A general power of attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint someone to manage your financial and property affairs, but only while you still have mental capacity. It is meant for temporary or specific situations, and it stops working the moment the donor loses the ability to make their own decisions (gov.uk, make decisions for someone, as at August 2026, subject to change).
In England and Wales this document is also called an ordinary power of attorney. It is the everyday, short-term cousin of the lasting power of attorney, and the two are often confused. This guide explains what a general power of attorney does, what it cannot do, when people use one, and how it compares with a lasting power of attorney. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change. This is general information, not advice about any particular situation.
What is a general power of attorney?
A general power of attorney is a written authority under which one person, the donor, gives one or more attorneys the right to act for them in financial and property matters. Under section 10 of the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, a general power made in the prescribed form gives the attorney "authority to do on behalf of the donor anything which he can lawfully do by an attorney" (legislation.gov.uk, Powers of Attorney Act 1971, s.10, as at August 2026, subject to change). The donor can grant broad authority over their finances, or narrow it to a single task.
The word "attorney" here does not mean a lawyer. An attorney is simply the person the donor chooses to act for them, often a spouse, an adult child, a trusted friend or a professional. To make a valid general power of attorney the donor must be aged 18 or over and have mental capacity, meaning the ability to make their own decisions, at the time it is signed.
General power of attorney or ordinary power of attorney?
The two terms describe the same thing. "General power of attorney" and "ordinary power of attorney" are used interchangeably in England and Wales for a power that operates only while the donor keeps mental capacity. The word "general" points to the breadth of authority the document can give, and "ordinary" contrasts it with the "lasting" power of attorney that survives a loss of capacity. Where an older document or a bank refers to an "ordinary" power, it means the same short-term financial authority described here.
What a general power of attorney covers
A general power of attorney is limited to money and property. It cannot be used for decisions about health, care or medical treatment. The table below sets out what it can and cannot do.
| Can be used for | Cannot be used for |
|---|---|
| Running a bank or building society account | Health and welfare decisions |
| Paying bills and managing day-to-day money | Decisions about medical treatment or care |
| Collecting income, a pension or benefits | Any decision once the donor loses capacity |
| Buying or selling property, or a specific transaction | Acting as a trustee or personal representative (with limited exceptions) |
Sources: gov.uk, make decisions for someone and Powers of Attorney Act 1971, s.10, as at August 2026, subject to change. A general power does not extend to a donor's functions as a trustee, personal representative or statutory owner.
When people use a general power of attorney
A general power of attorney suits situations where help is needed for a limited time or a defined task, and where there is no concern about the donor losing capacity in the near term. Common examples include:
- Being away for an extended period, such as working or travelling abroad, when someone at home needs to handle finances.
- A spell in hospital or a period of recovery when the donor wants a trusted person to keep money matters running.
- A property sale or purchase that needs to complete while the donor is unavailable to sign.
- A specific transaction or a fixed period, where the donor prefers not to grant open-ended authority.
Because it takes effect straight away and needs no registration before use, a general power of attorney can be quicker to put in place than a lasting power of attorney. That speed is the trade-off for its main limitation, which is that it offers no protection if the donor later loses capacity.
General power of attorney versus lasting power of attorney
This is the distinction that matters most. A general power of attorney ends when the donor loses mental capacity, while a lasting power of attorney is designed to continue at that point, which is exactly when many families need one to work (gov.uk, power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change). For long-term planning around later life, a lasting power of attorney is usually the more relevant document.
| Feature | General (ordinary) power of attorney | Lasting power of attorney (LPA) |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Financial and property matters only | Two separate types: property and financial affairs; health and welfare |
| If the donor loses capacity | Ends automatically | Continues to work |
| Registration | Not required | Must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before use |
| Typical use | Short-term or a specific task | Long-term planning for later life |
| Registration fee | None | £92 per LPA |
Sources: gov.uk, make decisions for someone, gov.uk, power of attorney and gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change. Our fuller guide to the lasting power of attorney explains the roles and safeguards in more detail.
