How to Track Your LPA Registration

Written by James Tyrrell · Reviewed by Anthony Dalton · Last reviewed 9 April 2026

You have posted your signed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and now the waiting begins. Registration can take several weeks, and it is natural to wonder whether everything is on track — especially if you are relying on the LPA for an ageing relative. This guide explains how to check the status of your registration, what timelines to expect, and what to do if there are delays.

Expected Registration Timelines

The OPG aims to register LPAs within 20 working weeks from the date they receive the application. However, processing times can vary depending on the volume of applications the OPG is handling and whether there are any issues with your LPA that need to be resolved.

There is also a statutory waiting period of three weeks after the OPG sends out the notification letters before the LPA can be registered. This waiting period exists to give “people to notify” (those the donor chose to be informed about the LPA) an opportunity to raise objections, and is set by the LPA Regulations 2007. If you did not name anyone to be notified, the OPG’s own checking period still adds time at the start of the process.

In practice, most straightforward LPAs are registered within eight to ten weeks, though it can take longer during busy periods. For a detailed breakdown of timelines, see our guide on how long it takes to register an LPA.

Contacting the OPG by Phone

The quickest way to check the status of your LPA registration is to call the OPG helpline. Their contact details are:

When you call, have your LPA reference number ready. This is printed on the front of your LPA form and is also included in any acknowledgement letter the OPG sends you. The helpline staff can tell you where your application is in the process and whether any issues have been identified.

Contacting the OPG by Email or Post

If you prefer not to call, you can email the OPG at customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk. Include your full name, the donor's name, and the LPA reference number in your email. The OPG typically responds to email enquiries within five working days, although response times can be longer during busy periods.

You can also write to the OPG by post at: Office of the Public Guardian, PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH. However, postal enquiries will take longer to process than phone or email, so these should be a last resort for tracking purposes.

Online Tracking

If you created your LPA using the government's online "Make a Lasting Power of Attorney" service, you may be able to check the status of your application through your online account. The online service provides updates on key milestones, such as:

• Application received by the OPG
• Payment confirmed
• Waiting period in progress
• Application being reviewed
• LPA registered

If you submitted a paper LPA form by post, online tracking may not be available. In that case, phone or email contact with the OPG is the best way to check your application's status.

What to Do If Your Registration Is Delayed

If your LPA registration is taking longer than expected, there are several steps you can take:

• Check with the OPG: Call or email the OPG to ask about the status. They can tell you if there is a specific reason for the delay.
• Respond to any queries promptly: If the OPG has written to you asking for additional information or corrections, respond as quickly as possible. Delays in responding will extend the overall processing time.
• Be patient during busy periods: The OPG's workload fluctuates throughout the year. During peak periods, processing times may exceed the standard target.
• Raise a complaint: If your application has been pending for significantly longer than the stated target and you are not receiving satisfactory responses, you can make a formal complaint through the OPG's complaints process.

What to Do While You Wait for Registration

Rather than simply waiting, there are several practical steps you can take while the OPG processes your LPA registration:

• Register the LPA with your bank in advance: Many banks will accept a copy of the LPA once it has been submitted to the OPG. Contact your bank early to find out what they need, as this can save time once the registered LPA is returned.
• Inform your attorneys about the timeline: Let your chosen attorneys know that registration typically takes 8 to 10 weeks, and that they will be able to act once the stamped document is returned.
• Keep certified copies of the unsigned LPA for reference: Having copies to hand is useful if you need to discuss the LPA with banks, care providers, or solicitors before the original is returned.
• Consider registering both types at the same time: If you are making both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA, submitting them together means they are processed in parallel, saving you time overall.

What Happens When Your LPA Registration Is Complete

Once the OPG has registered your LPA, they will return the original documents to you by post. The LPA will be stamped with a registration date and a validation stamp on each page, confirming it is now a legally valid document. You will also receive a letter confirming the registration.

Check the returned documents carefully to ensure all the details are correct. If you notice any errors on the registered LPA, contact the OPG immediately so they can be corrected.

Once registered, we recommend storing the original LPA in a safe place and making certified copies for your attorneys to use. For more information on what the OPG does, see our guide on what is the Office of the Public Guardian. To learn the full registration process, visit our guide on how to register an LPA with the OPG.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide was last reviewed and updated on 9 April 2026. Information is based on current legislation and OPG guidance for England and Wales.

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