Power of Attorney for Parents: The Complete Guide for Adult Children

Power of Attorney for Parents: A Guide for Adult Children

If you are reading this, you are probably worried about your parents. Maybe they are getting older. Maybe you have noticed small changes — forgotten appointments, confusion with bills, difficulty managing things that used to be easy. Or maybe a friend's parent has fallen ill, and it has made you think about your own family.

Whatever has brought you here, you are doing the right thing. Helping your parents set up Lasting Powers of Attorney is one of the most important — and loving — things you can do for them. And with myLPA at just £74 per LPA, it does not need to cost a fortune.

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Protect Your Parents Today — From Just £74 Per LPA

Both parents need their own LPAs. With myLPA, 4 LPAs for a couple cost just £280 — compared to £2,000+ with a solicitor.

Create Your Parents' LPAs Now — Just £74 Each →

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Why Your Parents Need Power of Attorney

The Reality Without an LPA

Picture this: your mum has a stroke. She is in hospital, unable to communicate. The mortgage needs paying, her pension needs managing, decisions need making about her care. You go to her bank. They say no. You cannot access her account. You are not authorised.

This is not a hypothetical situation. It happens to families across the UK every single day.

Without a Lasting Power of Attorney, you cannot:

• Access your parents' bank accounts — even to pay their bills
• Sell or manage their property — even to fund their care
• Make decisions about their medical treatment
• Choose where they live or what care they receive
• Manage their pensions, investments, or insurance
• Deal with HMRC on their behalf

The Devastating Alternative: Court of Protection

If your parent loses mental capacity without an LPA, the only option is applying to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship order. This means:

• Application cost: £371 court fee
• Solicitor fees: £1,000-5,000+ to prepare the application
• Waiting time: 4-12 months on average
• Annual supervision fees: £320-775 per year, every year
• No guarantee: the court decides who becomes deputy — it might not be you
• Ongoing restrictions: deputies face more limitations than LPA attorneys

Total first-year cost: easily £2,000-6,000+, compared to £156 for an LPA with myLPA.

What an LPA Provides

With registered LPAs in place, you can:

• Act immediately when your parent needs help
• Access their bank accounts to pay bills and manage finances
• Make decisions about their care and medical treatment
• Sell property if needed to fund care
• Deal with all organisations on their behalf
• Avoid expensive and stressful court applications

The Two Types of LPA Your Parents Need

Each parent should ideally have both types of LPA:

1. Property and Financial Affairs LPA

Covers: bank accounts, bills, property, investments, pensions, tax affairs, benefits

Key benefit: This LPA can be used as soon as it is registered, even while your parent still has mental capacity (with their permission). This is incredibly useful if your parent becomes physically frail but remains mentally sharp — you can help them manage finances without waiting for them to lose capacity.

2. Health and Welfare LPA

Covers: medical treatment decisions, care arrangements, daily routines, where they live, life-sustaining treatment

Key benefit: This LPA ensures that you — not a stranger — makes crucial decisions about your parent's care if they cannot decide for themselves.

How to Have "The Conversation" With Your Parents

This is the part most people dread. How do you tell your parents they need to plan for losing their mental capacity? Here are proven approaches:

Frame it as Normal Planning

"Mum, Dad — I have been reading about something called Lasting Power of Attorney. It is like insurance for your finances and health decisions. Most financial advisers recommend everyone over 50 should have one."

Make it About You Too

"I am actually looking into getting my own LPA sorted. I thought we could do it together as a family. It only costs £74 each with this online service I found."

Use a Real Example

"Did you hear about [friend/relative/news story]? Their family had a terrible time because they did not have Power of Attorney. I really do not want us to go through that."

Focus on Control

"This is about you choosing who makes decisions for you. If you do not set this up, a court decides — and that costs thousands. With an LPA, you choose us, and you set the rules."

Address Common Objections

"I do not need one — I am fine." "That is exactly why we should do it now. You can only create an LPA while you have mental capacity. If we wait until something happens, it is too late."

"It is too expensive." "It is £74 per LPA with myLPA. That is probably less than your monthly phone bill. And it could save us thousands if anything happens."

