We receive thousands of phone calls each week from people looking for help and information on the lasting power of attorney (LPA) process. This blog series answers your questions by breaking down the different stages of your LPA journey.
Here we look at common questions about attorneys, witnesses and certificates providers. See also:
Includes signing forms in order
Includes cheques and applying for remissions and exemptions
I ncludes reference numbers, activation keys and access codes
I ncludes reporting a death and changing address
Yes, as long as the person is aged 18 or over and able to understand the responsibility of becoming an attorney.
If you’re looking for someone to help with your finances, consider someone with a good history of managing money. If that person has been declared bankrupt, they won’t be able to act as a property and finance attorney but may still be able to a ct as a health and welfare attorney.
You should always choose people you trust. They could be a friend or family member or you can also appoint a professional such as a solicitor to be your attorney.
A professional will usually charge for their time. Speak to them about any charges beforehand.
If you are the donor and live outside England or Wales, there may be complications and you might wish to seek independent legal advice. For example, there is a ‘habitual residency test’ which usually means that the donor will need to have property or assets in England and Wales for a Property and Financial Affairs LPA to be effective.
Your attorney does not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen.
In order to create the LPA all attorneys must sign the LPA document in person, in black pen and then have a witness sign the document too.
If your attorney lives abroad, you’ll need to post th e LPA fo rms to them to sign and have them posted back to you.
Once they’ve been signed and registered your attorney can act from anywhere in the world. However, when appointing your attorneys, make sure you’re clear on how you want them to act , especially if one lives in a different country, as it could cause practical issues later.
A donor’s signature must be witnessed by:
An attorney’s signature must be witnessed by:
Attorneys or replacement attorneys can witness each other’s signature but not the donor’s. Signatures can’t be witnessed online and must be done in person.
A Certificate Provider must:
They sign the LPA after the donor and the donor’s witness. Their role is to make sure the donor can understand independently w hat they are signing and is not being forced into doing it. Ideally a certificate provider will speak to the donor separately and privately before signing and witnessing the document.
The certificate provider could also be a professional - someone with the skills to know if the donor is able to make the decision to make an LPA. For example:
You can read more about certificate providers on ‘A guide to making your lasting power of attorney (LPA)’.
Rydyn ni’n cael cannoedd o alwadau ffôn bob wythnos gan bobl sy’n chwilio am help a gwybodaeth ynghylch llawer o wahanol bethau. Mae’r gyfres hon o flogiau’n ateb eich cwestiynau drwy ddadansoddi gwahanol gamau eich taith Atwrneiaeth Arhosol.
Yma rydym yn edrych ar gwestiynau cyffredin ynghylch atwrneiod, tystion a darparwyr tystysgrifau.Gweler hefyd:
Yn cynnwys llofnodi ffurflenni mewn trefn
Yn cynnwys sieciau a gwneud cais am ostyngiadau ac esemptiadau
Yn cynnwys cyfeirnodau, allweddi ysgogi a chodau mynediad
Yn cynnwys rhoi gwybod am farwolaeth a newid cyfeiriad
Oes, cyn belled â bod yr unigolyn yn18 oed neu’n hŷn ac yn deall y cyfrifoldeb o fod yn atwrnai.
Os ydych chi’n chwilio am rywun i helpu gyda’ch materion ariannol, ystyriwch rywun sydd â hanes da o reoli arian. Os ydy’r unigolyn hwnnw wedi cael ei wneud yn fethdalwr, ni fydd yn gallu gweithredu fel atwrnai eiddo ac arian, ond bydd efallai y bydd yn dal yn gallu gweithredu fel atwrnai iechyd a lles.
Dylech bob amser ddewis pobl yr ydych yn ymddiried ynddynt. Gallent fod yn ffrind neu’n aelod o’r teulu neu gallwch hefyd benodi gweithiwr proffesiynol fel cyfreithiwr i fod yn atwrnai i chi.
Bydd gweithiwr proffesiynol fel arfer yn codi tâl am ei amser. Siaradwch â nhw am unrhyw gostau ymlaen llaw.
Os mai chi yw’r rhoddwr ac yn byw y tu allan i Gymru neu Loegr, efallai y bydd cymhlethdodau ac efallai y byddwch am geisio cyngor cyfreithiol annibynnol. Er enghraifft, ceir ‘prawf preswylio arferol’ sydd fel arfer yn golygu y bydd angen i’r rhoddwr gael eiddo neu asedau yng Nghymru a Lloegr er mwyn i LPA Eiddo a Materion Ariannol fod yn effeithiol.
