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Registering an LPA: How Long Does It Take in the UK?

· 26 min

Note: The following scenario is fictional and used for illustration.

Margaret, 68, submitted her Lasting Power of Attorney in October, expecting it to be registered by December when her daughter Emma would help manage her finances after a planned hip surgery. Margaret's LPA contained a simple date inconsistency - she dated her signature 15 October but the certificate provider dated theirs 12 October. The OPG rejected the application in late November, requiring resubmission.

By the time the corrected LPA was registered in February, Margaret had already gone through surgery relying on informal arrangements that left her anxious about access to her accounts.

The Office of the Public Guardian received 1.37 million LPA applications in 2023-24, up from 1 million the previous year. Around 15% of LPA applications contain errors that cause delays. Current processing times range from 8-10 weeks for error-free applications, but can extend to 20 weeks during peak periods.

This guide explains the current LPA registration timeline, what happens during the process, common mistakes that cause delays, and how to track your application status - so you can plan confidently and avoid costly errors.

Table of Contents

How Long Does LPA Registration Take in the UK? (Current Timeline)

It takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA in the UK if there are no mistakes in the application. This is the official timeline from the Office of the Public Guardian, and it's usually quicker if you apply online rather than by post.

However, real-world processing times often differ from the official estimate. During periods of high demand or if errors are found, processing times can extend to 16-20 weeks. The timeline also includes a mandatory 4-week objection period that cannot be waived under any circumstances.

The OPG has made significant progress reducing backlogs since the pandemic. In August 2023, the backlog peaked at 288,100 applications. Through additional staff recruitment and expanded office space, this was reduced to 149,400 by March 2024.

Here's how processing times vary by scenario:

Scenario Timeline
Error-free application (online) 8-10 weeks
Error-free application (paper) 10-12 weeks
Application with correctable errors 12-16 weeks
Application during peak demand 16-20 weeks
Rejected application (resubmission needed) 20-24+ weeks

The 8-10 week timeline is the best-case scenario. If you need your LPA by a specific deadline, plan for 12-16 weeks to avoid disappointment. This buffer accounts for potential errors, seasonal demand spikes, and the inherent variability in processing complex legal documents.

What Happens During the LPA Registration Process?

Understanding what the OPG does during those weeks of waiting helps demystify the process and gives you concrete benchmarks to track progress.

Step 1: OPG receives application and sends acknowledgement (2-3 weeks from submission)

After you submit your LPA, the OPG logs your application into their system and sends an acknowledgement letter. If you applied online, this typically arrives within 5-7 days by email. Paper applications take 2-3 weeks to receive postal acknowledgement. This letter contains your reference number - keep it safe, as you'll need it to check your application status.

Step 2: Initial checks (1-2 weeks)

The OPG verifies all pages are present, the correct signing order was followed, and payment has been received. Online payments process within 1-2 days, while cheques can add 5-7 days to processing time. During this phase, the OPG catches obvious errors like missing pages or incorrect forms.

Step 3: Detailed review (2-3 weeks)

Case workers examine the LPA in detail, checking for signs the donor lacked capacity when signing, verifying attorney eligibility, and ensuring instructions are legally clear. They look for contradictions in the document and assess whether the certificate provider appears to have conducted a proper capacity assessment.

Step 4: Statutory 4-week objection period

This legally mandated waiting period takes up nearly half the total timeline. Under The Lasting Powers of Attorney Regulations 2007, the OPG must allow time for objections before registration can proceed. If you listed "people to notify" in your LPA, the OPG sends them LP3 notices giving them 3 weeks from the date of notice to object.

Step 5: Final registration and stamping (1 week)

Once the objection period expires with no valid objections, the OPG stamps your LPA as registered and updates the digital register. Your LPA is now legally active and can be used by your attorneys.

Step 6: Return of registered documents (1-2 weeks)

The OPG posts your stamped LPA documents back to you with a letter confirming registration. You'll receive the original LPA plus any continuation sheets, all bearing the official OPG registration stamp.

When David submitted his Property and Financial Affairs LPA online in January, he received an acknowledgement email within 5 days. Three weeks later, he received another letter confirming the OPG had begun the formal review. The objection period started in mid-February, and his registered LPA arrived by post in late March - exactly 10 weeks from submission.

The 4-Week Objection Period: Why You Can't Skip It

The statutory objection period is legally mandated under The Lasting Powers of Attorney Regulations 2007. This safeguard exists to protect vulnerable people from fraud, undue influence, and capacity concerns - and it cannot be waived under any circumstances, even in urgent medical situations.

Who can object?