How to make a general power of attorney
A general power of attorney is made as a signed deed rather than through the government's online service. In practice the donor can prepare the document using a solicitor or buy a form to complete, then sign it correctly as a deed, which usually means signing in the presence of a witness (gov.uk, make decisions for someone, as at August 2026, subject to change). Unlike a lasting power of attorney, there is no requirement to register it with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
A few practical points tend to matter. Banks and other organisations may ask to see the original deed, or a certified copy, before they will act on it, and some have their own procedures for accepting a power of attorney. Naming more than one attorney means deciding whether they must act together or can act separately. Because the document has real financial reach, care in choosing an attorney and in wording the authority is worthwhile.
A general power of attorney does not need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, so there is no registration fee, unlike the £92 charged per lasting power of attorney (gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change). Any charge for professional help in preparing the deed is separate.
When a general power of attorney ends
A general power of attorney comes to an end in several situations. It ends if the donor revokes it, which they can do while they still have capacity. It ends automatically if the donor loses mental capacity, because the authority depends on the donor being able to make their own decisions (gov.uk, make decisions for someone, as at August 2026, subject to change). It ends on the donor's death, at which point the executors named in the will, or administrators under the intestacy rules, take over the estate. A power granted for a fixed period or a single task also ends once that period or task is complete.
The loss-of-capacity point is the reason a general power of attorney is not a substitute for a lasting power of attorney. If the aim is to make sure someone can act for you in the years ahead, including if your health changes, a lasting power of attorney is the document built for that. A general power of attorney and a will are often considered as part of a wider plan, and our guides to writing a will and estate planning show how the pieces fit together. Where later-life costs are a concern, putting the right authority in place early can also help with planning for, limiting or mitigating the impact of care fees.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
This guide describes the law of England and Wales. The other UK nations use different documents and different bodies. Scotland uses a continuing power of attorney for financial matters and a welfare power of attorney for health and care, both registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland), and does not use the same general power for lasting arrangements. Northern Ireland still uses enduring powers of attorney for financial affairs, registered with its own Office of Care and Protection. A power made in one nation may not be accepted in another, so it is worth checking the rules for the nation where it will be used.
- It covers financial and property matters only, never health and welfare (gov.uk).
- It works only while the donor has mental capacity and ends automatically if capacity is lost (gov.uk).
- It is made as a signed deed and does not need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Powers of Attorney Act 1971, s.10).
- There is no registration fee, unlike the £92 per lasting power of attorney (gov.uk).
- For authority that survives a loss of capacity, a lasting power of attorney is the relevant document (gov.uk).
Frequently asked questions
What is a general power of attorney?
A general power of attorney is a legal document that lets a donor appoint one or more attorneys to manage their financial and property affairs, but only while the donor still has mental capacity. It is used for temporary or specific situations, such as a period abroad or a single transaction, and it ends if the donor loses capacity (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Is a general power of attorney the same as an ordinary power of attorney?
Yes. In England and Wales the terms general power of attorney and ordinary power of attorney describe the same document: a power over financial and property matters that works only while the donor keeps mental capacity. "General" refers to the breadth of authority, and "ordinary" distinguishes it from a lasting power of attorney.
Does a general power of attorney need to be registered?
No. Unlike a lasting power of attorney, a general power of attorney does not need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. It takes effect as a signed deed. Some banks and organisations may still ask to see the original document, or a certified copy, before they act on it (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
When does a general power of attorney end?
A general power of attorney ends if the donor revokes it, if the donor loses mental capacity, or on the donor's death. A power granted for a fixed period or a single task also ends once that is complete. Because it stops at a loss of capacity, it is not a substitute for a lasting power of attorney (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 depends on the donor being able to make their own decisions, so it ends automatically if the donor loses mental capacity. A lasting power of attorney is the document designed to keep working at that point, which is why it is used for longer-term planning (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
How much does a general power of attorney cost?
A general power of attorney does not need to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, so there is no registration fee. By contrast, registering a lasting power of attorney costs £92 per LPA (gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change). Any charge for a solicitor or specialist to prepare the deed is separate and agreed with them.