LPA Specialist Training: Lasting Powers of Attorney

Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are legal documents that let someone (the donor) appoint people (attorneys) to make decisions on their behalf if they lose mental capacity. For estate planners, LPAs are a core service alongside wills - learn more in our How to Become an Estate Planner guide.

Two types of LPA:

1. Property and Financial Affairs LPA

• •Covers bank accounts, bills, property
• •Can be used while donor still has capacity (if they choose)
• •Common for elderly parents giving adult children access

2. Health and Welfare LPA

• •Covers medical treatment, care decisions, daily routine
• •Only used when donor lacks capacity
• •Includes life-sustaining treatment decisions

Why LPAs matter:

• •Without an LPA, families may need expensive court applications
• •50% of over-65s will need care involving capacity decisions
• •Dementia affects 850,000+ people in the UK
• •LPAs give families peace of mind

The demand opportunity:

LPAs are often sold alongside wills, significantly increasing average transaction value. Many clients who come for a will leave with a will AND LPAs.

Several factors are driving increasing demand for LPA services:

Demographic changes:

• •Population is aging
• •People are living longer
• •Dementia rates are increasing
• •More assets to protect

Awareness factors:

• •COVID highlighted importance of health LPAs
• •Celebrity cases have raised awareness
• •Banks actively recommend them
• •Adult children encouraging parents

Market statistics:

• •LPA registrations have grown significantly year-on-year
• •Still only ~10% of eligible people have LPAs
• •Massive untapped market

Price resistance is lower:

• •People understand the need
• •Alternatives (court applications) are expensive
• •Emotionally, protecting family motivates action

What this means for practitioners:

LPAs represent a growing, high-demand service. Estate planners who are skilled in LPAs have excellent earning potential.

Proper LPA training covers both legal and practical aspects:

Legal knowledge required:

• •Mental Capacity Act 2005
• •Office of the Public Guardian requirements
• •Certificate provider rules
• •Attorney duties and responsibilities
• •When LPAs can and can't be used

Practical skills:

• •Assessing capacity appropriately
• •Explaining options to clients clearly
• •Completing forms accurately
• •Dealing with the OPG
• •Handling common problems

Common training gaps to avoid:

• •Only learning the forms, not the law
• •Not understanding capacity assessment
• •Missing important certificate provider issues
• •Not knowing when to refuse to act

What good LPA training includes:

• •Comprehensive legal framework
• •Practical case studies
• •Form completion guidance
• •Problem-solving scenarios
• •Ongoing support for queries

Our training: LPAs are a core part of our estate planning curriculum, not an afterthought.

LPAs significantly increase your earning potential as an estate planner. For detailed earnings information, see our Estate Planner Salary Guide:

Typical LPA fees:

• •Single LPA: £150-250
• •Pair of LPAs (Health + Finance): £250-400
• •LPA package with will: £450-700

Impact on average transaction:

• •Will only: £200-300
• •Will + 2 LPAs: £500-700
• •Will + 2 LPAs per person (couple): £800-1,200

That's 2-3x higher revenue per client interaction.

Conversion rates:

When properly explained, 60-80% of will clients also want LPAs. This isn't "upselling" - it's providing complete service.

Annual impact:

• •100 will-only clients at £250 = £25,000
• •Same 100 clients with 70% taking LPAs at £600 average = £52,000

The key: Being skilled in LPAs isn't optional for successful estate planners.