Named "people to notify" if listed in the LPA, the donor themselves, and attorneys named in the LPA can all raise objections. People to notify receive LP3 notices from the OPG giving them 3 weeks to object. The donor and attorneys can object at any time during the registration process.

Grounds for objection fall into two categories:

Factual grounds include the donor having died, the donor lacking capacity to make the LPA, an attorney being bankrupt or deceased, the LPA having been revoked, or evidence of fraud or undue influence. These are objective facts that can be proven or disproven.

Prescribed grounds include the attorney being unsuitable to act, the donor being subjected to pressure when making the LPA, or the LPA failing to comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These are matters requiring judgment and investigation.

When Sarah's elderly mother listed Sarah's brother as a "person to notify," he objected on the grounds that their mother lacked mental capacity when signing. The OPG referred the case to the Court of Protection, extending the registration timeline by an additional 6 months while the court investigated.

The court ultimately found the mother had capacity, and the LPA was registered - but Sarah's brother's objection, though unsuccessful, added half a year to the process. This demonstrates why the objection period exists: it creates a formal opportunity for concerned parties to raise issues before the LPA becomes active.

Common Mistakes That Delay LPA Registration

Around 15% of LPA applications contain errors that cause the OPG to reject or delay registration. Most of these mistakes are completely preventable with careful attention before submission.

Signing order errors (most common cause of rejection)

The correct signing order is crucial: donor first, then certificate provider, then attorneys. If anyone signs out of order, the entire LPA is invalid and must be redone. This requires the donor's signature again - impossible if they've lost capacity in the meantime.

Emma signed as attorney before the certificate provider signed her father's LPA. When the OPG rejected the application 8 weeks later, Emma's father had early-stage dementia and the family wasn't certain he still had capacity to sign a corrected version. They had to pay for a medical assessment before proceeding, adding £350 and 4 weeks to the timeline.

Date inconsistencies

Dates must follow logical chronological order. The certificate provider cannot date their signature before the donor, and attorneys cannot date theirs before the certificate provider. The OPG scrutinises dates carefully because impossible timelines suggest the signing process wasn't properly witnessed.

Missing pages

Every page of the LPA must be included, even optional sections left blank. The OPG needs to see the complete document to verify nothing has been removed or altered. Approximately 30,000 LPAs were rejected in financial year 2022-23 due to missing pages or other errors.

Use of pencil or correction fluid

LPAs are legal deeds requiring permanent ink. Any text in pencil, or sections corrected with correction fluid or crossed out, invalidate the document. If you make a mistake, you must complete a new LPA - there is no way to correct errors once the form is partially completed.

Contradictory instructions

Appointing attorneys "jointly and severally" means they can act independently. But if you then instruct "all decisions must be unanimous," you've created a legal contradiction. The OPG will reject LPAs with contradictory terms until you clarify your intentions.

Witness issues

Witnesses must be independent - not attorneys or their spouses, and not under 18 years old. The certificate provider cannot witness the donor's signature. If your witness is ineligible, the signature they witnessed is invalid.

Payment errors

Wrong fee amounts, bounced cheques, or missing payment reference numbers all cause delays. The OPG cannot begin processing until payment is confirmed, and sorting out payment issues can add 2-3 weeks to the timeline.

If your application is rejected, you can resubmit within 3 months for a reduced fee (£46 from November 2025). After 3 months, you pay the full fee again (£92). Critically, if the donor has lost capacity after the original application, certain errors cannot be fixed, potentially leaving you unable to register the LPA at all.

Online vs. Paper LPA Applications: Does It Affect Registration Time?

The method you use to create and submit your LPA significantly impacts both processing speed and error rates.

The OPG's online LPA service launched in 2020 and now processes over half of all applications. Online applications are usually quicker because the system validates your data before submission, catching errors that would otherwise cause rejection weeks later.

Error rates differ significantly

Online applications have lower error rates because the system prevents you from entering dates in the wrong order, reminds you to include all required pages, and validates that all required fields are completed. While the OPG doesn't publish exact error rate statistics, they actively encourage online use because it reduces processing burden.

Processing timelines compared

Online applications typically process in 8-10 weeks, while paper applications take 10-12 weeks. The difference comes from manual data entry - paper applications must be scanned and keyed into the system by OPG staff, adding 1-2 weeks to the front end of processing.

Payment processing speed

Online payments via debit or credit card process within 1-2 days. Cheques submitted with paper applications can take 5-7 days to clear, and bounced cheques add another 2-3 weeks while the OPG contacts you and waits for a replacement payment.

