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How to Create and Activate an English Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

  • Writer: Maplebrook Services
    Maplebrook Services
  • Aug 1
  • 3 min read

Taking care of someone’s affairs when they can no longer do so themselves is a significant and meaningful responsibility. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) helps ensure this process is manageable and secure. One key element in activating an LPA is the activation key, a vital tool that unlocks the ability to manage an LPA online and ensures it’s legally recognised.



What Is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?


An LPA is a legal document designed for individuals in England & Wales or those who have assets or sources of income such as pensions in England & Wales to prepare for the future. It allows someone (called the donor) to appoint trusted family members of friends called attorneys to make decisions on their behalf if they lose the ability to do so. There are two types of LPAs to suit different needs:


Health and Welfare LPA


This focuses on decisions about health and personal wellbeing, such as living arrangements, medical treatment preferences or even such decisions as ” Do not Resuscitate”. This document is only relevant if you spend a significant amount of time in England & Wales or plan to live there in the future.


Property and Financial Affairs LPA


This covers financial matters, such as managing bank accounts, pensions, investments or property.


Both types provide peace of mind, ensuring the donor’s wishes are carried out.


Why Is the LPA Activation Key Important?


Before Covid, the LPA required to be physically delivered to an Institution for them to inspect and register, but due to the inability to do so during Covid the Government created an electronic portal where the document could be registered online electronically.


The LPA activation key is a unique code that plays a crucial role in making the LPA active and usable. It ensures security, verifies the attorney’s authority, and enables digital access.


Here's How it Works

1. Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)

Before an LPA can be used, it must be registered with the OPG in Birmingham. This process ensures the document is valid and legally recognised. We have seen numerous LPA documents (prepared by others) where the clients believed they were legal and registered, but unfortunately for them, they were either never fully completed or not sent to the OPG for registration, therefore they remained useless documents.


Once registered, the activation key is sent to the donor and the initial appointed attorneys. Without this step, the LPA cannot be used online, so it’s vital to ensure the process is completed properly.


2. Access to the LPA Online Service

Attorneys use the activation key to access the secure online service provided by the OPG.

This digital platform makes it easier to view, manage, and prove the existence of the LPA to organisations such as banks, financial institutions, Department of Work & Pensions, private pension companies or healthcare providers.


3. Ensuring Verification and Security


The activation key acts as a safeguard, ensuring that only authorised individuals can access or act on the LPA.


It simplifies the process of proving authority when dealing with third parties.


The “View an LPA” Online Service


The ‘View an LPA’ service is a secure online platform that makes managing an LPA even easier. It provides an up-to-date summary of the LPA without needing the physical document.


Key Benefits


  • Quick access to essential details, speeding up important decisions like medical treatments.

  • Updated information ensures attorneys and organisations always have the latest version of the LPA.


What Information Is Available?


  • The donor’s and attorneys’ details (names, addresses, dates of birth).

  • Decision-making rules for attorneys.

  • Preferences and instructions created by the donor.

  • The LPA’s registration status and validity.


This service is available for LPAs registered after 1 January 2016 and is a valuable tool for attorneys and organisations alike.


Need Help?

Managing an LPA might feel complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Our team at Maplebrook Services Ltd is here to guide you every step of the way.


📞 Call us: +357 26 600780


Let’s simplify life’s complexities together and give you peace of mind for the future.

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