The power of attorney forms LP1F and LP1H are the two lasting power of attorney (LPA) forms used in England and Wales. LP1F creates a property and financial affairs LPA; LP1H creates a health and welfare LPA. They share the same structure, but differ in what they cover, when they can be used, and three specific sections inside. This guide explains which form you need.
What are the LP1F and LP1H forms?
LP1F and LP1H are the official forms, issued by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), for making a lasting power of attorney in England and Wales. LP1F covers property and financial affairs; LP1H covers health and welfare. Each is a separate legal document with its own form, and many people put both in place (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
The person making the LPA is the donor, the people they appoint are the attorneys, and a certificate provider confirms the donor understands the document and is under no pressure to sign it. That structure is the same on both forms, which is why LP1F and LP1H look so alike at first glance.
LP1F vs LP1H: what is the difference?
The difference between LP1F and LP1H is the part of your life each one governs. LP1F lets an attorney manage your money and property, and can be used as soon as it is registered if you allow it. LP1H lets an attorney make care and medical decisions, and can only ever be used once you lose the mental capacity to make those decisions yourself.
| LP1F (property and financial affairs) | LP1H (health and welfare) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Bank accounts, bills, pensions, benefits, savings, investments, buying and selling property | Care and daily routine, where you live, medical treatment, life-sustaining treatment |
| When it can be used | As soon as it is registered, if you allow it, or only after you lose capacity | Only after you lose mental capacity, never before |
| Life-sustaining treatment choice | Not included | Included: you choose whether attorneys can consent to or refuse it |
| Registration fee | £92 | £92 |
Source: gov.uk lasting power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change. See our fuller guides to the property and financial affairs LPA and the health and welfare LPA.
Where LP1F and LP1H actually differ, section by section
Most guides treat LP1F and LP1H as interchangeable. In practice, three sections separate them, and getting these wrong is a common reason the OPG returns a form. Everything else, choosing attorneys, how they act, certificate provider, witnesses and signatures, is worded the same on both.
- The "when can this be used" section (LP1F only). On LP1F you tick whether your attorney can act as soon as the LPA is registered, or only once you lose capacity. LP1H has no such choice: it always waits for loss of capacity.
- The life-sustaining treatment section (LP1H only). LP1H asks you to decide whether your attorneys may consent to or refuse treatment needed to keep you alive. There is no equivalent on LP1F, because financial attorneys never make medical decisions.
- Instructions and preferences. Both forms include this space, but the wording that works differs. Financial instructions on LP1F (for example, limits on selling a home) rarely fit a health LPA, and health preferences on LP1H (for example, about where you live) have no place on LP1F.
The practical lesson: you cannot copy your answers straight from one form to the other. If you want cover over both money and care, you complete LP1F and LP1H separately, and register each one on its own.
What people get wrong with LP1F and LP1H
Most LP1F and LP1H forms are returned for the same few avoidable errors, not for anything complicated. The OPG checks each paper form by hand, so one gap or one signature in the wrong order sends the whole application back and adds weeks to the wait.
- Signing out of order. The donor signs before the certificate provider, who signs before the attorneys. Sign in the wrong sequence and the LPA is invalid, even when every name is correct.
- Blank boxes and missed pages. Every signature box, witness box and continuation sheet must be completed. A single unsigned witness line is a common reason for rejection.
- An ineligible certificate provider. This person must have known you for at least two years, or be a professional such as a doctor or solicitor. An attorney or a family member cannot take the role.
- Instructions that conflict with the LPA. Wording that tries to limit how attorneys act, or that copies financial instructions onto LP1H, can be struck out or cause the form to be refused.
Common rejection causes summarised from gov.uk, make a lasting power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change. If capacity is already lost, an LPA is no longer possible and the family may face a deputyship application to the Court of Protection instead.
How do you complete and register the forms?
You complete LP1F or LP1H while you still have mental capacity, then register the form with the OPG before anyone can use it, and you must be aged 18 or over. The steps below apply to either form; the only differences are the two sections noted above.
- Choose your attorneys. Pick one or more people you trust, and consider naming replacements in case an attorney can no longer act.
- Decide how they act. If you appoint more than one, choose whether they act jointly, or jointly and severally.
- Fill in the form. Use LP1F for finances or LP1H for health and welfare, adding any instructions or preferences that apply to that form.
- Get a certificate provider. An independent person who has known you for at least two years, or a professional such as a doctor or solicitor, confirms you understand the LPA and are making it freely.
- Sign and witness in order. The donor, certificate provider and attorneys sign in the correct sequence, each signature witnessed.
- Register with the OPG and pay the £92 fee. Registration usually takes around 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes, and includes a statutory 4-week period for anyone named to raise concerns. The LPA cannot be used until registration is complete.
Process summarised from gov.uk, make a lasting power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change. Getting the order of signatures wrong is one of the most frequent reasons an LPA is rejected.
Where do you get the forms, and what do they cost?
The LP1F and LP1H forms are free to download from gov.uk, and it costs £92 to register each one with the OPG (£184 for both). If you would rather not use paper, the OPG online service builds the same form for you on screen. Under the Powers of Attorney Act 2023, that digital route is gradually becoming the main way to apply.
| Item | Detail (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Cost of the forms | Free to download from gov.uk |
| Registration fee | £92 per LPA, so £184 for both LP1F and LP1H |
| Fee reduction | 50% off if your gross income is under £12,000 a year |
| Fee exemption | Possible if you receive certain means-tested benefits, such as Income Support |
| Current version | The October 2025 (10.25) editions; older PDFs may be rejected |
| Time to register | Around 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes |
Source: gov.uk registration and fees and gov.uk LPA forms, as at August 2026, subject to change. An LPA is often set up alongside a wider lasting power of attorney plan and the rest of your estate planning.
Frequently asked questions
The questions people ask most often about the LP1F and LP1H forms. In short: they are two separate forms, each £92 to register, and you only need both if you want cover over money and care alike.
Do I need both the LP1F and LP1H forms?
Only if you want an attorney to cover both your finances and your health and welfare. LP1F handles money and property; LP1H handles care and medical decisions. Many people make both, but you can register one without the other. Each form is a separate LPA with its own £92 fee (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Are LP1F and LP1H the same form?
No. They share the same structure, but LP1F is the property and financial affairs form and LP1H is the health and welfare form. LP1H includes a life-sustaining treatment section that LP1F does not, and only LP1F lets you choose to use the LPA before you lose capacity (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Can I complete LP1F and LP1H online instead of on paper?
Yes. The OPG online service builds the same LP1F or LP1H form on screen, and under the Powers of Attorney Act 2023 the digital route is gradually becoming the main way to apply. You can still download and complete the paper forms if you prefer (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
How much does it cost to register the LP1F and LP1H forms?
It costs £92 to register each form with the OPG, so £184 for both. You may get a 50% reduction if your gross income is under £12,000 a year, or an exemption if you receive certain means-tested benefits. The forms themselves are free to download (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Why does the OPG reject LP1F and LP1H forms?
Most rejections come from simple errors: signing in the wrong order, leaving a signature or witness box blank, using a certificate provider who has not known you for two years and is not a professional, or adding instructions that conflict with how an LPA works. The OPG checks paper forms by hand, so any gap is returned (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).