Acknowledgement speed

Online applicants receive email confirmation within days that their LPA has been received and logged. Paper applicants wait 2-3 weeks for postal acknowledgement, leaving them uncertain whether their application arrived safely.

James submitted two LPAs on the same day - one online for his Property and Financial Affairs, one by post for his Health and Welfare (he had created the paper one before discovering the online service). The online LPA was registered in 9 weeks. The paper LPA took 13 weeks despite being submitted simultaneously.

Unless you have a specific reason to use paper forms - such as lack of internet access or needing to include complex instruction schedules that don't fit the online format - the online service is faster and less error-prone.

Can You Expedite LPA Registration in Urgent Circumstances?

No standard expedited or fast-track registration service exists for individual LPA applications. This is one of the most common questions the OPG receives, and the answer remains consistent: the 4-week statutory objection period cannot be waived under any circumstances.

The objection period is legally mandated by The Lasting Powers of Attorney Regulations 2007. Even in urgent medical situations where the donor is rapidly losing capacity, the OPG cannot skip this safeguard. It exists to protect vulnerable people from fraud and undue influence, and Parliament has not created any exemptions.

What to do if you face urgent circumstances

Contact the OPG customer service line on 0300 456 0300 to explain your situation. While they cannot guarantee faster processing or skip the objection period, explaining urgency may prompt them to prioritise checking for errors quickly. If your application is error-free, they may expedite it through the initial review stages.

Ensure your application is completely error-free to avoid rejection adding months to the timeline. Double-check signing order, dates, and that all pages are included. Use the OPG's guidance document to review your LPA before submission.

Consider interim arrangements until the LPA is registered. Joint bank accounts, informal support from family members, or temporary authorisations from financial institutions can bridge the gap. While these aren't substitutes for a registered LPA, they may provide enough access to manage urgent needs.

Rapid Register Search is not for expediting registration

Some people confuse the "Rapid Register Search" service with fast-track registration. This service is exclusively for public sector organisations like the NHS, police, and local authorities to urgently check if someone has an existing LPA. It does not expedite new registrations.

When Robert's father was diagnosed with early-stage dementia, the family rushed to create an LPA. Robert called the OPG hoping to expedite registration given the medical urgency, but was told the 4-week objection period is legally mandated and cannot be skipped. The LPA was registered 11 weeks later - fortunately, before his father's capacity declined significantly.

The lesson is clear: don't wait for a crisis to create and register your LPA. Complete this while you're healthy and have time to wait for the standard timeline.

How to Track Your LPA Registration Status

The OPG does not offer an online tracking portal for LPA applications, but there are clear milestones you can expect and ways to check progress.

Acknowledgement letter (2-3 weeks from submission)

Your first confirmation will be an acknowledgement letter containing your reference number. Online applicants typically receive this by email within 5-7 days. Paper applicants should receive postal acknowledgement within 2-3 weeks. This letter confirms the OPG has received your application and payment.

Keep your reference number safe. You'll need it every time you contact the OPG about your application.

Checking status by phone

Call the OPG customer service line on 0300 456 0300, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5pm. Have your reference number ready. As of March 2024, typical wait times are around 10 minutes, though this can be longer during peak periods.

The OPG can tell you whether they've received your application, if it's passed initial checks, if the objection period has started, and provide an estimated registration date based on current processing times. They cannot tell you your exact position in the processing queue or guarantee registration by a specific date.

What "no news is good news" means

If the OPG finds errors in your application, they'll contact you within 4-6 weeks of submission. If you haven't heard anything by week 6, your application has likely passed initial and detailed review and is entering the objection period. Most communication from the OPG indicates a problem, so silence usually means your application is progressing normally.

Timeline expectations

  • Week 2-3: Acknowledgement letter arrives
  • Week 4-5: Initial checks complete (you'll only hear from OPG if there are errors)
  • Week 6-9: Objection period and final review proceed
  • Week 10-12: Registered LPA returns by post with confirmation letter

Registration completion

You'll know your LPA is registered when you receive your original documents by post, stamped with the OPG registration seal. The accompanying letter will confirm the registration date and provide information about using your LPA. Keep the registered original safe - you'll need to show it to banks, healthcare providers, and other organisations when your attorneys need to act.

What to Do If Your LPA Application Is Rejected

Receiving your LPA back from the OPG after weeks of waiting, with a rejection notice explaining errors, is frustrating but fixable - if you act quickly.

Understanding rejection reasons

The OPG will send a letter explaining specific errors found. Common rejection reasons include incorrect signing order, missing pages, contradictory instructions, date inconsistencies, or use of pencil or correction fluid. The letter will be specific about what needs correcting.

