Fee to grant power of attorney cut

The application fee to apply to grant a lasting power of attorney (LPA) is to be cut by £20, Justice Minister Helen Grant has announced.

An LPA, as well as the older enduring powers of attorney (EPA), enables people to appoint someone they trust to make decisions for them if they lose mental capacity. The fees for registering either will drop by 15% from £130 to £110 from October 1.

Anyone granted an LPA or EPA will be allowed to make decisions about the financial affairs or the health and welfare of the person who appointed them if they lose the ability to make their own decisions.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is in charge of managing both schemes and has recently carried out a programme to make the process more efficient, which enabled it to reduce the fees.

Ms Grant said:

“It is really important that people consider making a lasting power of attorney – it means that as they get older, or if they have issues with their health, they have the peace of mind from knowing that the important decisions about their life will be taken by someone they know and trust, if they ever lost capacity.”

For advice on issues relating to wills, trusts, probate and tax and estate planning, contact our specialist team, call us on 01494 790000 or email estatemanagement@ibblaw.co.uk.