Over 50,000 Lasting Power of Attorney Applications Rejected in a Year: How to Avoid Costly Mistakes

More than 50,000 applications to register a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) were rejected by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in the 2023–2024 financial year. That's tens of thousands of people who not only lost time but also money—potentially compromising their ability to safeguard future decision-making arrangements.

At Parachute Law, we help clients navigate the LPA process with confidence. In this article, we’ll break down what went wrong in those 50,000+ applications and share our solicitor-approved tips for getting it right the first time.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you (the donor) to appoint someone you trust (your attorney) to make decisions on your behalf should you lose mental capacity in the future.

There are two types of LPA in England and Wales:

• Property and Financial Affairs LPA – covers decisions about bank accounts, managing income and benefits, paying bills, and selling or managing property.
   
• Health and Welfare LPA – covers decisions about your daily care, medical treatment, and living arrangements.
   

You must have full mental capacity when creating an LPA, and it must be registered with the OPG before it can be used.

50,918 LPA Applications Rejected in 2023–2024

Data from a Freedom of Information request submitted to the Ministry of Justice reveals that 50,918 applications were rejected by the OPG in the last tax year alone.

Of these:

• 30,180 were for Property and Financial Affairs
   
• 20,738 were for Health and Welfare
   

This marks a sharp increase compared to previous years, with the rejection trend clearly rising:

Every rejected application means wasted time, lost money, and delays in establishing crucial legal protections.

What Happens When Your LPA is Rejected?

To register an LPA, the OPG charges:

• £82 per document (one for each type of LPA)
   
• £164 in total if registering both types
   

If your application contains a mistake, the OPG will return it for correction. If you fail to resubmit within three months, you'll need to start from scratch and pay a reduced re-application fee of £41 per LPA.

But it’s not just about fees. Rejected applications delay registration by weeks—or even months—which can be a serious problem if the donor suddenly loses mental capacity during the delay.

Even worse, some LPAs are registered despite hidden errors that render them unusable in practice. For example, a simple typo in an attorney's name—“Carol” instead of “Carole”—might go unnoticed by the OPG but still cause problems when the LPA is presented to banks or care providers.

How Long Does It Take to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Government figures show that more than 1.16 million LPAs were registered in 2023, a 37% increase over the previous year. While this shows growing awareness, it has also increased strain on the OPG.

In 2023–24:

• The average processing time was 76 working days (15 weeks)
   
• In 2022–23, it was 91 working days (18 weeks)
   
• The OPG’s target is 40 working days (8 weeks)
   

Even without errors, you could be waiting nearly four months for your LPA to be registered. Any mistakes will add further delays.

Avoiding Rejection: The Essential Dos and Don’ts

Registering an LPA is not a box-ticking exercise—it requires careful attention to legal detail. Based on common errors, here’s our essential checklist to get your LPA right the first time:

DO: Use Full Legal Names

Always use the full name as it appears on the person’s official ID or passport. Avoid initials, abbreviations, or nicknames. If there’s a mismatch later (e.g., “Jon Smith” instead of “Jonathan Andrew Smith”), banks or care providers may reject the LPA.

DO: Get the Signature Order Right

Timing and order matter. The correct signing sequence is:

1. Donor
    
2. Certificate provider
    
3. Attorneys
    
4. Person submitting the application
    

If the LPA is not signed in this order—or if dates appear out of sync—the application will be rejected.

DO: Check Eligibility of Witnesses

Your witness must:

• Be 18 or over
   
• Not be an attorney in the same LPA
   
• Not be a relative of the donor or attorney
   

Mistakes here are a common rejection reason. And remember: each signature must be witnessed separately.

DO: Use the Correct Forms

There are two distinct forms:

• LP1F – for Property and Financial Affairs
   
• LP1H – for Health and Welfare
   

Using the wrong form or mixing pages from different versions will result in rejection. Always download the most recent forms from GOV.UK—or better, work with a solicitor who has access to up-to-date legal templates.

DON’T: Use Pencil or Correction Fluid

Only black or blue ink is permitted. If you make a mistake:

• Cross it out with a single line
   
• Write the correct information nearby
   
• Initial the correction
   

Correction fluid or tape will invalidate the form. Pencil is outright banned.

DON’T: Include Conflicting Instructions

Many donors want to set rules for how their attorneys act, but be careful not to contradict your own instructions. For example, if you say attorneys must act “jointly and severally” (i.e., together or independently), don’t include a clause requiring a majority vote on decisions. These contradictions can render the LPA unworkable or legally void.

DON’T: Skip a Thorough Review

Have someone you trust check the application—or ideally, a legal professional. Simple oversights like mismatched dates, missing pages, or unclear handwriting can cause rejection.

At Parachute Law, we offer a full solicitor-reviewed LPA service, ensuring every detail is compliant and properly prepared before submission.

Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Technically, no—you can draft an LPA yourself. But given the complexity and high rejection rates, legal help is highly recommended.

A solicitor can:

• Ensure your application is valid and current
   
• Spot hidden errors
   
• Help you tailor instructions and preferences that won’t conflict
   
• Handle registration on your behalf
   
• Reduce risk of rejection or legal complications later
   

Considering the potential costs and delays of errors, professional support is often a wise investment.

Why So Many Rejections?

The LPA process has grown more popular, but not necessarily easier. Many rejections stem from simple administrative mistakes, but others arise because people misunderstand the legal implications of what they’re writing.

The government is working on modernising the system—including proposals for digital LPAs—but for now, paper-based errors continue to cause unnecessary setbacks.

Final Thoughts: Take the Time to Get It Right

With over 50,000 rejected applications in just one year, it's clear the LPA process is trickier than many expect. But the cost of getting it wrong can be far greater than the effort required to get it right.

A well-drafted and correctly registered LPA gives you peace of mind that someone you trust can step in if you’re no longer able to make decisions for yourself. And with Parachute Law’s solicitor-reviewed LPA service, you don’t have to go it alone.

Need Help with a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Call Parachute Law today on 0207 183 4547

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