The correction process depends on the donor's capacity

If the donor still has mental capacity, you can correct errors and resubmit. The process depends on the type of error. Signing order errors require completing a brand new LPA with fresh signatures in the correct order. Missing pages or payment errors might be correctable without redoing the entire document.

If the donor has lost mental capacity since the original application, you face a serious problem. Errors requiring the donor's signature cannot be fixed. This includes signing order errors, missing donor signatures, or invalid witness arrangements. In these cases, you may be unable to register the LPA at all, and the family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order - a much more expensive and time-consuming process.

Resubmission fees

Within 3 months of rejection, you can resubmit for a reduced fee of £41 (or £46 from November 2025). This reduced fee recognises you're correcting the same LPA, not creating an entirely new one. After 3 months, you must pay the full £92 fee again.

Timeline impact

Resubmission adds 8-10 weeks to your total timeline from the date you resubmit. If you were rejected after 8 weeks and take 2 weeks to correct errors, you're looking at 18-20 weeks total from your original submission to final registration.

After waiting 8 weeks, Linda received her LPA back with a rejection notice - her certificate provider had signed before she did. Because the error required her signature again, she had to complete a new LPA. Fortunately, she resubmitted within 3 months and paid the reduced £46 fee. Her LPA was finally registered 18 weeks after her first submission.

Prevention is everything

Download and carefully review the OPG's guidance document on avoiding errors before completing your LPA. Double-check the signing order before anyone signs. Include all pages even if sections are left blank. Use permanent black ink only. Review dates to ensure logical chronological order.

Getting it right the first time saves months of waiting and protects against the catastrophic scenario where the donor loses capacity before errors can be corrected.

How LPA Registration Fees Work

Understanding the cost structure helps you budget correctly and take advantage of available reductions or exemptions.

Standard fees from 17 November 2025

It costs £92 to register each LPA, increased from the previous £82 fee. If you're registering both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA, you'll pay £184 total (£92 for each). Each LPA must be registered separately and incurs its own fee.

Fee reductions

If you earn less than £12,000 per year, you can apply for a fee reduction. The reduced fee is £46 (half the standard fee). You'll need to complete a fee remission form and provide evidence of your income when applying.

Fee exemptions (no charge)

If you receive certain means-tested benefits, you may be exempt from fees entirely. Benefits that qualify for exemption include Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, and Universal Credit. You'll need to provide evidence of benefit receipt with your application.

Resubmission fees

If your LPA is rejected and you resubmit within 3 months, you pay a reduced fee of £41 (or £46 from November 2025). After 3 months, you must pay the full £92 fee again. This policy encourages prompt correction of errors and recognises that you're not creating an entirely new LPA.

Payment methods

Online applications accept debit or credit card payments, which process within 1-2 days. Paper applications require cheques made payable to "Office of the Public Guardian." Cheques take 5-7 days to clear, and bounced cheques can add 2-3 weeks to processing while the OPG contacts you for replacement payment.

What the fee covers

The OPG registration fee covers only the registration process itself - reviewing your LPA, conducting the objection period, stamping it as registered, and maintaining the digital register. It does not include the cost of creating your LPA, whether you use a solicitor (typically £300-500), an online service, or complete the forms yourself for free.

The registration fee is separate from and additional to any service you use to create the LPA. Even if you pay a solicitor £400 to draft your LPA, you still pay the OPG £92 to register it.

When Should You Register Your LPA?

The strategic timing question - register immediately after creation or wait until you need it - has a clear answer backed by expert consensus.

Register immediately (the recommended approach)

Age UK, Which?, and the Law Society all recommend registering your LPA as soon as it's signed. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Mistakes are caught while the donor still has capacity to fix them. If your LPA is rejected for errors 8 weeks after submission, the donor can sign a corrected version. If you wait years to register and errors are found, the donor may have lost capacity in the meantime, making certain errors impossible to fix.

Your LPA is ready to use the moment it's needed. No 8-10 week wait during a crisis. No panic about whether registration will complete before the donor loses capacity. No scrambling to arrange interim solutions while waiting.

You avoid the catastrophic scenario where the donor loses capacity during the registration wait. This happens more often than people expect, particularly for those creating LPAs in their 70s or 80s, or after a concerning health diagnosis.

The only disadvantage is paying the £92 fee upfront rather than deferring it. However, this small cost is far outweighed by the peace of mind and legal certainty.

Wait to register (not recommended)

Some people delay registration thinking they'll save the £92 fee until they need it. While you can make changes to an unregistered LPA more easily than a registered one, the risks are substantial.

