How-to
Do I need a solicitor to make an LPA?
Reviewed 3 November 2026 · England and Wales
In short
No, you do not need a solicitor to make a lasting power of attorney. Making an LPA is not a reserved legal activity, so anyone can prepare the forms. An LPA made without a solicitor is just as legally valid once it is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. A solicitor is optional, not required.
Many people assume an LPA needs a solicitor, in the same way they assume a will does. It does not. The law treats preparing an LPA as something you can do yourself, and millions of people do.
Is a DIY or online LPA legally valid?
Yes. The validity of an LPA comes from the official form being completed and signed correctly and then registered with the OPG, not from who prepared it. A properly completed LPA made at home, online, or through a preparation service has exactly the same legal force as one made by a solicitor.
The thing that makes an LPA valid is getting the form and the signing right, then registering it. That is where the risk is, and where a check helps, not in paying for legal advice you may not need.
When is a solicitor worth it?
A solicitor can be worth the extra cost if your situation is genuinely complex, for example:
- You own a business or complex investments and want tailored instructions.
- There is family conflict, or you expect someone to challenge the LPA.
- There is a question over whether the donor has the mental capacity to make the LPA.
- You want formal legal advice recorded, not just the document prepared.
For a straightforward LPA, which is most of them, a solicitor's £300 to £1,000 fee is mostly paying for form-filling you can get done, and checked, for far less.
The real risk of going it alone
The risk with a pure DIY LPA is not that it is invalid in principle: it is that small mistakes get it rejected. Around 1 in 11 LPAs are refused by the OPG, almost always for avoidable errors such as signing in the wrong order or leaving a box blank. A rejection means starting the wait again.
LPASafe sits between free DIY and a solicitor: we complete the official form correctly from your answers, following the OPG's rejection criteria, so you get the safety without the solicitor price.
Frequently asked questions
Is an online LPA legally binding?
Yes. An online or DIY LPA is legally binding once it is signed correctly and registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. It has the same legal effect as one prepared by a solicitor.
Why do solicitors say you need one?
Solicitors offer a valuable service for complex cases, but making an LPA is not legally reserved to them. For a straightforward LPA you are free to prepare it yourself or use a preparation service.
Will the OPG reject an LPA that was not done by a solicitor?
No. The OPG does not reject LPAs for being self-prepared. It rejects them for errors in the form or signing. That is what careful form preparation and a clear signing order are for.
Does LPASafe give legal advice?
No. LPASafe is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We prepare the government's own forms and check them against the OPG rejection criteria. If your situation is complex, we will say so and suggest you see a solicitor.
Related resources
What is a lasting power of attorney?
A plain-English guide to lasting power of attorney in England and Wales: the two types, how an LPA works, who is involved and how to set one up.
How to set up a lasting power of attorney
A step-by-step guide to making and registering a lasting power of attorney in England and Wales, from choosing attorneys to signing and OPG registration.
Common reasons an LPA is rejected
Around 1 in 11 LPAs are rejected by the OPG, almost always for avoidable errors. The most common reasons an LPA is refused, and how to avoid each one.
How much does a lasting power of attorney cost?
What a lasting power of attorney costs in England and Wales: the £92 OPG registration fee, fee reductions, and what solicitors and services charge.
LPASafe covers England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different systems. We are not a law firm and do not give legal advice. The LP1F and LP1H forms are available free on gov.uk.
Ready when you are
Skip the solicitor, keep the safety
We complete the official LPA correctly from your answers, following every OPG rejection reason, for a fraction of solicitor fees.