Nid oes angen i’ch atwrnai fyw yn y DU na bod yn ddinesydd Prydeinig.
Er mwyn creu’r atwrneiaeth atodol rhaid i bob atwrnai lofnodi’r ddogfen LPA ei hun, gyda phin du a chael tyst i lofnodi’r ddogfen hefyd.
Os yw eich atwrnai’n byw dramor bydd angen i chi bostio’r ffurflenni LPA ato i’w llofnodi a sicrhau ei fod yn eu postio’n ôl atoch chi.
Ar ôl i’r ffurflenni gael eu llofnodi a’u cofrestru, bydd eich atwrnai yn gallu gweithredu o unrhyw le yn y byd. Fodd bynnag, wrth benodi eich atwrneiod, gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod chi’n gwybod sut rydych chi eisiau iddyn nhw weithredu, yn enwedig os yw un yn byw mewn gwlad wahanol, oherwydd gallai hyn achosi problemau ymarferol yn nes ymlaen.
Rhaid i lofnod y rhoddwr gael ei dystio gan:
Rhaid i lofnod yr atwrnai gael ei dystio gan:
Gall atwrneiod neu atwrneiod wrth gefn fod yn dyst i lofnod ei gilydd ond nid llofnod y rhoddwr. Ni ellir tystio i lofnodion ar-lein a rhaid gwneud hynny wyneb yn wyneb.
Byddant yn llofnodi’r LPA ar ôl y rhoddwr a thyst y rhoddwr. Eu rôl yw sicrhau bod y rhoddwr yn gallu deall yn annibynnol yr hyn y mae’n ei lofnodi ac nad yw’n cael ei orfodi i’w wneud. Yn ddelfrydol, bydd darparwr tystysgrif yn siarad â’r rhoddwr ar wahân ac yn breifat cyn llofnodi a thystio’r ddogfen.
Gallai’r darparwr tystysgrif hefyd fod yn weithiwr proffesiynol – rhywun sydd â’r sgiliau i wybod a yw’r rhoddwr yn gallu gwneud y penderfyniad i wneud LPA. Er enghraifft:
Mae rhagor o wybodaeth am ddarparwyr tystysgrif ar gael yma:
Beyond choosing people who you trust, and ideally who are also reliable at managing money, it would be good if the OPG provided more specific advice on the potential advantages (and/or risks) of appointing more than one attorney. Also, in what personal or other situations would using a registered professional as a certificate provider be recommended by the OPG? This is a really key choice that a donor has to make.
Hi Rob Thank you for your comment. There is more information on choosing attorneys and the role of a certificate provider in our LP12 guidance on gov.uk. OPG are unable to provide any advice on specific situations when a donor may decide to engage the services of a registered professional to act as a certificate provider. This is a personal decision for the donor. OPG Communications team
Comment by Rob Anderson posted on 13 February 2024I am very surprised that the advice on your Blog suggests the following expectation so loosely: "Ideally a certificate provider will speak to the donor separately and privately before signing and witnessing the document."
Given the importance of not having the attorney present when the certificate provider discusses and forms a judgement about whether the attorney has been freely chosen by the donor, surely the recommendation could be much more direct here? For example:
"Before signing and witnessing the document, the certificate provider should speak to the donor separately and privately. This is to assure themselves that the donor fully understands the powers and responsibilities they are giving to their attorney(s) and that they have freely chosen who their attorney(s) will be".
Hi Rob Thank you for your comment. We've provided a link to our certificate provider guidance within the answer to ‘Who can be a certificate provider for my LPA’, which addresses the topics you raised but thank you for your feedback, which we will take on board. OPG Communications team
Comment by Gideon VIljoen posted on 15 February 2024Hi, I'm hoping you can assist or point us in the right direction.
My partner's father lives in Spain and has no assets (other than his UK-derived pensions) in the UK. As he is in his 80's, we feel he would benefit from having a LPOA. Should we get this process done from the UK or would it be advisable to action from Spain?
