A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint people you trust to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. In England and Wales there are two separate types, and you can make one or both.
The first is a health and welfare LPA, which covers decisions about your care and medical treatment. The second is a property and financial affairs LPA, which covers money and property. They are made and registered separately, and they can be used at different times. This guide sets out what each one does and how people commonly decide between them. For the wider context, see our Lasting Power of Attorney explained guide and where an LPA sits within an estate planning guide. Figures are current as at June 2026 and are subject to change.
The two types of lasting power of attorney
There are two types: a health and welfare LPA and a property and financial affairs LPA. A health and welfare LPA covers decisions about your care, where you live and medical treatment, and can only be used once you have lost mental capacity. A property and financial affairs LPA covers money, bills and property, and can be used as soon as it is registered if you give permission (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change).
Health and welfare vs property and financial affairs
The clearest way to see the difference is to place the two side by side. They cover different areas of life, and the moment each one becomes usable is not the same. The table below summarises the main points, and the sections that follow explain each type in more detail.
| Feature | Health and welfare LPA | Property and financial affairs LPA |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Daily care, where you live, medical treatment, life-sustaining treatment (if chosen) | Bank accounts, bills, benefits and pensions, buying and selling property |
| When it can be used | Only after you have lost mental capacity | As soon as it is registered, with your permission, or only once capacity is lost |
| Must be registered before use | Yes, with the Office of the Public Guardian | Yes, with the Office of the Public Guardian |
| Typical registration fee | £92 | £92 |
Source: gov.uk/power-of-attorney and gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register, as at June 2026, subject to change.
Health and welfare LPA
A health and welfare LPA lets your chosen attorneys make decisions about personal matters when you cannot make them yourself. According to gov.uk, this covers things such as your daily routine (washing, dressing and eating), medical care, moving into a care home, and decisions about life-sustaining treatment (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). It can only be used once you have lost mental capacity.
When you make this type, you decide separately whether your attorneys can give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on your behalf, or whether that decision stays with your medical team. Many people find this the most sensitive part of the document, and it is one reason some choose to discuss it with a qualified professional before completing the form.
Property and financial affairs LPA
A property and financial affairs LPA lets your attorneys deal with money and property. Gov.uk lists examples including managing a bank or building society account, paying bills, collecting a pension or benefits, and selling a home (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change). Unlike the health and welfare version, this one can be used as soon as it is registered, if you give permission, so an attorney could help while you still have capacity.
You can also set restrictions or instructions. For example, some people ask that their attorney provide accounts to a named family member, or limit what the attorney can do without consulting others. These conditions are written into the LPA itself.
When each type can be used
Timing is the main practical difference between the two. A health and welfare LPA sits dormant until you lose the ability to make a particular decision. A property and financial affairs LPA can start working straight after registration if you allow it, which can help if, for instance, you are abroad, in hospital, or simply want help managing paperwork.
- Health and welfare: used only when you cannot make the specific decision yourself.
- Property and financial affairs: can be used immediately on registration with permission, or you can restrict it to when capacity is lost.
- Both: must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before an attorney can act. Registration can take some weeks, so many people apply well ahead of any need.
Do you need both types?
Not everyone makes both, though many people do. The two cover different risks: one protects decision-making about your care, the other about your money. Making both means that whichever kind of decision arises, someone you have chosen can step in. Each is registered separately, so the fee applies to each one. A reduction or exemption may apply on a lower income (gov.uk, as at June 2026, subject to change).
If cost is a factor, it can be worth reading our guide on how much power of attorney costs before deciding whether to make one or both. There is no requirement to use a solicitor to make an LPA, though some people choose professional help where their circumstances are more involved.