"I do not want to think about it." "I understand. But not thinking about it does not prevent it from happening — it just means we would not be prepared. It takes 15 minutes online. We can do it together."

"You just want to get your hands on my money." "The LPA is about protecting you, not giving me free access. You set the rules. You choose when it is used. And there are legal safeguards to prevent any misuse."

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Help Both Parents — 4 LPAs for Just £280

Both mum and dad need their own LPAs. That is 4 LPAs total. With myLPA at £140 for both LPAs per person, the total preparation cost is just £280. A solicitor would charge £2,000+.

Create Your Parents' LPAs Now — Just £74 Each →

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The Cost of LPAs for Your Parents

Both parents need their own separate LPAs. You cannot share an LPA between a couple. Each person needs their own Property & Financial LPA and their own Health & Welfare LPA.

Cost with myLPA

Item	Cost

Mum's both LPAs (Property & Health)	£140
Dad's both LPAs (Property & Health)	£140
Total myLPA preparation	£280
OPG registration (4 x £82)	£328
Grand total for both parents	£608

Cost with a Solicitor

Item	Cost

4 LPAs at £300-500+ each	£1,200-2,000+
OPG registration (4 x £82)	£328
Grand total for both parents	£1,528-2,328+

You save £920-1,720+ by choosing myLPA over a solicitor.

OPG Fee Exemptions

If your parents are on certain benefits (Income Support, income-based ESA, income-based JSA, or Universal Credit in some circumstances), they may qualify for a full exemption from the OPG fee. If their income is below £12,000, they may get a 50% remission.

Who Should Be Your Parents' Attorneys?

This is a crucial decision. Here are the key considerations:

Adult Children as Attorneys

The most common choice. Benefits include:

• You know your parents well
• You understand their values and wishes
• You are motivated to act in their best interests
• You are likely to be involved in their care anyway

Things to Consider

• Choose more than one attorney — having a backup (replacement attorney) is essential in case the primary attorney cannot act
• Joint and several is usually best — this means any attorney can act independently, which is practical for day-to-day decisions
• Consider family dynamics — if siblings do not get along, joint-and-several with clear preferences can help avoid disputes
• Discuss it as a family — all siblings should ideally know about and understand the arrangements

Who Should NOT Be an Attorney

• Someone your parent does not fully trust
• Someone who is bad with money (for a Property & Financial LPA)
• Someone who lives abroad and cannot easily visit
• Someone who has their own health or capacity concerns
• A minor (attorneys must be 18+)

What If Your Parent Already Has Dementia?

This is the question that keeps adult children awake at night. The answer depends on the stage:

Early-Stage Dementia

A person with early-stage dementia can still create an LPA, provided they have sufficient mental capacity at the time of signing. Capacity is decision-specific — having dementia does not automatically mean someone lacks capacity to create an LPA.

However, time is critical. As dementia progresses, the window for creating a valid LPA closes. If your parent has been diagnosed with early-stage dementia, act now. Every week you delay increases the risk that they will no longer have the capacity to create an LPA.

A doctor or other medical professional can provide a capacity assessment if there is any doubt.

Mid to Late-Stage Dementia

If your parent no longer has mental capacity, it is too late to create an LPA. The only option is applying to the Court of Protection for a Deputyship order — a process that is slower, more expensive, and less flexible than an LPA.

This is why we cannot stress enough: do not wait. The time to create an LPA is now, while your parents still can.

Real Scenarios: What Happens Without an LPA

Scenario 1: Dad Has a Stroke

Dad has a sudden stroke and cannot manage his finances. Without an LPA, his bank accounts are effectively frozen. Mum cannot access his pension, manage his investments, or pay bills from his account — even though they are married. The household income drops dramatically while a Court of Protection application grinds through the system over months.

With an LPA: Mum (as attorney) immediately contacts the bank with the registered LPA. She has full access to manage Dad's finances. Bills continue to be paid. No court application needed.

Scenario 2: Mum Develops Dementia

Mum's dementia progresses to the point where she can no longer make decisions about her care. Without an LPA, the family cannot choose her care home, manage her medical treatment, or make decisions about her daily care without going through the Court of Protection.

With an LPA: You (as her Health & Welfare attorney) can make informed decisions about her care, choose an appropriate care home, and work with her medical team — all based on her known wishes and preferences.