You face an 8-10 week wait when you urgently need the LPA to be active. Banks, healthcare providers, and financial institutions will not accept an unregistered LPA under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

You risk the donor losing capacity before registration completes. If errors are found during registration and the donor no longer has capacity to sign corrections, you may be unable to register the LPA at all.

Tom created his LPA at age 55 but didn't register it, thinking he'd save the £82 fee until he needed it. At 62, he suffered a sudden stroke that affected his mental capacity. His daughter rushed to register the LPA, but the OPG couldn't proceed because they needed to assess whether Tom still had capacity to consent to registration.

This created a legal grey area requiring Court of Protection involvement, costing thousands in legal fees and taking 8 months. Had Tom registered the LPA when he created it, his daughter could have begun managing his affairs immediately after the stroke.

Many people create LPAs in their 50s-60s but don't need to use them until their 70s-80s. Registering early means it's ready when circumstances change suddenly, as they often do with health issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to register an LPA in the UK?

A: The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) states it takes 8 to 10 weeks to register an LPA if there are no mistakes in the application. However, during periods of high demand or if errors are found, processing times can extend to 16-20 weeks. The timeline includes a mandatory 4-week objection period that cannot be waived.

Q: Can I use my LPA before it's registered?

A: No, you cannot use an LPA until it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires registration before the attorney can exercise any powers under the LPA. Attempting to use an unregistered LPA could result in banks, healthcare providers, and other organisations refusing to recognise it.

Q: What causes delays in LPA registration?

A: Common causes of delays include incorrect signing order (donor, certificate provider, then attorneys), missing pages or signatures, unclear instructions or preferences, use of pencil or correction fluid, and inconsistent dates. Around 15% of LPA applications contain errors. Additionally, the OPG has experienced backlogs, with 1.37 million applications received in 2023-24 compared to 1 million the previous year.

Q: Can I expedite my LPA registration if it's urgent?

A: No, there is no standard expedited or fast-track registration service for individual LPA applications. The 4-week statutory objection period cannot be waived under any circumstances. If you have urgent circumstances, contact the OPG customer service line (0300 456 0300) to explain your situation, though they cannot guarantee faster processing.

Q: How much does it cost to register an LPA in the UK?

A: From 17 November 2025, it costs £92 to register each LPA (previously £82). If you have both a Property and Financial Affairs LPA and a Health and Welfare LPA, you'll pay £184 total. Fee reductions are available if you earn less than £12,000 per year, and exemptions exist for those receiving certain benefits like Income Support.

Q: What happens if my LPA application is rejected?

A: If the OPG rejects your LPA due to errors, they will return it to you with an explanation. You can resubmit the corrected LPA within 3 months for a reduced fee of £41 (or £46 from November 2025). After 3 months, you'll need to pay the full registration fee again. If the donor has lost mental capacity since the original application, it may be impossible to correct certain errors.

Q: How can I check the status of my LPA registration?

A: After submitting your LPA, the OPG will send you an acknowledgement letter within 2-3 weeks confirming they've received your application. You can check your registration status by calling the OPG customer service line on 0300 456 0300 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5pm). Have your LPA reference number ready. Once registered, you'll receive your stamped LPA documents by post.

Conclusion

Key takeaways:

  • Plan for 10-12 weeks minimum: While the OPG quotes 8-10 weeks, real-world processing often takes longer during busy periods. Build this timeline into your planning, especially if you have a specific deadline in mind.
  • Submit error-free applications: Around 15% of LPAs are rejected for avoidable mistakes. Use the online service if possible, follow the exact signing order (donor, certificate provider, then attorneys), and include all pages even if blank.
  • Register immediately, don't wait: The 8-10 week timeline becomes a crisis when you're waiting for capacity-related urgency. Register your LPA as soon as it's signed - mistakes can be caught and fixed while you still have capacity.
  • Understand the 4-week objection period: Nearly half the registration timeline is the legally mandated objection period that cannot be waived. This safeguard exists to protect vulnerable people, but means no LPA can be registered in less than 4 weeks.
  • Track your application proactively: Call the OPG (0300 456 0300) if you haven't received acknowledgement within 3 weeks, or if you're approaching week 12 without receiving your registered LPA.

Waiting for your LPA to be registered can feel like bureaucratic limbo - you've done the hard work of creating it, and now you're at the mercy of processing times. But understanding the timeline, avoiding common mistakes, and planning ahead transforms waiting from anxiety into confidence. Your LPA is the legal foundation that protects your future and your family's peace of mind - it's worth getting right the first time.

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Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

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