You do not have to visit an office to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). With A.D.E. Wills, you can arrange your LPA remotely by video call, with telephone as a backup if video does not suit you. This guide explains how a remote LPA appointment works, the two types of LPA, your service options and the costs involved.
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
An LPA is a legal document that lets you appoint people you trust (your attorneys) to make decisions for you. You must have mental capacity when you make it. Also, it can only be used once the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has registered it.
There are two types:
- Property and Financial Affairs LPA: covers decisions about your money and property.
- Health and Welfare LPA: covers decisions about your care, medical treatment and where you live.
You can make one or both, depending on your needs.
Why arrange your LPA remotely?
A remote appointment means you can give your instructions from home, at a time that suits you. It can help if you live outside Oxford or Aylesbury, have mobility difficulties or simply have a busy diary. So, you get the same careful preparation without the need to travel.
Edward Richings runs A.D.E. Wills. He is a Full Member of the Society of Will Writers, and he takes your instructions and prepares your LPAs himself.
How a remote LPA appointment works
- Get in touch. Call or email us to book your instructions appointment.
- Prepare. Before the appointment, it helps to think about who you would like as your attorneys and any instructions you want to give.
- Video appointment. We talk through your choices by video call, or by phone if video is not possible. The appointment usually takes about an hour.
- Drafting. We prepare your LPAs and send them to you to check.
- Signing. Your LPAs are signed in the correct order, with the right witnesses and a certificate provider.
- Registration. The LPAs are sent to the OPG for registration.
Choosing your remote LPA service
There are two service options. Both include preparing your LPAs, acting as your certificate provider and registering them with the OPG.
Self-Sign LPA: we prepare your LPAs and you sign them at home, following our instructions. This costs from £340 online.
Full Service LPA: we also attend the signing, act as a witness and certificate provider, and register the LPAs. This costs from £480 online.
Additional LPAs, for example for a second type or for a partner, are priced on a sliding scale. In-person prices are also available. You can see full details on our LPAs Pricing page.
The OPG registration fee
Our prices do not include the OPG fee. The OPG charges £92 to register each LPA, so £184 if you make both types. Some people qualify for a reduction or exemption based on income or benefits. You can check the current fee on the GOV.UK guide to making a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Preparing for your appointment
Before your remote LPA appointment, it helps to think about:
- who you would like as your attorneys, and any replacement attorneys
- whether your attorneys should act together or separately
- any instructions or preferences you want to include
- who could act as an independent witness when you sign, if you choose the Self-Sign option
Also, have the full names, addresses and dates of birth of your attorneys to hand.
How long does it take?
We aim to prepare your documents promptly after your appointment. However, OPG registration currently takes around 8 to 10 weeks, so it is best not to wait until an LPA is urgently needed.
Ready to get started?
If you would like to arrange your LPA remotely, call 01865 507174 or email info@adewills.co.uk. You can also read more about our Lasting Powers of Attorney.
