LPA Solicitor or Do It Yourself: Which Route Suits You?

In short: The LPA solicitor or do it yourself question has a clear starting point: GOV.UK says you do not need a solicitor to make a lasting power of attorney, and you can use the official online service or paper forms. A solicitor is worth considering when finances are complicated, there are doubts about capacity or relatives disagree. GOV.UK says registration takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes (as at November 2026).

LPA solicitor or do it yourself: the short answer

You can make a lasting power of attorney (LPA) yourself, because GOV.UK does not require a solicitor. GOV.UK says a solicitor, family member or friend can also use the online service or fill in the paper forms on your behalf. A solicitor is one option, not a legal requirement.

Most families weighing an LPA solicitor or do it yourself approach are really asking two things: can we manage the forms ourselves, and is there anything about our situation that makes a mistake costly. The sections below help you answer both. Using a solicitor for power of attorney is a personal choice, and many people combine the routes by completing the forms themselves and asking a professional only to check them or to act as certificate provider.

The LPA solicitor or do it yourself choice usually comes down to how straightforward your wishes are. GOV.UK’s guide to making and registering an LPA says you do not need a lawyer unless you have unusual or specific requirements. It suggests legal advice for complex finances, property outside England and Wales, bankruptcy and complicated instructions.

Whichever route you take, the same rules apply. The donor, the person making the LPA, must be 18 or over and must have mental capacity when they make it. An LPA is legally binding in England and Wales. For the full picture, see our guide to lasting power of attorney.

Making a lasting power of attorney yourself

To make a lasting power of attorney yourself, you can use the GOV.UK online service or download and print the paper forms. Both lead to the same registered document, so doing it yourself does not make the LPA any less valid. This is the position as at November 2026.

The online service

• You create an account, or sign in to continue one you started.
• The service gives guidance at each step and lets you save and finish later.
• You can review and correct your answers before you finish.
• You then print the completed forms and sign them.
• GOV.UK says it is usually quicker if you apply and pay online.

The paper forms

• You download and print the forms from GOV.UK. There is a separate form for property and financial affairs and another for health and welfare.
• Everyone must sign the same original document. GOV.UK says copies and digital signatures are not accepted.
• A family member, friend or solicitor can fill them in for you.

If you are not confident with computers, GOV.UK says you can phone the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) on 0300 456 0300 for support, and a local library may help if you cannot get online. If you decide to make a lasting power of attorney yourself, our step by step guide on how to get power of attorney covers the order of tasks.

The certificate provider and signing

Every LPA needs a certificate provider, an impartial person who confirms you are making it by choice and understand what you are doing. They must be 18 or over, and your attorneys cannot sign as certificate provider.

GOV.UK’s guide says the certificate provider is either:

• someone who has known you well for at least two years and is more than an acquaintance, such as a friend or colleague, or
• a professional with the skills to judge your understanding, such as your GP, a solicitor, a registered social worker or an independent mental capacity advocate.

The guide says certain people cannot act. They include an attorney or replacement attorney on any LPA you have made, your family members and your attorney’s family members, unmarried partners, business partners and employees of you or of any attorney, and the owner, manager or staff of your care home. The certificate provider signs after you and before the attorneys. A solicitor can be a certificate provider, which is one practical reason people involve one even when they complete the forms themselves.

How long registration takes and where to check fees

GOV.UK says registration takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application. Its guidance for attorneys says registration can take up to 16 weeks, so allow extra time (both as at November 2026).

Registration is not optional. GOV.UK says you must register your LPA or your attorney will not be able to make decisions for you. Before applying you send a notification form to each person you named to be told, and GOV.UK says those people then have 3 weeks to raise concerns with OPG. You sign the completed form and post the original to OPG. Only the donor or an attorney can apply.

Mistakes slow things down. GOV.UK says OPG may let you correct an error and apply again within 3 months, depending on the type of mistake. Applying soon after signing means any problems can be spotted while the donor still has capacity to put them right.

This page does not give any prices. The current registration fee, payment options and the form for reductions or exemptions are set out on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register, or you can phone OPG on 0300 456 0300. Always check there for the up to date position. Whether you use a solicitor or do it yourself, the registration process is the same.

While you wait, the LPA cannot be used. Keep copies of everything you send. If you are weighing an LPA solicitor or do it yourself route because time is short, remember that a rushed application with errors can take longer than a careful one.

