Questions people ask
Anything not answered here, email help@example.com. Asking costs nothing and doesn't commit you to anything.
Is this legally the same as using a solicitor?
The document is identical: the official Office of the Public Guardian forms, completed and registered the same way. A solicitor also gives you regulated legal advice, which we don't. If your situation is unusual, contested, or involves complex assets, see a solicitor. For the straightforward majority, the form done correctly is the whole job.
Can I do this for my mum or dad?
Yes, and half our questions are worded for exactly that. You can fill everything in on their behalf. They sign the documents themselves, while they still have the mental capacity to understand what they're signing. That last part is the law's line, not ours.
What if they're already losing capacity?
It depends how far things have gone, and it's a genuine legal threshold. If the person can still understand what the document means when it's explained, they can usually still make an LPA. If they can't, an LPA is no longer possible and the route is a deputyship through the Court of Protection. If you're unsure, email us before paying anything.
Why do people get rejected doing it themselves?
The same reasons over and over: sections signed in the wrong order, an ineligible witness or certificate provider, blank required decisions, and written conditions the court has to strike out. Our questionnaire is built so those can't reach the paper.
How long does the whole thing take?
Your part: as long as you like, often an evening. Our part: your pack is posted within 48 hours of your approval. The Office of the Public Guardian's part: around 20 weeks to register, for everyone, and no one can speed it up.
What's a certificate provider and why do I need one?
An independent person who confirms the person signing understands the document and isn't being pressured. They can't be an attorney or family. A friend of two years or more, or a professional like a GP, qualifies. No one suitable? We can arrange one for £69.
Do I need my family's permission?
No. The person the LPA is for chooses their own attorneys. Attorneys do need to sign the document to accept the role, so they'll know and agree before anything is registered.
What happens to my information?
It's used to prepare your documents, and for nothing else. Health-related answers exist because the LP1H form requires them, and they're handled to the standards the ICO expects. The details are in our privacy notice.
What if I make a mistake in my answers?
Before printing, you check a plain-English summary and can change anything. After printing, email us straight away. Until you've posted the application to the OPG, corrections are free.
Can I cancel an LPA later?
Yes. While you have capacity you can revoke an LPA, and people do when circumstances change. Registering a new one costs a new OPG fee, so it's worth getting the decisions right the first time. The summary step exists for that.
Answer the questions free, see your full price at the end, and pay nothing until you're sure.