Lasting Power of Attorney, Explained (2026)

Claire Saltwater23 August 2026

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you can't make them yourself. Setting one up early is one of the most important things a family can do — because it must be done before capacity is lost.

The two types

Most people set up both — they cover very different decisions.

How to set one up

Registration takes several weeks, so don’t leave it until it’s urgent.

This is general information, not legal advice, and covers England & Wales — Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. For your situation, speak to a solicitor or an advice charity. If capacity is already lost, the alternative is applying to the Court of Protection for deputyship — slower and more costly, which is why an LPA early is so valuable.

💬 Exploring care options? Search care homes near you on AskBart, with CQC ratings and guide prices — or ask Bart for help.

Frequently asked questions

When can an LPA be used?

A Property & Financial LPA can be used (with your permission) while you still have capacity; a Health & Welfare LPA only once you can’t make those decisions yourself.

What if there’s no LPA and capacity is lost?

A family member must apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy — which takes months and costs more.

Claire Saltwater

Editor · AskBart

Claire Saltwater is AskBart's Editor and a care-home industry veteran. One of AskBart's earliest team members, she has spent years working in and around social care — so she understands first-hand the difficult, often overwhelming decisions families face when choosing a care home. Claire writes and edits AskBart's advice guides with one goal: clear, genuinely independent information, free of jargon and sales pressure. Away from her desk she loves a good farmers' market and time with her two young children.