LPA Signing Order Explained: Who Signs First?

Written by James Tyrrell · Reviewed by Anthony Dalton · Last reviewed 8 April 2026

Get the signing order wrong on your LPA and the entire document is void. There is no fix, no correction — you start again from scratch. This is the single most common reason LPAs are rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), and it is entirely avoidable once you understand the rules.

This guide explains exactly who needs to sign, in what order, and what witnesses are required at each stage.

Step 1: The Donor Signs First

The donor — the person creating the LPA — must sign first. This signature confirms that you have read and understood the LPA, that you are making it of your own free will, and that you want the named attorneys to act on your behalf. On the paper LPA form, this is Section 9.

The donor's signature must be witnessed by an independent person who is present at the time of signing. The witness must be aged 18 or over and must provide their full name and address on the form. The witness can be anyone — a friend, neighbour, colleague, or other acquaintance — but there are important restrictions on who cannot act as witness:

• An attorney or replacement attorney named on the LPA cannot witness the donor's signature
• The certificate provider can witness the donor's signature (this is allowed, though they have their own separate signing step)

If the donor is physically unable to sign, another person can sign on their behalf at the donor's direction and in their presence. This must be witnessed by two people, and specific wording is required on the form.

Step 2: The Certificate Provider Signs

After the donor has signed, the certificate provider must sign. The certificate provider is an independent person who certifies that the donor understands the purpose and scope of the LPA, and that no one is putting the donor under pressure to create it. On the paper form, this is Section 10.

The certificate provider's signature does not need to be witnessed. However, the certificate provider must have discussed the LPA with the donor in person before signing. They should satisfy themselves that the donor genuinely understands what the LPA does, who they are appointing, and when the LPA can be used.

Step 3: The Attorneys Sign

Once both the donor and the certificate provider have signed, each attorney named on the LPA must sign to confirm that they have read the LPA, understand their duties, and agree to act as attorney. On the paper form, this is Section 11, and each attorney has their own copy of this section to sign.

Each attorney's signature must be witnessed by an independent person aged 18 or over. The witness must provide their full name and address on the form. Important rules about attorney witnesses:

• The donor cannot witness an attorney's signature
• One attorney can witness another attorney's signature (this is permitted)
• The same witness can witness multiple attorneys' signatures
• Each attorney can have a different witness

If you have appointed multiple attorneys, they do not all need to sign on the same date. Each attorney can sign on a different day and in a different location, as long as every attorney signs after the certificate provider has signed. For more detail on this, see our guide on can an LPA be signed at different times.

Step 4: Replacement Attorneys Sign

If you have named replacement attorneys, they must also sign the LPA. The same rules apply as for the main attorneys — each replacement attorney's signature must be witnessed, and they must sign after the certificate provider. Replacement attorneys can sign on the same day as the main attorneys or on different dates.

A common oversight is forgetting that replacement attorneys need to sign at all. If replacement attorneys are named on the LPA but have not signed, the OPG will return the application.

Witness Rules for Each Signature

Witnessing requirements differ depending on which party is signing. Getting these wrong is just as serious as getting the signing order wrong, so it is worth understanding the rules clearly.

• Donor's signature: Must be witnessed by an independent person aged 18 or over. No attorney or replacement attorney named on the LPA can witness the donor's signature.
• Each attorney's signature: Must be witnessed by an independent person aged 18 or over. The donor cannot act as witness, but one attorney can witness another attorney's signature.
• Certificate provider's signature: Does not need a witness at all. The certificate provider simply signs their section after discussing the LPA with the donor.
• All witnesses must be aged 18 or over and must provide their full name and address on the form.

For more detail on who qualifies as a witness, see our guide on who can witness an LPA signature.

What Happens If the Order Is Wrong?

If any attorney or replacement attorney signs before the donor or the certificate provider, the LPA is completely void. This is not a minor administrative error that can be corrected — the legal instrument itself is invalid from the moment it was signed out of order. The consequences are serious:

• The OPG will reject the application
• You must complete an entirely new LPA form
• All signatures must be collected again in the correct order
• If the registration fee was already paid, it may be returned (though this is not guaranteed in all cases)
• The process is delayed by weeks or months

For more information on what happens when signing goes wrong, see our guide on what happens if an LPA is signed incorrectly.

Tips for Getting the Signing Order Right

Here are practical steps to ensure the signing order is correct:

• Date every signature: Including the date next to each signature makes it easy to verify the correct order was followed
• Sign the donor and certificate provider sections first: Do not send the attorney sections out for signature until the donor and certificate provider have both signed
• Use a checklist: Keep a simple record of who has signed and when
• Communicate clearly: Make sure everyone involved understands that there is a required order and that attorneys must wait until the donor and certificate provider have signed
• Consider using a professional service: Services like UKLPA manage the signing process for you, ensuring everything happens in the correct sequence

For a broader overview of signing mistakes, see our guide on common LPA signing mistakes to avoid. For detailed witnessing rules, see our guide on who can witness an LPA signature.

Frequently Asked Questions

This guide was last reviewed and updated on 8 April 2026. Information is based on current legislation and OPG guidance for England and Wales.

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