Your LPA has been registered. Now what do you actually need to do next?

A lot of people are unsure about how to proceed at this point. There's talk of 'LPA activation' and online services and access codes, and it can feel unnecessarily complicated. It isn't. This guide walks you through exactly what you need to do, and when.

What Does 'LPA Activation' Actually Mean?

It means two different things, and knowing which one people are asking about matters.

The first is the government's optional online service, which lets you share proof of your LPA digitally with banks, the NHS, and other organisations. Quick, convenient, worth doing. More on this below.

The second, and the one that really matters, is when you can start making decisions under the LPA. That answer depends on which type of LPA you have, and what's written inside it.

Registered Doesn't Always Mean You Can Act Yet

This is one of the most common misunderstandings we see. Registration with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is essential, you can't use an LPA that hasn't been registered. But registration alone doesn't mean you have authority to act straightaway.

Property and Financial Affairs LPA

When the donor (the person creating the LPA) made their LPA, they had a choice. They could allow attorneys to start acting immediately after registration, even while the donor still has full mental capacity or only once they lose mental capacity. This choice is recorded in section 5 of the document.

Before you do anything, check section 5. If you're not sure what it says, you can contact our team on 020 4525 3605 for support.

Health and Welfare LPA

This one is more straightforward. You can only ever use a Health and Welfare LPA once the donor has lost mental capacity - full stop. There's no option to act earlier, regardless of what the document says.

That means even with the registered document in your hands, attorneys have no legal authority to make healthcare or care decisions while the donor can still make those decisions themselves.

The OPG's Online Activation Service: Useful, But Not Compulsory

When the OPG registers an LPA, both the donor and the attorneys receive a letter. It contains an LPA reference number and an activation key. These two things let you add the LPA to the government's online 'Use a Lasting Power of Attorney' service.

Once you've done that, you can generate a unique access code to share with a bank, the Department for Work and Pensions, or anyone else who needs to verify your authority. They check the code against the government platform. No original document required.

You don't have to do this. The LPA is just as valid without it. But if you're going to be using it regularly, for example you’re managing a parent's finances across multiple accounts, for instance, setting this up now will save you a lot of time and hassle down the line.

Original LPAs are bulky and can get lost. It costs money to get certified copies produced. The online service is free and takes about ten minutes to set up so it’s definitely worth doing.

How to Activate Your LPA Online: Step by Step

Here's exactly what to do:

1. Find the letter from the OPG. It'll contain your LPA reference number and your activation key. You need both.
2. Go to www.gov.uk and search for 'Use a Lasting Power of Attorney'. Create an account, or sign in if you already have one.
3. Enter the reference number and activation key. The LPA will appear in your account.
4. When you need to share it with an organisation, generate an access code from your account. These are time-limited, you'll create a new one each time.
5. Give the code and your own ID to the organisation. They'll verify it using the same government platform.

If you can’t find the letter from the OPG and you are an Octopus Legacy customer, please contact us by emailing [email protected].

If you’re not an Octopus Legacy customer then contact the OPG directly, they can reissue your reference number and activation key.

If You're Not Using the Online Service

You'll need to show the original registered LPA, or a certified copy. A certified copy is a physical copy verified as genuine by the donor, one of the attorneys, or a solicitor.

Most organisations will also ask for proof of your own identity. Bring photo ID and proof of address. Banks in particular have their own internal processes for logging an LPA, and some will ask to keep a copy. You're within your rights to ask for it back once they've noted what they need.

When Can An Attorney Actually Start Making Decisions?

This is where it gets important. And where many attorneys get it wrong.

Mental capacity isn't a switch. Someone can have full capacity in some areas of their life while struggling in others. They can have good days and difficult days. A diagnosis doesn't automatically end someone's right to make their own decisions, and you shouldn't assume it does.

If there's any doubt about whether the donor has capacity in relation to a particular decision, ask their GP or another medical professional to carry out a capacity assessment. Document what they say. Don't make that call alone.

Your role as attorney is to support the donor in making their own decisions wherever possible, not to take over. That's one of the core principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and it applies every time you act.

Your Responsibilities Once You Start Acting

Being someone's attorney is a real responsibility. Attorneys have a legal obligation to:

• Act in the donor's best interests. Always. Regardless of whether it’s convenient for you or anyone else.
• Respect their wishes, values and beliefs, even when they differ from your own.
• Keep their money completely separate from yours.
• Keep clear records of every decision and financial transaction you make on their behalf.
• Only act within the scope of the LPA. If there are restrictions or joint-decision requirements, stick to them.

If you're ever unsure whether something falls within your authority, take legal advice before you act. Good intentions don't protect you if you've acted outside your powers.

Things Attorneys Can to Do Now, Before They Need to Act

If you’ve been appointed as an Attorney we recommend that you do the following, long before it’s needed:

• Read the LPA. Note any specific instructions, restrictions or preferences the donor has included. They're legally binding.
• Talk to the donor. While they still have capacity, have a proper conversation about their wishes: how do they want their money managed? What does good care look like for them? Write it down.
• If there are other attorneys, talk now about how you'll make decisions together, and who handles what day to day.
• If the LPA has been registered: Set up the OPG online service now, so you're not hunting for the activation key in the middle of a crisis.
• If the LPA has been registered: Get certified copies made and store them somewhere separate from the original.

Common Questions About LPA Activation

Do I have to activate the LPA before I can use it?

No. The online activation service is optional. Your LPA is legally valid as soon as it's registered by the OPG. Activating it online just makes it easier to share proof of your authority digitally.

I've lost the OPG letter. What do I do?

If you’re an Octopus Legacy customer: Email us on [email protected] we can share your reference number and activation key with you.

If you’re not an Octopus Legacy customer: Contact the OPG. They can reissue your reference number and activation key. In the meantime, your original registered document is still valid proof of authority.

Can I start using the LPA while the donor still has capacity?

Only for a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, and only if section 5 of that document gives you this permission. A Health and Welfare LPA can never be used before the donor has lost mental capacity.

How do I know if the donor has lost mental capacity?

Don't decide this alone. Ask the donor's GP or another medical professional to carry out a capacity assessment for the specific decision at hand. Document the outcome. This protects everyone, including you.

Can I use a UK LPA abroad?

Sometimes. Some countries will recognise a UK-registered LPA, but most have their own requirements. You'll likely need an apostille to certify its authenticity (this is a way of making a government certificate in one country legally valid and recognised in another), and a translation may be required. Take local legal advice before relying on it overseas.

Need Help? We're Here.

Whether you've just received a registered LPA and want to know what comes next, or you're already navigating a difficult situation, getting proper legal advice means we can help you act with confidence.

Call us: 020 4525 3605
Email: [email protected]