LPA Servicing

Author: Christopher Watts, MSWW, CeMAP
Last verified: 10 August 2025 (England & Wales)

Author: Chris Watts — Will Writer, Fern Wills & LPAs

Last verified: 27 October 2025 (England & Wales)

Quick-Read Summary

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) protects you only if it still works in practice. Attorneys move, preferences change, and unregistered documents can fail when needed most. A professional service check keeps your LPAs valid, accessible, and ready for use.

Why LPA Servicing Matters

Your LPAs give trusted people authority to make decisions about your health, welfare, and finances if you lose capacity. But these documents are not “set and forget.”

Addresses, relationships, and views on medical care or money evolve. An LPA that isn’t checked may still exist legally but be unworkable when tested.Regular servicing ensures:

• Attorneys can still act and are easy to reach.
• Instructions reflect your current circumstances.
• Documents are properly registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG).
• Originals and certified copies can be located without delay.

Practical checklist

During an LPA Service, we:

• Confirm all attorneys and replacements are alive, contactable, and UK-resident.
• Check that preferences, instructions, and witness details are still relevant.
• Verify both LPAs (Property & Finance and Health & Welfare) are registered and accessible.
• Review your current wishes on care, living arrangements, and financial control.
• Ensure your documents are safely stored and your attorneys know how to retrieve them.

You then receive a written summary showing whether your LPAs pass, carry advisories, or need replacement.

Typical Outcomes

✅ Pass — fit for purpose

Your LPAs are valid, correctly registered, and all attorneys are suitable. We log the review date and set a reminder for your next light check. A clean pass is useful evidence of responsible maintenance if the OPG ever reviews your arrangements.🟠 Advisory — still usable but needs attention soon

The LPAs remain effective but could be improved. Examples:

• You or an attorney have moved address.
• A replacement attorney has married and changed surname.
• Health preferences or financial guidance could be clarified.
• A new trusted person could be added next time you update.

❌ Fail — not reliable when needed most

The LPAs no longer reflect your situation or may be unusable. Examples:

• An attorney has died or lost capacity.
• No replacement attorneys were named.
• LPAs were never registered or cannot be found.
• Your views on treatment or financial management have changed significantly.

When to Book a Service

• After any major life or relationship change.
• When an attorney moves, marries, or becomes unable to act.
• Every three to five years as good practice.
• Immediately if you are unsure whether the LPAs were registered or remain valid.

Practical Checklist

Before servicing, gather:

• The original LPAs and any certified copies.
• Contact details and current addresses for all attorneys.
• Notes on any changes in health, finances, or living arrangements.
• Storage location of originals and who can access them.
• Registration confirmation or reference numbers from the OPG.

Linked Services

• Will MOT (Review and Update): checks that your Will remains legally sound.
• Document Storage and Insurance: keeps your signed LPAs secure, insured, and accessible.
• Letters of Wishes: add human context for attorneys and family.

Example Scenarios

Pass

A client’s LPAs are fully registered, all attorneys still available, and guidance clear. We confirm they’re ready to use and record a reminder for a light check in two years.

Advisory

An attorney has moved abroad. The LPAs still work, but we advise naming a replacement at the next update for smoother use later.

Fail

A Health & Welfare LPA names one attorney who has since died, with no substitute. The document cannot be used. We prepare and register a new one to restore full protection.

When Should You Review Your LPA?

Your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) should be as current as your life. Even if you’ve already registered it, circumstances can change — and outdated details may cause serious delays when the documents are needed most. Review your LPAs whenever any of the following occur:

1. Change of Address or Contact Details – You or your attorneys move house, change phone numbers, or update email addresses. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) must be informed.
2. Attorney Changes – An attorney dies, loses capacity, moves abroad permanently, or you lose contact. Replacement attorneys may need to be activated or new LPAs prepared.
3. Relationship Changes – Marriage, divorce, or separation affects who you want to act or removes an attorney by law (for example, if your spouse was your sole attorney).
4. New Financial Arrangements – Buying or selling property, opening new accounts, or starting a business may require updated guidance in your Property & Financial Affairs LPA.
5. Health Changes – New diagnoses, hospital admissions, or care planning can alter the guidance in your Health & Welfare LPA.
6. Attorney Availability – Attorneys living abroad, changing jobs, or with new personal commitments may no longer be practical choices.
7. Time Passing – LPAs don’t expire, but details age. Review every 3–5 years to confirm names, addresses, and preferences remain right.
8. Changes in Beliefs or Priorities – Evolving views on medical care, life support, or gift-giving may warrant a fresh version rather than amending the old one.

