How to Sign Your LPA the Right Way (and the Mistakes to Avoid)

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are powerful legal documents that allow you to appoint trusted people (your Attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity. They are essential for protecting your future — but many people come unstuck at the most basic stage: signing the paperwork.

It may sound simple, but getting the signatures wrong is one of the most common reasons an LPA is rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Rejections cause stress, delay, and extra costs, and in some cases, can even leave you without a valid LPA when you need it most.

Here’s a guide to the correct signing order, and the common traps to avoid if you’re completing your LPA yourself.

The Correct Order of Signing an LPA

The order in which the different sections of the form are signed is crucial. If you don’t follow it, the OPG will reject the application.

Property & Financial Affairs LPA

1. The Donor signs first
   • The Donor is the person making the LPA. They must sign Part A of the form in front of a witness.
   • The witness must be over 18 and cannot be an Attorney named in the document.
2. The Certificate Provider signs second
   • This is the person who confirms the Donor understands the LPA and is not under pressure to sign it.
   • They sign Part B after the Donor.
3. The Attorneys sign third
   • Each Attorney must sign Part C to confirm they are willing to act.
   • Their signature must be witnessed (again, not by the Donor or another Attorney).
4. The Replacement Attorneys (if any) sign after the main Attorneys
   • They complete their own section, confirming they are willing to act if needed.
   • Each signature must also be witnessed.
5. Final section for submission
   • Once all parties have signed, the form includes a final confirmation/signing for submission. This ensures the document is ready to be sent to the OPG for registration.

Health & Welfare LPA

The Health & Welfare LPA follows a slightly different order because of the additional life-sustaining treatment section:

1. The Donor signs Part A (their main section)
2. The Donor then signs the Life-Sustaining Treatment page
   • The donor must tick one of the two options (whether their attorneys should have authority to decide about life-sustaining treatment, or whether doctors should decide).
   • The donor must sign and date this section in front of a witness.
   • This happens before the Certificate Provider signs.
3. The Certificate Provider signs next
4. The Attorneys sign
5. Replacement Attorneys sign
6. Final section for submission is signed

If the Donor skips or mis-signs this section, the LPA is still valid, but their Attorneys will not be able to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment.

Common Traps People Fall Into

1. Wrong signing order
   • If the Attorneys sign before the Donor or Certificate Provider, the whole LPA is invalid.
2. Incorrect witnesses
   • Attorneys cannot witness the Donor’s signature, and Donors cannot witness Attorneys’ signatures.
   • Family members who stand to benefit financially should not act as witnesses.
3. Using correction fluid or making alterations
   • Tippex, scribbles, or unapproved amendments will almost always lead to rejection. If a mistake is made, the safest option is to redo the page.
4. Dates not matching
   • The dates must follow the correct order too. If an Attorney’s section is dated before the Donor’s, the LPA will be rejected.
5. Certificate Provider issues
   • The Certificate Provider must either have known the Donor personally for at least two years, or be a professional with the relevant skills (e.g. solicitor, doctor, will writer).
   • If this isn’t clear, the OPG may reject the application.
6. Life-sustaining treatment section missed
   • On Health & Welfare LPAs, people often forget to sign the life-sustaining treatment choice. Without this, the Attorneys won’t have authority to make those decisions.
7. Failing to send both LPAs
   • Many people don’t realise there are two LPAs: one for Property & Financial Affairs, and one for Health & Welfare. You can register either or both, but each is a separate document with its own forms and fees.

Why Professional Support Helps

DIY LPAs are possible, but they’re also one of the most frequently rejected applications the OPG receives. The rejection rate is high because of technical issues, not because the Donor’s wishes aren’t valid.

By working with a professional Will writer or solicitor:

• You’ll get the signing process right the first time
• Your Attorneys will be correctly appointed and able to act when needed
• You’ll avoid costly delays at the point when decisions might need to be made quickly

Final Thoughts

An LPA is too important to get wrong. If you’re going to the effort of protecting yourself and your family, make sure the paperwork is watertight.

At Conwy Wills and Trusts, we guide you through the whole process — from drafting to signing to registration, ensuring your LPA will be accepted first time.

📞 Call us on 01492 463218
📧 Email: admin@conwywillsandtrusts.co.uk
🌐 Visit: www.conwywillsandtrusts.co.uk

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