8: Signing the Lasting Power of Attorney (in the right order) and registering it with the Office of the Public Guardian

Once you are happy with your Lasting Power of Attorney form it needs to be signed by all parties. The order of signing your Lasting Power of Attorney is important.   There are 4 stages to this which are clearly set out in the guidance. 

1)  The donor signs sections 5 and 9, followed by their witness. The witness can’t be a nominated attorney.

2)  The Certificate Provider signs.

3)  The Attorneys and replacement Attorneys sign section 11, followed by their witnesses. Attorneys can witness each others signatures.

4)  The applicant signs section 15. 

Stage 3 can take some time if you have several attorneys but everything else is straightforward. 

You then send it off to the OPG and wait.  Assuming all is ok you will get a letter to say that it has been received.  The OPG will also write to your attorneys. Then after the required time has elapsed you will receive confirmation of registration. 

Next…

9: I’ve received confirmation that my LPAs have been registered.  What do I do next?