Rejection
The correct order to sign an LPA
Reviewed 3 November 2026 · England and Wales
In short
A lasting power of attorney must be signed in a set order: the donor signs first, then the certificate provider, then the attorneys and any replacements. Each person must sign on the same day as, or after, the person before them, never earlier. Signing out of order, or dating the pages out of sequence, is the most common reason an LPA is rejected.
The signing order sounds fussy, but it is a legal requirement and the single biggest cause of rejected LPAs. Get it right and you remove the most common failure in one step.
Why the order matters
The law requires the LPA to be signed in a particular sequence so that each person is confirming something that has already happened. The certificate provider confirms the donor understood the LPA when the donor signed, so the certificate provider must sign after the donor. The attorneys accept their role last, so they sign after the certificate provider.
It is the dates that catch people out. Even if everyone signs correctly, a date written out of sequence, for example an attorney dated before the donor, will fail the LPA.
The correct LPA signing order
The donor signs first
The donor signs and dates their part of the LPA (Section 9 on the current form). This signature must be witnessed.
The certificate provider signs next
After the donor has signed, the certificate provider signs to confirm the donor understood the LPA and was not under pressure. Their date must be the same as, or after, the donor's.
The attorneys sign last
Each attorney and replacement attorney signs to accept their role, after the certificate provider. Their signatures must be witnessed, and their dates must be the same as, or after, the certificate provider's.
Check every date is in sequence
Read back through: donor, then certificate provider, then attorneys, with no date earlier than the one before. Then it is ready to register.
Frequently asked questions
Who signs an LPA first?
The donor, the person making the LPA, signs first. Then the certificate provider, then the attorneys. Each date must be the same as or later than the previous signer.
Can everyone sign an LPA on the same day?
Yes, as long as the order is still donor, then certificate provider, then attorneys. Signing on the same day is fine; signing out of order, or dating pages out of sequence, is not.
Does an attorney's signature need a witness?
Yes. The donor's and the attorneys' signatures must each be witnessed by someone aged 18 or over. An attorney can witness the donor, but the donor cannot witness an attorney, and it is cleaner to use an independent witness.
What happens if we sign in the wrong order?
The OPG will reject the LPA. You normally have to re-sign it correctly on a fresh form and apply again, often paying the £92 fee a second time.
Related resources
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 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.
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.
Do I need a solicitor to make an LPA?
You do not need a solicitor to make a lasting power of attorney. A DIY or online LPA is just as legally valid once registered. Here is when a solicitor helps.
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
Get the signing right first time
Every Done-For-You LPA is completed correctly from your answers and comes with a step-by-step signing order for the day.