How long does it take to register a Lasting Power of Attorney?

1. Prepare the LPA. You choose your attorneys and decide what powers they will have.
2. Sign it. You, your certificate provider and your attorneys sign in the right order, with witnesses where needed. A certificate provider is someone who confirms that you understand what you are signing and are not being pressured.
3. Send it to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) with the fee. Where the donor is entitled to a reduction or exemption, the form is included.
4. The OPG checks it and, if it is correct, registers it. If there is a mistake, the OPG writes to ask for it to be put right.

Most delays come from errors: a signature in the wrong order, a missed section, a name that does not match, or an unclear instruction. Each query adds weeks. Using someone experienced to check the paperwork before it is sent is the best protection.

An LPA cannot be used until it is registered. If you wait until you need it, it may be too late, because an LPA can only be made while you still have mental capacity. Registering early means it is ready when it is needed. For a property and financial affairs LPA you can choose to let your attorney use it while you still have capacity, for example if you are abroad or finding things difficult.