Registering one lasting power of attorney (LPA) in England and Wales costs £92, paid to the Office of the Public Guardian (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). Most people set up two, so the registration cost is often £184, and a solicitor or specialist may add a separate fee on top.
That is the core of it. The rest of the picture depends on whether you do the paperwork yourself or pay for help, whether you qualify for a reduced fee or a full exemption, and how many documents you register. This guide breaks down each part. Figures are current as at June 2026 and are subject to change. For a fuller picture of what an LPA is and how it fits alongside a will, see our Lasting Power of Attorney Explained guide and the wider estate planning guide.
What does a power of attorney cost in total?
The main cost is the government registration fee of £92 per lasting power of attorney (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). If you prepare and register the forms yourself, that is often the only cost. If you use a solicitor or an estate planning specialist to draft the documents, a separate professional fee applies on top, which varies by provider and complexity. Reductions and exemptions can lower or remove the registration fee.
The registration fee explained
An LPA has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used, and registration costs £92 per document in England and Wales (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). You can do this yourself online or by post without paying anyone else. If a mistake means the application has to be corrected and resubmitted within three months, the Office of the Public Guardian charges a reduced fee of £46 rather than the full amount again (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change).
Why the cost is often £184
There are two types of LPA, and each is registered and charged separately. A property and financial affairs LPA covers money, bank accounts, bills and property. A health and welfare LPA covers care, medical treatment and where you live. Many people put both in place, which means two £92 fees, or £184 in total (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). You can read more in our guide to the types of LPA: health and welfare vs property and financial.
| What you register | Registration fee (June 2026) |
|---|---|
| One LPA (either type) | £92 |
| Both LPAs (health and welfare + property and financial) | £184 |
| Correcting and resubmitting within 3 months | £46 |
| 50% reduction, income under £12,000 | £46 per LPA |
| Exemption, certain means-tested benefits | £0 |
Source: gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register and gov.uk reductions and exemptions, as at June 2026, subject to change. Applies to England and Wales.
When the fee can be reduced or waived
The registration fee is not fixed for everyone. If the person making the LPA (the donor) has a gross income of less than £12,000 a year, a 50% reduction applies, bringing each fee down to £46. If the donor receives certain means-tested benefits at the time of the application, a full exemption may apply and there is nothing to pay (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). The qualifying benefits are listed on the application form. These reductions are assessed on the donor's circumstances, not the attorney's.
What a solicitor or specialist may add
The £92 fee only covers registration. It does not cover the cost of anyone drafting the documents or advising on them. Doing it yourself avoids that professional cost entirely. Many people choose to pay for help where their affairs are more involved, for example blended families, business interests, or worries about how attorneys might act. Professional fees vary widely between providers, so a single figure is rarely meaningful, and it can be worth asking for clear, agreed fees in writing before any work begins, and checking whether the registration fee is included or charged separately.
The registration fee is set by government and is the same everywhere. What a professional charges to prepare and advise on the documents is separate, and worth comparing.
A worked example
Consider a married couple who each want both types of LPA in place. That is four documents in total, so four registration fees of £92, coming to £368 (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). If one partner has a gross income under £12,000 a year and qualifies for the 50% reduction, their two fees fall to £46 each, so their share is £92 rather than £184, bringing the couple's total to £276. This is a general illustration using June 2026 figures, not a quote. The actual cost depends on how many documents are registered, whether any reduction or exemption applies, and whether professional help is used.
Other costs to be aware of
Beyond registration and any professional fee, a few smaller costs can arise depending on how the LPA is set up. A certificate provider, who confirms you understand the LPA, is often a friend or professional acquaintance and may charge nothing, though a professional such as a solicitor or doctor might charge for the role. Certified copies for banks and providers can carry a small charge if a professional certifies them. None of these is unavoidable, and many people keep costs to the registration fee alone.
- Certificate provider: often free if a suitable person you know acts, though a professional may charge.
- Certified copies: banks and providers may accept an original, or a certified copy that a professional may charge to produce.
- Postage or online payment: minor, and there is no extra government charge for applying online versus by post.