Where to Send Your LPA for Registration
A step-by-step guide to submitting your completed LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian.
Written by James Tyrrell · Reviewed by Anthony Dalton · Last reviewed
You have completed your LPA, everyone has signed in the right order, and the witnesses have done their part. Now what? The document needs to reach the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for registration — because an LPA has no legal effect until it has been registered. This guide explains exactly where to send your LPA, what to include with your application, and how to track its progress.
At a glance
- Send your signed LPA to: Office of the Public Guardian, PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH
- Include the original signed form, the £92 registration fee (per LPA), and any continuation sheets
- Use Royal Mail Special Delivery or tracked post — if the original is lost, you may need to start again
- Even if you use the online service, you must still post the original signed documents to the OPG
The OPG Postal Address
If you have completed a paper LPA form, you need to post it to the Office of the Public Guardian. The current postal address is:
Office of the Public Guardian
PO Box 16185
Birmingham
B2 2WH
This is the only address you should use. Do not send your LPA to any other government office, court, or local authority — it will not be processed. The OPG handles all LPA registrations centrally from their Birmingham office.
We strongly recommend sending your LPA by Royal Mail Special Delivery or another tracked postal service. The original signed documents are difficult and costly to replace if they are lost in the post, so it is worth the small additional expense for peace of mind.
What to Include with Your LPA
When posting your LPA to the OPG, make sure you include everything needed for them to process your application. Sending an incomplete application will cause delays and may result in the LPA being returned to you. You should include:
- The original signed and witnessed LPA form (all sections completed in the correct order)
- The £92 registration fee — you can pay by cheque (made payable to "Office of the Public Guardian"), or include a completed fee remission or exemption form if applicable
- Any continuation sheets that were used (for example, for additional attorneys or instructions)
- If applicable, a completed fee remission or exemption form (LPA120) with supporting evidence of benefits or low income
Do not send any documents that are not required, such as identification or proof of address. The OPG does not require these for registration. Including unnecessary paperwork can slow down processing. For more details about fees and exemptions, see our guide on the government LPA registration fee.
Registering an LPA Online
If you created your LPA using the government's online "Make a Lasting Power of Attorney" service, much of the registration process is handled digitally. The online service generates the LPA document for you, and once you have printed, signed, and witnessed it in the correct order, you can return to the online service to confirm that signing is complete and pay the registration fee online by debit or credit card.
Even when using the online service, you still need to post the signed original documents to the OPG at the address above. The online payment simply means you do not need to enclose a cheque. The OPG will match your posted documents with the online submission using your reference number.
When using our service at UKLPA, we guide you through the entire process and ensure everything is in order before submission. You can learn more about the full registration process in our guide on how to register an LPA with the OPG.
Key point: Whether you use the paper form or the online service, you must always post the original signed LPA documents to the OPG. There is currently no fully digital registration process that avoids posting entirely.
Who Can Send the LPA?
Either the donor or the attorney(s) can submit the LPA for registration. In practice, it is usually the donor who sends the application, but there is no legal requirement for this. Whoever sends it should ensure they keep a record of the posting (such as a tracking number) and make a note of when it was sent.
If the donor and attorneys apply together, only one registration fee is payable. You do not need to pay separately for each applicant. If you are registering two LPAs at the same time (for example, one for Property and Financial Affairs and one for Health and Welfare), you will need to pay the £92 fee for each LPA separately.
There is a statutory waiting period of three weeks after the OPG sends notification letters to anyone the donor named as a “person to notify”, set by the LPA Regulations 2007. This period gives them the chance to raise any objections. If no objections are received, the OPG will register the LPA and return the original documents to you with a registration stamp.
How to Track Your LPA Registration Progress
Once you have posted your LPA, you can track its progress. The OPG’s published processing time is 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application. You can check the status of your application by:
- Calling the OPG helpline on 0300 456 0300 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Emailing customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk
- Using the online tracking tool if you registered through the government's digital service
You will need your LPA reference number to check the status. This number is printed on the front of your LPA form and is also included in any acknowledgement letter the OPG sends you. For more detailed information, see our guide on how to track your LPA registration.
What Happens After Your LPA Is Registered
Once the OPG has processed your application and the waiting period has passed with no objections, they will register the LPA. You will receive the original document back by post, stamped with a registration date and a unique reference number. This stamped document is proof that the LPA is valid and can be used.
We recommend making certified copies of the registered LPA and storing the original in a safe place. Attorneys may need to show a copy to banks, care homes, or medical professionals when acting on the donor's behalf. You can learn about what happens after registration in our guide on how long it takes to register an LPA.
Need to create your LPA before registering it? Our guided service helps you get everything right first time. See pricing.
Key Takeaways
- One address for all LPAs — send everything to the OPG at PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH; do not use any other government address
- The £92 fee is non-refundable — pay by cheque or online; if the LPA is rejected for errors, the fee is lost
- Either the donor or the attorney can submit — only one registration fee is payable regardless of who sends it
- Processing takes 8 to 10 weeks — you can track progress by calling 0300 456 0300 or emailing customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk
- Make certified copies after registration — store the original safely and provide copies to banks, care homes, and medical professionals
Top Questions About Sending Your LPA
Can I register an LPA entirely online without posting anything?
No. Even if you use the government's online service, you must still post the original signed documents to the OPG at PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH. There is currently no fully digital registration process.
How much does it cost to register an LPA?
The registration fee is £92 per LPA. If you are registering both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA, you pay £92 for each. Fee reductions or exemptions may be available for people on low incomes.
What happens if my LPA gets lost in the post?
If the original signed documents are lost, you may need to complete and sign a new LPA from scratch. This is why it is strongly recommended to send your LPA by Royal Mail Special Delivery or another tracked postal service.
This guide was last reviewed and updated on . Information is based on current legislation and OPG guidance for England and Wales.
Official Guidance
Official resources from GOV.UK
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