POA stands for power of attorney. It is a legal document that lets one person, the donor, appoint one or more other people, the attorneys, to make decisions or help make decisions on the donor's behalf (gov.uk, power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change).
In England and Wales the term covers a few different documents, each with its own rules about what the attorney can do and when. This guide explains what each type means, what it covers, and the practical points families tend to ask about. Figures are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change. This is general information, not advice about any particular situation.
What does POA mean?
POA is simply an abbreviation of power of attorney. A power of attorney is a written legal authority: the donor gives named attorneys the right to act in defined areas, such as managing a bank account or making decisions about medical care. To make one, the donor must be aged 18 or over and have mental capacity, meaning the ability to make their own decisions, at the time the document is signed (gov.uk, power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change).
The word "attorney" here does not mean a lawyer. An attorney is whoever the donor chooses to act for them, often a spouse, an adult child, a close friend or a professional. People often use POA loosely to mean a lasting power of attorney, but it is worth knowing the distinctions, because the type of document decides what an attorney can and cannot do.
The types of power of attorney
There are three main forms of power of attorney relevant to people in England and Wales today. The table below sets out the differences at a glance.
| Type | What it covers | When it can be used |
|---|---|---|
| Lasting power of attorney (LPA) | Two separate LPAs: (1) property and financial affairs; (2) health and welfare | Continues to work if the donor later loses mental capacity. Must be registered before use. |
| Ordinary (general) power of attorney | Financial matters only, often for a fixed period or specific task | Only while the donor still has mental capacity. Ends if capacity is lost. |
| Enduring power of attorney (EPA) | Property and financial affairs only | Only valid if signed before 1 October 2007. No new EPAs can be made. |
Sources: gov.uk, power of attorney and gov.uk, enduring power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change.
Lasting power of attorney (LPA)
A lasting power of attorney is the type most people mean when they talk about POA today. It is designed to keep working even if the donor later loses the ability to make their own decisions, which is why it is central to most estate plans. There are two separate LPAs, and many people choose to make both (gov.uk, power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change):
- Property and financial affairs. Covers things such as running bank accounts, paying bills, collecting benefits or a pension, and selling property. Once registered, it can be used while the donor still has capacity if they give permission, as well as if capacity is later lost.
- Health and welfare. Covers decisions such as daily care, medical treatment, moving into a care home, and, where the donor has said so, life-sustaining treatment. It can only be used once the donor no longer has the capacity to make the decision themselves.
An LPA has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before an attorney can use it. Our fuller guide to the lasting power of attorney walks through the roles, the safeguards, and how the two documents work together.
Ordinary (general) power of attorney
An ordinary power of attorney, sometimes called a general power of attorney, gives an attorney authority over financial matters for a set time or a particular task. People use one when they want help for a limited period, for example while travelling abroad, recovering from an operation, or while a house sale goes through. The key limit is that it only remains valid while the donor still has mental capacity. If the donor loses capacity, an ordinary power of attorney stops working, which is the main reason it is not suited to long-term planning for later life.
Enduring power of attorney (EPA)
Enduring powers of attorney are the older form that lasting powers of attorney replaced. No new EPA can be made, and an EPA is only valid if it was signed before 1 October 2007 (gov.uk, enduring power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change). An existing EPA can still be used, but it only covers property and financial affairs, never health and welfare. While the donor still has capacity, an EPA can be used without being registered; once the donor starts to lose capacity, the attorneys must register it with the Office of the Public Guardian to keep using it (gov.uk, use or cancel an EPA, as at August 2026, subject to change).
What a power of attorney costs and how to set one up
A lasting power of attorney is created on official forms and then registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. Registration currently costs £92 for each LPA, so making both a property and financial affairs LPA and a health and welfare LPA means two fees. A reduced fee, or no fee, may apply for people on a low income or receiving certain means-tested benefits (gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change).
| Item | Figure (August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Registration fee, per LPA | £92 |
| Both LPAs (property and finance + health and welfare) | £184 |
| Typical registration time, if no mistakes | 8 to 10 weeks |
Source: gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change. Timescales can be longer if there are errors in the application.
You can prepare and register an LPA yourself using the government service, or ask an estate planning specialist, solicitor or STEP practitioner to help. A power of attorney is one part of a wider plan that usually also includes a will, so it can be sensible to consider them together. Our guides to writing a will and estate planning explain how the pieces fit, and a power of attorney can matter a great deal for 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 has 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). Northern Ireland still uses enduring powers of attorney for financial affairs, registered with its own Office of Care and Protection. A power of attorney 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.
- POA stands for power of attorney, a legal document appointing someone to act for you (gov.uk).
- A lasting power of attorney continues if you lose mental capacity; there are two types, property and financial affairs, and health and welfare (gov.uk).
- An ordinary power of attorney only works while you still have capacity.
- An enduring power of attorney is only valid if signed before 1 October 2007 and covers finances only (gov.uk).
- Registering an LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian costs £92 per LPA and usually takes 8 to 10 weeks (gov.uk).
Frequently asked questions
What does POA stand for?
POA stands for power of attorney. It is a legal document that lets a person, the donor, appoint one or more attorneys to make decisions or help make decisions on their behalf, in areas such as finances or health and care (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Is a POA the same as an LPA?
Not exactly. POA is the general term for any power of attorney, while an LPA, or lasting power of attorney, is one specific type. An LPA is the form designed to keep working if the donor later loses mental capacity. Other kinds of POA, such as an ordinary power of attorney, only work while the donor still has capacity.
How much does a power of attorney cost?
Registering a lasting power of attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian costs £92 for each LPA, so both types together cost £184. A reduced fee or an exemption may apply on a low income or certain benefits (gov.uk, register a power of attorney, as at August 2026, subject to change). Any charge for professional help is separate.
Does a power of attorney end when someone dies?
Yes. A power of attorney only operates during the donor's lifetime. When the donor dies, the attorney's authority ends, and it is the executors named in the will, or administrators under the intestacy rules, who then deal with the estate. This is one reason a power of attorney and a will are usually put in place together.
Can I set up a power of attorney myself?
You can. The government provides an online service to make and register a lasting power of attorney, and some people complete it without help. Others ask an estate planning specialist, solicitor or STEP practitioner to guide them, particularly where family circumstances are more involved. The choice tends to depend on how straightforward the situation is.
What is the difference between an ordinary and a lasting power of attorney?
An ordinary power of attorney covers financial matters and only works while the donor has mental capacity, so it suits short-term needs such as help while abroad. A lasting power of attorney is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and keeps working if the donor loses capacity, which is why it is used for longer-term planning.