LPA Health and Welfare vs Property and Financial Affairs

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in England and Wales. Many people set up both, but they serve different purposes and come into effect under different circumstances.

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Feature	Health and Welfare LPA	Property and Financial Affairs LPA
Covers decisions about	Medical treatment, care arrangements, where you live, day-to-day personal care	Bank accounts, property, investments, paying bills, benefits
When it can be used	Only when you lack mental capacity to decide yourself	Can be used as soon as registered, even if you still have capacity (with your permission)
Registration cost	£82 per LPA (reduced or waived if on low income)	£82 per LPA (reduced or waived if on low income)
Who registers it	The donor or attorney — registered with the Office of the Public Guardian	The donor or attorney — registered with the Office of the Public Guardian
Can include advance decisions	Yes — can record wishes about life-sustaining treatment
Processing time	20 weeks approximately (as of 2024)	20 weeks approximately (as of 2024)
Can be used while donor still has capacity	No — only activates when donor lacks capacity to make the relevant decision	Yes — can be used immediately after registration if donor consents
Registration fee 2025/26	£82 per LPA via OPG (reduced or waived on low income)	£82 per LPA via OPG (reduced or waived on low income)

Both LPAs must be made while the donor has mental capacity. Do not wait until a crisis — once capacity is lost, a Court of Protection application (much more expensive and slower) is required instead.

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Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.