This guide covers the law of England and Wales. Figures and rules are current as at August 2026 and may change.
What does POA stand for?
POA most often stands for power of attorney, a legal authority to act for someone else. The right meaning depends on where you see it, as the comparison below shows.
| POA stands for | Where you see it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Power of attorney | Legal, banking, care, estate planning | A document letting someone act for you |
| Price on application | Property and sale listings | Contact the seller for the price |
| Plan of action | Business and general use | An agreed set of steps |
What is a power of attorney in England and Wales?
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document in which one person, the donor, gives one or more attorneys authority to make decisions for them. It can cover money and property, health and care, or both. People set one up so someone trusted can step in if illness, an accident or age means they can no longer manage their affairs. Without one, family may have to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship, which is slower and costlier. It sits alongside estate planning and writing a will.
What are the types of power of attorney?
England and Wales use three main forms of power of attorney: the ordinary power of attorney (OPA), the lasting power of attorney (LPA) and the older enduring power of attorney (EPA). They differ in what they cover, whether they survive a loss of mental capacity, and whether you can still make one today. Only an LPA can be created now.
| Type | Covers | Works after loss of capacity? | Can you make one now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary power of attorney (OPA) | Financial matters only, often for a fixed period or task | No, it ends if the donor loses capacity | Yes |
| Lasting power of attorney (LPA) | Property and financial affairs, and/or health and welfare | Yes, that is its purpose | Yes |
| Enduring power of attorney (EPA) | Property and financial affairs only | Yes | No, only those made before 1 October 2007 remain valid |
An ordinary power of attorney suits a short-term or specific need, but stops the moment you lose capacity. That limit is why lasting powers of attorney exist, made under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and in force from 1 October 2007. A lasting power of attorney comes in two kinds (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change):
- Property and financial affairs LPA. Covers bank accounts, bills, a pension or benefits, and selling a home. Once registered, it can be used while you still have capacity if you permit it.
- Health and welfare LPA. Covers daily care, medical treatment, a move into a care home, and life-sustaining treatment. It can be used only once you can no longer make the decision yourself.
No new EPA can be made, though one signed before 1 October 2007 stays valid. Our fuller guide to lasting power of attorney explains how to appoint attorneys.
Does a power of attorney need to be registered?
A lasting power of attorney must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used, at £92 per LPA (gov.uk, as at August 2026, subject to change). A reduction or exemption may apply on a low income or certain means-tested benefits. The position differs by type:
- Ordinary power of attorney. No registration is needed; it takes effect once signed and ends if the donor loses mental capacity.
- Lasting power of attorney. Must be registered before use, at £92 per LPA, whether or not the donor still has capacity.
- Enduring power of attorney. Can be used unregistered while the donor has capacity, but must be registered once the donor is losing, or has lost, capacity.
Many people register an LPA as soon as it is made, alongside decisions about a will and planning for the impact of care fees.
What does POA mean in property?
In property listings, POA means price on application: the seller has not published a price, so you contact the estate agent to ask what they want for it. This use has nothing to do with power of attorney. In England, agents can no longer hide the price this way, so you now see it far less often.
National Trading Standards guidance required a price to be displayed on marketed properties, and price on application was withdrawn from listings from the end of May 2022 (Zoopla, as at August 2026, subject to change).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between POA and LPA?
POA is the general term, power of attorney. LPA is one specific type, a lasting power of attorney. In England and Wales the forms of POA are the ordinary power of attorney, the lasting power of attorney, and the older enduring power of attorney. So every LPA is a POA, but not every POA is an LPA.
Can you still make an enduring power of attorney?
No. Enduring powers of attorney were replaced by lasting powers of attorney from 1 October 2007, so no new EPA can be created. An EPA signed before that date remains valid and can still be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian when the donor is losing, or has lost, mental capacity.
What does POA mean on a house for sale?
On a property listing, POA means price on application, so the seller has not shown a price and you contact the agent to ask. In England this was withdrawn from listings from the end of May 2022, so prices should now be displayed. It is unrelated to power of attorney.