Can I Fast-Track a Lasting Power of Attorney Application?
Can I Fast-Track a Lasting Power of Attorney Application?
No.
That’s it. That could be the end of the blog.
Normally, I’d write an introduction, describe what a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is, get into the main body of the blog, and finish with a tidy conclusion. But this is so important that I just wanted to put the answer right at the top. Maybe it could even win the shortest blog in the world competition if there is such a thing.
I’m writing this because I think it’s essential to be accurate and know facts. I have recently seen ads which are misleading because they suggest there is a way to somehow fast track or expediate LPAs – almost a special way in to registration. People can be vulnerable to misleading claims, and I want to clarify what can and can’t be done in relation to time frames.
The Process - What Really Happens
When you create a Lasting Power of Attorney — whether you do it yourself online, through someone like me, or with a solicitor — it all goes through exactly the same process.
You choose your attorneys.
The forms are completed and signed.
People are notified, if necessary.
Then the forms are submitted to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for formal checking and registration.
The Office of the Public Guardian receive around 5,000 LPAs a day, all of which have to be scanned on to the system. Once scanned each LPA will go through four stages (assuming there are no extra glitches). These are:
Waiting → Received → Checking → Processed
From start to finish is currently taking around 10 weeks – down from 20 weeks during COVID but not yet at the pre COVID time frame of closer to 8 weeks.
There is a four-week statutory waiting period built into this process. By law, that must happen — it cannot be shortened or skipped.
At the moment, the current average time from submission to registration is around 10 weeks. That’s the OPG’s processing time, not something that can be influenced or “fast-tracked” by anyone, no matter how the application is prepared.
The stages every Lasting Power of Attorney will go through once received by the Office of the Public Guardian
What Can Be Sped Up
There are parts of the process that you can do quickly:
Drafting the documents: This depends on how fast decisions are made and how much discussion is needed.
Signing the documents: This can be arranged swiftly — or it can take time if multiple people need to coordinate.
Those stages are within our control. That’s what people sometimes mean by “fast-tracking” – doing the pre-registration stage efficiently.
But once the forms reach the Office of the Public Guardian, the timeline is the same for each application – there is no special by pass or fast route.
The Bottom Line
If you see offers claiming to “fast-track” your LPA registration, be cautious. Yes, the preparation can be done quickly, but the official registration process cannot be expedited.
A Final Word - Don’t Wait Until It’s Urgent
The best way to avoid any anxiety about timescales is simple: don’t wait.
LPAs are designed to be created ahead of time, while everything is calm and clear – something I call for in Lasting Power of Attorney: Planning for just in case
That way, when you need it, it’s already in place — and there’s no reason to even think about “fast-tracking.”
If you’d like to get started or talk through your options contact me today.
If you want to find out more about what a Lasting Power of Attorney is, you can read “Is it necessary for me to have a Lasting Power of Attorney as I am fit and health and I have capacity. My wife and daughter are my next of kin and would speak for me……wouldn’t they?”
To find out more about my Lasting Power of Attorney service, Advance Care Planning Education or support for people facing a life changing diagnosis, contact me
If you have received in formation from any of the content and would like to support my ongoing work, head to Buy me a coffee – thank you.
