Lasting Powers of Attorney: How much should you expect to pay?

Posted on 9th November 2026

One of the most important ways to prepare for the future at any age is to arrange a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). These legal documents allow someone to choose trusted people to make decisions on their behalf if they are no longer able to make those decisions themselves.

However, new research suggests that finding out how much it costs to arrange an LPA is not always straightforward. And with prices varying considerably between providers, families may find it difficult to know whether they are paying a reasonable amount.

Nearly three in four solicitors don’t publish their LPA prices

Research carried out by online LPA provider yourLPA in October 2026 found that almost three-quarters of the 113 solicitor firms examined across England and Wales did not publish a current price for preparing an LPA.

Only 31 firms (27%) displayed a current price on their websites. A further six had old prices in previous articles or expired offers, while 76 published no price at all.

For families trying to compare costs, this means that contacting several firms may be necessary before getting a clear idea of what arranging an LPA will cost.

The research also found considerable differences between the prices that were published.

Among the 42 firms included in the price comparison, the median professional charges were:

£540 for one LPA
£900 for one person arranging both types of LPA
£1,375 for a couple, each arranging both types

For couples, published professional fees ranged from £900 to £2,400 for the four documents required.

These prices include VAT but do not include the government’s registration fees.

It is worth remembering that these figures relate to firms that published prices, rather than every solicitor offering LPA services. They should therefore be used as a guide rather than a definitive indication of what you will pay.

Don’t forget the government registration fees

As well as paying for professional help with preparing an LPA, there is a government fee to register each document with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).

The current registration fee is £92 per LPA.

This means:

Arrangement	Government registration fees
One LPA	£92
Both types for one person	£184
Both types for a couple	£368

Some people may qualify for a reduced fee or exemption depending on their financial circumstances.

The research also uncovered outdated information on solicitor websites. Of the 50 firms that published information about the government registration fee, 23 (46%) quoted an old figure. Most still referred to the previous £82 fee, which increased to £92 in November 2025.

This is a useful reminder to check that any quotation includes the correct registration charges when comparing providers.

What happens if someone loses capacity without an LPA?

This is perhaps the most important reason for families to consider making LPAs sooner rather than later.

If an older person loses the mental capacity to make decisions about their finances and has not appointed an attorney, family members cannot automatically take over responsibility for their bank accounts, property or financial affairs.

Instead, someone may need to apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy.

This is a more complicated process and can be considerably more expensive than arranging an LPA in advance.

The yourLPA research found that the four solicitor firms publishing deputyship prices charged between £1,140 and £3,000 in professional fees, including VAT.

On top of this, there are government charges:

£432 court application fee
£100 assessment fee
Supervision fees, usually £320 per year.

There may also be ongoing administrative and reporting responsibilities.

The process can take considerable time. Ministry of Justice figures show that property and financial affairs deputyship applications took an average of almost 24 weeks from application to court order in 2025.

During this time, families may find it difficult to manage essential financial arrangements or access money to pay for care and other expenses.

A deputyship is sometimes unavoidable, but it is generally more involved than making an LPA while someone still has capacity.

It is also important to understand that a deputy cannot automatically make health and welfare decisions. A separate Court of Protection process may be needed for particular decisions.

What are the choices in arranging an LPA?

There are several ways to arrange an LPA, and professional legal assistance is not compulsory.

Use a solicitor

A solicitor can explain the legal process, discuss your family’s circumstances and help ensure the documents are completed correctly. This may be particularly helpful where family relationships are complicated, there are concerns about capacity or there are unusual instructions.

Use an online LPA provider

Online providers can offer a less expensive alternative. They typically guide people through the application process and may offer checks before documents are printed and submitted.

For example, yourLPA currently advertises charges of £95 for one LPA, £165 for both types for one person, or £295 for a couple, plus the government registration fees.

It is worth noting that yourLPA is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, so families should understand what support and legal protection are included.

Complete the forms yourself

It is possible to make an LPA directly using the government’s online service or paper forms, without paying a solicitor or commercial provider.

You will still need to pay the registration fee unless you qualify for a reduction or exemption.

The government provides guidance on the process at https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney

Whichever route you choose, take care to follow the instructions and make sure the people involved understand their responsibilities.

Questions to ask before choosing an LPA provider

Before committing to a solicitor or online service, it is worth asking:

What is the total cost, including VAT?
Does the quotation cover one LPA or both types?
Are the government registration fees included?
Is there an additional charge for each attorney or for more complicated arrangements?
Will someone check the forms before they are submitted?
What happens if the Office of the Public Guardian asks for corrections?
Is advice available if there are concerns about capacity or family disagreements?

Don’t simply compare the headline price. Check what is included and whether you will receive help if something goes wrong.

Editorial notes

The cost figures and research findings above are taken from the November 2026 yourLPA press release supplied. The research was commissioned by a commercial LPA provider, so its findings should be presented as that organisation’s survey rather than as an independent assessment of the entire legal sector.

Numbers are likely to change over time.

This post was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tool ChatGTP which may not be entirely accurate.

Please talk to your own financial or legal expert before making major decisions.