Can an LPA Be Signed at Different Times?

Written by James Tyrrell · Reviewed by Anthony Dalton · Last reviewed 16 March 2026

Your attorneys live in different cities. Your certificate provider is away next week. Getting everyone in the same room on the same day feels impossible. Do you need to? No — an LPA can absolutely be signed on different dates by different people.

What catches people out is the signing order. The sequence in which people sign is strictly regulated, and this must be respected regardless of how much time passes between signatures. This guide explains the rules and offers practical advice for managing the process.

Each Person Can Sign on a Different Date

There is no legal requirement for all parties to sign an LPA on the same day. The donor might sign on a Monday, the certificate provider on the following Wednesday, and the attorneys at various points over the next week or two. Each person signs independently, with their own witness, and the dates do not need to be consecutive.

In practice, this flexibility is essential. Many families have members spread across the country or even internationally, and expecting everyone to gather in one place on one day is often unrealistic. The LPA process was designed to accommodate this by allowing signing to take place over a period of time.

There is also no maximum time limit between signatures. The donor could sign in January and the last attorney could sign in March, and the LPA would still be valid (as long as the correct order was followed). However, it is generally advisable to collect all signatures within a reasonable timeframe to avoid practical complications, such as people's circumstances changing or the form being misplaced.

The Signing Order Must Still Be Correct

While the dates can differ, the sequence of signatures must follow the legally required order. This is the most critical rule in the entire LPA signing process:

• First: The donor signs (with a witness present)
• Second: The certificate provider signs
• Third: Each attorney signs (each with a witness present)
• Fourth: Each replacement attorney signs (each with a witness present)

The dates on the signatures are how the OPG verifies that the correct order was followed. If an attorney's signature is dated before the donor's or the certificate provider's signature, the LPA will be rejected as void. This is why it is essential to include the date alongside every signature.

For a full explanation of the required sequence, see our guide on LPA signing order explained. You should also check our guide on who can witness an LPA signature to make sure each witness is eligible.

How to Manage the Process Across Different Dates

Here is a practical approach to managing LPA signing when different people will sign on different dates:

• Step 1: The donor signs first with their witness. If the certificate provider is available at the same time, they can sign immediately after the donor — this saves time
• Step 2: If the certificate provider could not attend at the same time as the donor, arrange for them to sign as soon as possible after the donor
• Step 3: Once the donor and certificate provider have both signed, send or deliver the form to each attorney for their signature. If posting the form, use a tracked or recorded delivery service
• Step 4: Each attorney signs with their own witness and dates their signature. The form is then passed to the next person or returned to the person coordinating the process

Can Attorneys Sign on the Same Date as Each Other?

Yes. If you have multiple attorneys, they can all sign on the same date or on different dates. The only requirement is that every attorney signs after the certificate provider. There is no required order among the attorneys themselves — Attorney A can sign before Attorney B, or vice versa, and both approaches are equally valid.

Similarly, replacement attorneys can sign on the same date as the main attorneys, on a different date, or even on the same date as each other. The only rule is that they must sign after the certificate provider.

What If Someone Signs on the Wrong Date?

If an attorney signs on a date that is earlier than the donor's or certificate provider's signing date, the LPA is void. This error cannot be corrected by simply re-signing — the entire LPA must be completed again from scratch. This is why coordinating the process carefully and communicating clearly with everyone involved is so important.

If an attorney accidentally forgets to date their signature, the OPG may contact you to query the application. While a missing date is not necessarily fatal (the OPG may accept other evidence that the order was correct), it is always best to include the date to avoid any complications. For more on signing errors, see our guide on common LPA signing mistakes to avoid.

How Long Can the Signing Process Take?

There is no legal maximum time between signatures. In practice, though, you should aim to complete the signing process as quickly as reasonably possible. Here is why:

• If the process stretches over many months, there is a risk that someone's circumstances may change (for example, an attorney may move to a new address)
• The longer the form is in transit between signatories, the greater the risk of it being lost or damaged
• If the donor's health is declining, delays in collecting signatures could mean the LPA is not registered in time
• Most people complete the signing process within one to three weeks

The signing process is just one part of the overall timeline. Even after all signatures are collected, registration with the OPG takes a further 8 to 10 weeks. Planning ahead and completing signing promptly helps ensure the LPA is ready when it is needed. For more on locations, see our guide on where an LPA should be signed.

Quick Answers on LPA Signing Dates

This guide was last reviewed and updated on 16 March 2026. Information is based on current legislation and OPG guidance for England and Wales.

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