LPA solicitor or do it yourself: signs you need advice

Get advice from a solicitor if your situation is complicated, if there are doubts about capacity, or if family members disagree. The three signs below are reasons to pause before using the forms alone, and they are the heart of the LPA solicitor or do it yourself decision.

Complexity

GOV.UK’s guide suggests legal advice for complex finances, property or residence outside England and Wales, bankruptcy, and complicated instructions or restrictions. A solicitor can also advise if the donor already has an advance decision that might conflict with a health and welfare LPA.

Doubts about capacity

The donor must have mental capacity at the time they make the LPA. If there is doubt about whether they understand what they are signing, take advice early, because capacity can change. Our guide to mental capacity assessment explains how capacity is judged. If capacity has already been lost and no LPA exists, the court route is described in our comparison of lasting power of attorney or deputyship.

Family disputes

Where relatives disagree about who should be an attorney, or are likely to challenge the arrangements later, a solicitor can explain the options and the safeguards available. GOV.UK does not require advice in this situation, but it is a sensible step. The certificate provider also acts as a check that the donor is not being pressured.

If you are unsure, a short initial conversation with a solicitor can help you decide whether the official forms are enough. You can then continue yourself, or hand the whole task over.

Finding a regulated solicitor

The Law Society’s Find a Solicitor service is a free way to find solicitors and firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You can search by location and by practice area.

The Law Society says its service does not list every solicitor, because some opt out. To check a firm against the official register, contact the SRA directly. Ask any firm to confirm in writing that it is SRA regulated and has experience of lasting powers of attorney.

The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) also offers a route to find practitioners through the public section of its website. STEP is a professional body for trust and estate work, so it suits more complex family finances or planning.

For the final LPA solicitor or do it yourself choice, think about what you need. If your wishes are simple, the official forms may be enough. If they are not, advice is worth having. A solicitor can also act as an attorney, which is worth discussing with the donor and the family before anyone is named. For other nations: Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate arrangements, and you can read about power of attorney in Scotland.

This is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, speak to a solicitor.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a solicitor to make a lasting power of attorney?

No. GOV.UK says a solicitor can use the online service or fill in the paper forms for you, but it does not say one is required. GOV.UK’s guide says you do not need a lawyer unless you have unusual or specific requirements. This is the position as at November 2026.

Can I make an LPA online without help?

Yes. GOV.UK’s online service gives guidance at each step, lets you save and finish later and lets you review your answers. You then print and sign the forms. Someone else, such as a family member, friend or solicitor, can also use the service for you.

Who can be a certificate provider?

A certificate provider must be 18 or over and impartial. GOV.UK says it can be someone who has known you well for at least two years, or a professional such as a GP, solicitor, registered social worker or independent mental capacity advocate. Attorneys, family members and business partners cannot act.

How long does it take to register an LPA?

GOV.UK says registration takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application. Its guidance for attorneys says it can take up to 16 weeks. You cannot use the LPA until it is registered, so apply as soon as it is signed.

Where do I check the current registration fee?

This guide gives no prices. Check the current registration fee, payment options and reductions or exemptions on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/register, or phone the Office of the Public Guardian on 0300 456 0300. Fees can change, so always use the GOV.UK page.

When should I use a solicitor for an LPA?

Consider one if finances are complicated, you own property outside England and Wales, you have complicated instructions, there are doubts about capacity, or relatives disagree. GOV.UK’s guide suggests legal advice for the first group of situations. A solicitor can also act as certificate provider.

How do I check a solicitor is regulated?

The Law Society’s Find a Solicitor service lists solicitors and firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, but it does not list every solicitor. To check the official register, contact the SRA directly. You can also ask the firm to confirm its SRA regulation in writing.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney
• GOV.UK: Make a lasting power of attorney
• GOV.UK: Register a lasting power of attorney
• GOV.UK: Make and register your lasting power of attorney, a guide (LP12)
• GOV.UK: Manage a lasting power of attorney
• The Law Society: Find a Solicitor
• Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

This page is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. The Care Panel is an independent guide and is not part of any government body or care provider. Last checked 9 November 2026.

Related: Health and welfare lasting power of attorney · Court of Protection deputyship · Enduring power of attorney in Northern Ireland

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.