Look forward to your response
Hi Gideon Thank you for your comment. If the donor lives outside England or Wales, there may be complications and you might wish to seek independent legal advice. OPG communications team
Comment by Keith Windsor posted on 19 February 2024I found this information on line: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211170/LPA112_property_and_financial_affairs_guidance.pdf It includes the following guidance in Chapter 3, About page 7: ! To avoid rejection of your LPA when
applying to register …
If you do not want any people to be told when your LPA
is registered, you must have two certificate providers
– one to complete part B and the second to complete
continuation sheet B (for guidance on certificate providers
see page 30). I called the OPG this morning and was told that this is not correct, that if I do not choose to notify anyone, I do not need a second Certificate Provider. Which is correct, the online information or the telephone response? If the information is wrong, then it should be taken offline to avoid confusion. Thank you
Hi Keith, Thank you for your comment and for bringing this to our attention. To confirm, there is no longer a requirement to have two certificate providers. We apologise for the confusion and our team is removing the old guidance. You can read more about certificate providers on 'A guide to making your lasting power of attorney (LPA)’.. OPG Communications Team
Comment by P Smith posted on 20 February 2024Me and my husband are attorneys to my mothers Lasting Power of Attorney can we witness each others signature?
Hello, Yes. Attorneys or replacement attorneys can witness each other's signatures. This is explained in more detail in the 'who can be a witness?' question above. OPG communications team
Comment by Gloria Lynn Jones posted on 25 February 2024I am making a lasting power of attorney. My husband and my son will be the attorneys. Can they witness each others signature?
Hello Gloria, Yes. Attorneys or replacement attorneys can witness each other's signatures. This is explained in more detail in the 'who can be a witness?' question above. OPG communications team
Comment by Julie Dalton posted on 26 February 2024My parents progressed LPA paperwork with a solicitor 10 years ago. It has only just come to light that these were not registered. We have the signed original copies, the solicitor has advised these remain valid for registering now. Can you confirm paperwork and signatures this old will be accepted by you?
Hi Julie Unfortunately, we can’t comment on specific application questions on here. Please contact the customer service team: customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk / 0300 456 0300. OPG communications
Thanks for the response but I am not asking a question about specific application. I am asking if the court will accept paperwork complete 10 years ago. Solicitors suggest as all paperwork is signed and ready to go it is a legal binding document. I am asking a general question: will the court accept applications this old?
Hi Julie, Due to us needing more details to support your enquiry, please contact our customer service team: customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk / 0300 456 0300. It will help to have your LPA information to hand so we can help you as quickly as possible. OPG communication team
Comment by Marilyn Francis posted on 03 March 2024I have paid & printed our POA online,
When going thru the sheets there are continuation sheets 3 on P&F & H&F for my husband ONLY, I don’t know why as I completed all forms identical to mine, he is capable of signing as a donor. I be Grateful if you could advise me please .
Hi Marilyn, Unfortunately, we can’t comment on specific application questions on here. Please contact the customer service team: customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk / 0300 456 0300. OPG communications team
Comment by Judy Bird posted on 03 March 2024Can an attorney's spouse witness their signature? And, do the 2 attorneys have to sign & date in a specific order?
Hi Judy, An attorney’s spouse can witness their signature if they are over the age of 18 and not the donor. LPA forms must be completed in a specific order, for more information please see our ‘Signing forms’ guidance on GOV.UK. OPG communications team
Comment by Jane Elday posted on 05 March 2024I have nominated 3 attorneys can the person who signs the certificate provider form also witness the 3 attorneys signature?
Many thanks Jane
Hi Jane Yes. A certificate provider can be a witness if they are over the age of 18 and not the donor. LPA forms must be completed in a specific order, for more information please see our ‘Signing forms’ guidance on GOV.UK. OPG communications team
Comment by CLOW posted on 10 March 2024I have been asked to act as attorney for my mother's LPA. Can my wife witness my signautre when I sign as attorney?
Hi, An attorney’s spouse can witness their signature if they are over the age of 18 and not the donor. LPA forms must be completed in a specific order, for more information please see our ‘Signing forms’ guidance on GOV.UK. OPG communications team
Comment by Bryan posted on 11 March 2024Hi I am about to complete my LPI paper work As my Daughter lives in France is it ok for her to sign her form in France and have it witnessed over there.
Which will be different to the witness I have in England. I have two attorney.
Hi Bryan, If your daughter lives abroad, you’ll need to post the LPA forms to them to sign and have them posted back to you. Yes, your daughter can have a different witness. A witness must be over the age of 18 and not the donor. OPG Communications Team
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