Scenario 3: Both Parents Need Care

Both parents develop health problems at the same time. Without LPAs, you face two separate Court of Protection applications — double the cost, double the stress, double the delay.

With LPAs in place: You can manage both parents' affairs immediately, coordinating their care and finances efficiently without any court involvement.

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Do Not Wait Until It Is Too Late

Once your parents lose mental capacity, they cannot create an LPA. The window closes permanently. Act now — it takes 15 minutes and costs just £74 per LPA.

Create Your Parents' LPAs Now — Just £74 Each →

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Step-by-Step: Helping Your Parents Create Their LPAs

1. Have the Conversation

Use the approaches described above. Choose a calm moment, not during a crisis.

2. Gather Information

Help your parents collect the details they will need: names, dates of birth, and addresses for all attorneys and replacement attorneys.

3. Complete the myLPA Questionnaire Together

Sit with your parents (in person or over the phone) and go through the myLPA questionnaire together. It takes about 15 minutes per LPA. You can complete all four LPAs in about an hour.

4. Our Experts Review the Documents

myLPA's team checks every LPA for errors and contacts you if anything needs clarifying.

5. Sign in the Correct Order

Follow our step-by-step signing instructions. Each parent signs their own LPAs, witnessed and certified by appropriate people.

6. Register with the OPG

Submit the signed LPAs to the OPG with the registration fee. Processing currently takes 8-12 weeks.

7. Store Safely

Once registered, store the original LPAs safely. Make sure all attorneys know where they are. Consider giving certified copies to attorneys and keeping originals in a secure location.

What About You?

If you are helping your parents set up LPAs, it is worth creating your own at the same time. You do not need to be elderly to need an LPA — accidents and sudden illness can affect anyone at any age.

At £74 per LPA with myLPA, you can protect yourself and your parents for a fraction of what a solicitor would charge for just one person.

The Gift of Peace of Mind

Helping your parents create LPAs is not about preparing for the worst — it is about ensuring the best possible outcome if something unexpected happens. It is a gift you give your entire family:

• Your parents get the peace of mind of knowing their chosen people will manage their affairs
• You get the legal authority to act quickly when it matters most
• Your whole family avoids the stress, cost, and delays of the Court of Protection

All for just £74 per LPA. All in just 15 minutes. All from the comfort of home.

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Start Today — Protect Your Parents for Just £74 Per LPA

myLPA: the UK's cheapest professional LPA service. 4 LPAs for both parents, just £280 preparation. Expert-reviewed. Done in an afternoon.

Create Your Parents' LPAs Now — Just £74 Each →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up Power of Attorney for my parent?

You cannot create an LPA on behalf of your parent — they must create it themselves while they have mental capacity. However, you can help them through the process, sitting with them while they complete the myLPA questionnaire and guiding them through the decisions.

How much does Power of Attorney cost for both parents?

With myLPA at £140 for both LPAs per person, four LPAs for both parents (Property & Financial + Health & Welfare each) cost £280 in preparation fees, plus £328 in OPG registration fees, totalling £608. Solicitors typically charge £1,528-2,328+ for the same.

Can someone with dementia still make a Power of Attorney?

Someone with early-stage dementia may still have sufficient mental capacity to create an LPA. Capacity is assessed at the time of signing. However, as dementia progresses, the ability to create an LPA is lost permanently. If your parent has any form of cognitive decline, act immediately.

What happens if my parent refuses to make a Power of Attorney?

You cannot force someone to create an LPA. Try the conversation approaches in this guide. Emphasise that it is about their choice and control. If they still refuse, understand that if they later lose capacity, you will need to apply to the Court of Protection — a process that costs £1,000-5,000+ and takes months.

Do both parents need separate LPAs?

Yes. Each person needs their own LPAs. A married couple cannot share a single LPA. Both parents should each have a Property & Financial Affairs LPA and a Health & Welfare LPA — four LPAs in total.

What is the best age for parents to get Power of Attorney?

There is no minimum age requirement beyond being 18, but financial advisers typically recommend creating LPAs in your 50s or 60s. However, the best time is always now — mental capacity can be lost at any age through accident or sudden illness. Do not wait for a health scare.