🌿 Tip: A quick review now prevents the frustration of rejection later. Outdated details are among the most common reasons LPAs fail when first needed.

Common Mistakes When Updating an LPA

• Writing directly on the old LPA — Any manual alteration invalidates the document. Always draft a new LPA or submit a written update to the OPG.
• Not informing the OPG of address changes — You can update addresses by letter (free of charge) with proof of identity; failing to do so can make the LPA unusable in an emergency.
• Overlooking replacement attorneys — If you’ve lost a primary attorney, the LPA may fail without an appointed replacement.
• Assuming it’s “registered, so it’s done” — LPAs can still fail due to outdated information, especially after several years.
• Forgetting to store it securely — Lost or damaged originals can cause months of delay; secure storage protects your authority and includes insurance cover.

For guidance on safe document storage, see our article: Secure Storage and Insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an LPA expire?

No. However, it can become unusable if attorneys die, move, or lose capacity, or if key details fall out of date.

Do I need a new LPA after every change?

Not always. Simple updates, such as an attorney’s address change, can be reported directly to the OPG by letter. There is no OPG fee. You can draft the letter yourself, or we can prepare it for you for a small consideration. Material changes, such as adding new attorneys, always require a new LPA.

What if my LPAs were never registered?

Unregistered LPAs cannot be used, even in an emergency. Registration with the OPG can take several months, so early checking avoids stress later.

How often should I review my LPAs?

Every three to five years, or immediately after any major life event. We can send reminders at your chosen interval.

Do you review LPAs written elsewhere?

Yes. We review LPAs regardless of who prepared them and will tell you honestly if no action is needed.

Can you help my attorneys understand their duties?

Yes. We can provide written guidance and optional short calls to clearly explain attorney responsibilities.

 Do I need a new LPA after every change?
Not always. If you or an attorney moves address, you can notify the Office of the Public Guardian by letter — no fee, just evidence of ID. For major changes (such as adding new attorneys or altering your wishes), you’ll need to prepare a new LPA.

My attorney now lives abroad — can they still act?

Yes, they can legally still act, but in practice it’s often difficult. Even with video calls and online banking, distance can slow decisions and complicate identification checks. Think carefully about how easily they could help you with day-to-day matters, medical decisions, or communicating with banks and care providers from overseas. In many cases, appointing a UK-based replacement or joint attorney works better in practice.

How often should LPAs be reviewed?
Every 3–5 years, or sooner if your relationships, finances, or health circumstances change.

Optional Technical Notes (for those who want the detail)

LPAs were created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and fall into two categories:

Property and Financial Affairs LPA — allows attorneys to manage your finances, bills, and property transactions.

Health and Welfare LPA — covers decisions about care, treatment, and living arrangements.

When you’ve moved house or changed contact details:

Notify the OPG in writing of the new address. No supporting documents are needed for an address change, but for a name change (e.g. marriage), evidence such as a marriage certificate or deed poll must be included. Do not write directly on your LPA, as any alteration can invalidate it.

Changing views on treatment or finances:

You cannot amend an existing LPA. If your preferences have shifted, you can:

• Cancel the old LPA and send it to the OPG for record update.
• Prepare a new LPA including your revised preferences or guidance.

Attorney moving abroad:

An attorney living abroad can still act. They must sign the LPA in person, in black ink, and their signature must be witnessed by any adult aged 18 or over (not the donor). There is no requirement for the witness to be UK-based. The safest option is to review the practicalities and consider appointing a replacement attorney who lives closer if distance might cause delays.

Planning Ahead

An LPA that is regularly serviced is far less likely to cause delay or confusion. Keeping it current shows your attorneys exactly what to do and demonstrates foresight and care if the OPG ever reviews your arrangements.

Next Steps

If you want confidence that your LPAs are valid, registered, and ready to use, book an LPA Service today. Full details and booking information are available in the Services & Fees section.