as one investment or account, without handing over your wider affairs.
The common thread: you keep capacity and the need is finite. For anything meant to last into ill health or older age, choose an LPA.
General power of attorney vs lasting power of attorney
The difference that matters is capacity. A general power of attorney works only while you keep mental capacity and ends the moment you lose it, whereas a lasting power of attorney is built to keep working after capacity is gone. Choosing the wrong one is a common and costly mistake, so the table below sets the two side by side on the points that decide which you need.
| Feature | General (ordinary) power of attorney | Lasting power of attorney (LPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Property and financial affairs only | Property and financial affairs, and/or health and welfare |
| Works after loss of capacity? | No, it ends automatically | Yes, that is its purpose |
| Registration | None; effective once signed as a deed | Must register with the Office of the Public Guardian before use |
| Cost | Free to make (any adviser fee aside) | £92 per LPA to register |
| Time to be usable | Immediate on signing | 8 to 10 weeks to register if there are no mistakes |
| Best for | Short-term or specific tasks while you have capacity | Long-term planning for illness or later life |
Sources: Powers of Attorney Act 1971; gov.uk. As at August 2026, subject to change.
What people get wrong. Families often set up a general power of attorney to prepare for a parent's dementia or frailty. Because it collapses the moment capacity is lost, it cannot serve that purpose, and relatives can be left applying to the Court of Protection for a deputyship, slower and costlier than an LPA made in good time. If your worry is future incapacity, make a lasting power of attorney. Our guide to the ordinary versus lasting power of attorney compares them in more detail.
How do you set up and cancel a general power of attorney?
You set up a general power of attorney by signing a deed that names your attorney and defines what they can do, then cancel it while you keep capacity by making a deed of revocation. With no register and no official check, the wording carries the full weight, so precision matters at every step.
- Decide the scope. Choose a general power over all your finances, or a limited power tied to one account, property or task.
- Choose your attorney. Appoint someone you trust, and decide whether they act alone or with others.
- Prepare the deed. Set out the authority in writing, using the section 10 short form or a tailored document; many ask a solicitor to draft it.
- Sign and witness it. Execute it as a deed, signed by you and witnessed. It takes effect immediately, with no registration.
To cancel it while you have capacity, make a deed of revocation and tell the attorney. Their authority continues until they know, so anyone relying on it, such as a bank, should be told too.
Setting up a power of attorney sits alongside writing a will and estate planning, including planning for the impact of care fees.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to register a general power of attorney?
No. A general power of attorney needs no registration in England and Wales. It takes effect the moment it is signed as a deed and witnessed. This is different from a lasting power of attorney, which must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
How much does a general power of attorney cost?
There is no official fee for a general power of attorney, because there is nothing to register. You may pay an adviser or solicitor to draft it, but the document itself carries no government charge. By contrast, registering a lasting power of attorney costs £92 per LPA (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Can a general power of attorney be used if someone loses mental capacity?
No. A general power of attorney ends automatically when the donor loses mental capacity and cannot be used afterwards. To have someone act for you after a loss of capacity, you need a lasting power of attorney set up while you still have capacity, or a family member must apply to the Court of Protection.
How do you cancel a general power of attorney?
While you still have mental capacity, you cancel a general power of attorney by making a deed of revocation and telling the attorney. The attorney's authority continues until they are informed, so you should also notify anyone relying on it, such as a bank. It ends automatically on a loss of capacity or on death.