{"id":1022,"date":"2018-09-11T15:57:20","date_gmt":"2018-09-11T15:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advisingfamilies.org\/?p=1022"},"modified":"2026-05-07T16:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T16:19:51","slug":"what-to-do-if-youve-been-appointed-an-attorney-under-an-lpa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advisingfamilies.org\/uk\/information-portal\/caring-for-others\/what-to-do-if-youve-been-appointed-an-attorney-under-an-lpa\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do if you\u2019ve been appointed an attorney under an LPA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last reviewed: May 2026
\nRead time: four minutes\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have been appointed attorney under a friend or relative\u2019s Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)<\/a>, it is your responsibility to look after their affairs if they lose mental capacity. You may have been appointed on your own, or with other attorneys, and the LPA will specify whether you can act alone, or jointly with them.<\/p>\n

The Office of the Public Guardian for England and Wales (OPG) has published some guidance for the two types of attorney, which will help you whether you are looking after their property and financial affairs, or their health and welfare.<\/p>\n

Property and financial affairs<\/h2>\n

As an attorney for property and financial affairs, it\u2019s your responsibility to look after the property and money of the person who made the LPA, who\u2019s known as the donor.<\/p>\n

This means you are responsible for their bank and building society accounts, claiming and receiving benefits, pensions and allowances, paying their bills (including for any care), buying or selling their home, and saving or investing on their behalf.<\/p>\n

As soon as you become attorney, and while the donor still has mental capacity, make sure you get as much information as possible on where the donor keeps financial information, including the deeds to their home, and get certified copies of the LPA document.<\/p>\n

Find out what their long-term plans are, for example, whether they want to sell or let their home if they need to move into a care home. Find out too, what their financial priorities are, for example, how much they like to keep in their current account, and how much to give to charity, or as birthday or other gifts.<\/p>\n

Once you start acting as attorney, you will need to keep written records of their income and major outgoings, and keep bills. Make sure that their accounts are separate from your own.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s your job to help the donor make their own decisions, if they can. If they are not able to do so, you\u2019ll need to follow any restrictions, conditions or guidance set out in the LPA. If it\u2019s not clear, ask someone who knows the donor what they would be likely to do. Remember that every decision you make must be in their best interests.<\/p>\n