LPA vs Ordinary Power of Attorney: Key Differences Explained

LPA vs Ordinary Power of Attorney: What's the Difference?

People often confuse Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) with ordinary Power of Attorney. While both allow someone to act on your behalf, they serve very different purposes. Understanding the difference could save you and your family from serious problems.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Ordinary Power of Attorney	Lasting Power of Attorney

Continues if you lose capacity	No	Yes
Must be registered	No	Yes (with OPG)
Covers healthcare decisions	No	Yes (Health & Welfare type)
Can be used immediately	Yes	Yes (Property & Financial)
Cost	Lower	Higher but better protection
Typical use	Temporary, specific tasks	Long-term protection

What is an Ordinary Power of Attorney?

An Ordinary Power of Attorney (sometimes called a General Power of Attorney) lets someone act on your behalf for specific purposes or a limited time.

Common Uses:

Selling a property when you'll be abroad
Managing affairs during a temporary illness
Handling a specific transaction
Business matters when unavailable

Key Limitation:

An Ordinary Power of Attorney automatically ends if you lose mental capacity.

This is the critical difference. The moment you can no longer make decisions for yourself, an Ordinary Power of Attorney becomes invalid.

Example Scenario:

You give your daughter an Ordinary Power of Attorney to sell your house while you're on a year-long trip. If during that year you have a stroke and lose capacity, the Power of Attorney immediately becomes void. She cannot complete the sale.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is designed specifically to continue working—or only start working—when you lose mental capacity.

Two Types:

Property & Financial Affairs - Your finances and property

Health & Welfare - Healthcare and personal decisions

Key Features:

Continues after you lose capacity
Must be registered with the OPG before use
More safeguards built in
Long-term protection

Why Does the Difference Matter?

Scenario 1: Planning for Old Age

You're 65 and want protection if you develop dementia.

Ordinary POA: Useless—it ends when dementia affects your capacity
LPA: Perfect—it continues working when needed most

Scenario 2: Short-term Convenience

You're going abroad for 3 months and need someone to handle a property sale.

Ordinary POA: May be suitable for this specific, time-limited task
LPA: Would also work, but may be more than you need

Scenario 3: Sudden Illness or Accident

You have a serious accident and can't manage your affairs.

Ordinary POA: If you already had one, it's now void
LPA: If you already had one registered, your attorney can immediately act

Which Do You Need?

You Need an LPA If:

You want long-term protection
You're planning for potential incapacity
You want healthcare decisions covered
You want security for your family's future

An Ordinary POA Might Suffice If:

You need someone to act for a specific, short-term task
You'll definitely have capacity throughout
You only need financial matters handled briefly
It's a one-off transaction

Our Recommendation:

For most people, an LPA is the better choice. The additional protection far outweighs the slightly higher cost. An Ordinary Power of Attorney leaves you exposed to exactly the scenario you're trying to protect against.

Can You Have Both?

Yes. Some people have:

An Ordinary POA for immediate, specific needs
An LPA registered and ready for future incapacity

However, once you have an LPA registered, you typically don't need an Ordinary POA—your attorney can already act (for Property & Financial Affairs) with your consent.

Converting Ordinary POA to LPA

You cannot convert an existing Ordinary Power of Attorney to an LPA. They're different documents. You would need to:

Create a new LPA

The Ordinary POA can remain valid for current use

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Thinking Ordinary POA is Enough

Many people create an Ordinary POA thinking it protects them long-term. It doesn't.

Mistake 2: Not Registering LPA

An LPA must be registered before it can be used. An unregistered LPA is just paper.

Mistake 3: Waiting Too Long

You cannot create an LPA after losing capacity. Plan ahead.

Mistake 4: Confusing the Two

Banks and institutions know the difference. Don't expect an Ordinary POA to work when you need an LPA.

Costs

Type

Creation Cost

Registration

Ordinary POA	£50-200	Not required
LPA (myLPA)	£74-140	£82 per LPA

The LPA costs more but provides essential protection the Ordinary POA cannot.

Summary

Ordinary POA: Temporary, ends with incapacity, limited use
LPA: Long-term, continues with incapacity, comprehensive protection

For peace of mind and genuine protection, an LPA is what most people need.

Create Your LPA Today →