How to Create an LPA for Less Than £100
A practical, step-by-step guide to keeping your LPA costs as low as possible.
Written by Anthony Dalton · Reviewed by James Tyrrell · Last reviewed
Think an LPA costs hundreds of pounds? It does not have to. The government charges just £92 to register each LPA, and with the right approach you can keep your total costs remarkably low while still putting proper legal protection in place.
At a glance
- You can create a single LPA for just the £92 government registration fee using the free GOV.UK online tool
- If you receive means-tested benefits you may pay nothing; income under £12,000 qualifies for a 50% reduction (£46)
- Both types of LPA together cost £184 in government fees when done yourself
- The main risk of DIY is rejection — around 51,000 applications fail each year, costing another £92 each time
Step 1: Use the Government's Online Tool
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) provides a basic self-service tool called "Make a Lasting Power of Attorney" at GOV.UK. This tool walks you through the process of creating your LPA, section by section. The only mandatory cost is the £92 registration fee when you submit the completed document.
The tool covers both types of LPA: Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare. You can create one or both. If you create just one type, your total cost is £92. If you create both, the total is £184 (but each individual LPA still comes in under £100).
To use the tool, you will need an email address, the full names and addresses of your chosen attorneys, and the details of a certificate provider. The tool saves your progress, so you do not need to complete everything in one sitting.
Step 2: Check If You Qualify for a Fee Reduction
If money is tight, you may not even need to pay the full £92. The government offers two levels of financial help:
- Full exemption (£0) — Available if you receive qualifying means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Housing Benefit.
- 50% reduction (£46) — Available if your gross annual income is below £12,000.
To claim either reduction, you need to provide evidence when submitting your LPA. This could be a benefit award letter or proof of income. The process is straightforward and the OPG handles it as part of the registration. For complete details, read our guide on LPA fee reductions and exemptions.
Key point: If you qualify for a full exemption, you can create an LPA for absolutely nothing. Even with the 50% reduction, one LPA costs just £46.
Step 3: Prepare Before You Start
Good preparation is the key to keeping costs down. When you use the DIY route, mistakes can lead to your LPA being rejected, meaning you pay the £92 fee again without getting a refund. Here is how to prepare properly:
Choose Your Attorneys Carefully
Decide who you want to act as your attorneys before you begin. Consider their reliability, availability, and ability to handle the responsibilities involved. Think about whether they should act jointly (all must agree on every decision) or jointly and severally (they can act independently). Getting this right first time avoids the need to redo the LPA later.
Line Up a Certificate Provider
Every LPA needs a certificate provider — someone who confirms you understand the LPA and are not being pressured. This can be someone who has known you well for at least two years, or a professional such as a doctor, social worker, or solicitor. Finding a willing certificate provider in advance saves time and avoids delays. If you ask a professional, some may charge a small fee, but many GPs and others will do it at no extra cost if you are a patient or client.
Gather Your Information
Have the following ready: full legal names and addresses of the donor (you), all attorneys, any replacement attorneys, your certificate provider, and anyone you want to be notified when the LPA is registered. Having everything to hand means you can complete the form accurately first time.
Step 4: Complete the LPA Carefully
When filling in the government's online tool, take your time and read each section carefully. The most common reasons for LPA rejection include:
- Signatures in the wrong order (the donor must sign before the attorneys)
- Missing witness signatures
- Incomplete certificate provider statement
- Using an ineligible certificate provider (for example, a family member of one of the attorneys)
- Contradictory instructions or preferences
The government's tool provides basic guidance at each stage, but it does not check for every possible error. Double-check everything before printing and signing. If in doubt about any aspect, the OPG has a telephone helpline that can answer basic questions at no cost. For details on what the OPG registration involves, see our guide on how to register an LPA with the OPG.
Step 5: Sign in the Correct Order
The signing order for an LPA is strict and must be followed exactly. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons for rejection, and it will cost you another £92 if your LPA is sent back. The correct order is:
- The donor signs the LPA first, in the presence of a witness.
- The certificate provider signs the certificate provider section.
- Each attorney signs their section, each in the presence of a witness.
- Each replacement attorney (if any) signs their section, each in the presence of a witness.
Witnesses must be aged 18 or over and cannot be the donor. An attorney can witness the donor's signature (and vice versa), but it is cleaner and safer to use an independent witness throughout.
Step 6: Submit and Pay the £92 Fee
Once your LPA is fully signed, you submit it to the OPG for registration along with the £92 fee. If you used the online tool, you will have already paid by card. If submitting by post, include a cheque or payment form.
The OPG will review your LPA, notify any people you have listed, and — assuming no objections or errors — register it. This process typically takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes. Once registered, you will receive confirmation and your LPA is legally valid. For a full breakdown of registration fees, visit our guide on the government LPA registration fee.
The Risk of DIY: 51,000 Rejections Per Year
While creating an LPA yourself looks cheap on paper, the reality is that around 51,000 LPA applications are rejected by the OPG each year due to errors. Each rejection means losing your £92 registration fee, starting the paperwork again, and paying another £92 to resubmit. For many people, a single rejection wipes out any savings from the DIY approach.
Common errors include signing in the wrong order, invalid certificate providers, and missing witness signatures. These are exactly the kind of mistakes that a professional service catches before submission.
Think about it: If your DIY LPA is rejected, you have already spent £92 and have nothing to show for it. Using UKLPA for £89 gives you professional document checking that prevents these costly mistakes — often making it the cheaper option overall.
What If You Want a Little More Help?
If the fully DIY approach feels daunting, online LPA services offer a middle ground. UKLPA charges just £89 per LPA on top of the £92 government registration fee. You get guided completion, professional document checking, and support if you have questions. This keeps the total cost well below solicitor rates while significantly reducing the risk of rejection.
Cost Comparison: Your Options
| Method | Cost per LPA | Both LPAs |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | £300 – £1,000+ | £500 – £1,500+ |
| Other online services | £100 – £250 | £180 – £450 |
| UKLPA | £89 | £149 (save £29) |
| All options require the £92 per LPA government registration fee on top. | ||
Total Cost Examples
Single LPA with UKLPA.co.uk
Our fee: £89
Government fee: £92
Total: £181
Both LPAs with UKLPA.co.uk
Our fee: £149
Government fee: £184
Total: £333
For a full comparison of all your options, see our guide on how much an LPA costs.
For a full breakdown of what you'll pay, see our LPA pricing page, or learn how our guided service works.
Key Takeaways
- The minimum cost is £92 per LPA — the government registration fee is the only mandatory charge when using the free GOV.UK tool.
- Fee exemptions can reduce cost to zero — qualifying means-tested benefits give a full exemption; income under £12,000 qualifies for a 50% reduction (£46).
- Follow the signing order exactly — donor first, certificate provider second, attorneys last; getting this wrong costs another £92 and weeks of delay.
- Prepare all information in advance — full names, dates of birth and addresses for all parties, plus a confirmed certificate provider, prevents errors and delays.
- A small service fee can save money overall — professional document checking prevents the rejected-and-repay cycle that makes DIY more expensive in practice.
People Often Ask
Can I really create an LPA for free?
Yes, if you qualify for a full fee exemption. People receiving certain means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Income Support, or Housing Benefit pay no registration fee at all. You would use the government's free online tool and pay nothing.
What is the cheapest way to create both types of LPA?
The cheapest route is using the government's online tool yourself, paying only the £92 registration fee per LPA — £184 total for both types. If you qualify for a 50% fee reduction, both LPAs together would cost just £92.
Are there any hidden costs when making an LPA yourself?
The main hidden cost is the risk of rejection. If your LPA is rejected due to errors, you lose the £92 fee and must pay again when resubmitting. You may also need to pay for printing and postage when sending the signed forms to the OPG.
This guide was last reviewed and updated on . Information is based on current legislation and OPG guidance for England and Wales.
Official Guidance
Relevant government resources
An LPA Costs Less Than You Think
From just £92 to register — we handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.
