End of Life Library
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Lasting power of attorney and wills

A lasting power of attorney lets you choose people you trust to make decisions for you if you cannot make them yourself. There are two types: health and welfare, and property and financial affairs. A will lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after you die. Without one, the law decides. (GOV.UK, GOV.UK)

This page follows GOV.UK guidance for England and Wales. A lasting power of attorney is only legally binding in England and Wales, and wills have different rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Signposting, not medical adviceSources checked 28 September 2026

Lasting power of attorney

The health and welfare type covers things like daily routine, medical care, moving into a care home and life-sustaining treatment. It can only be used when you cannot make your own decisions. (GOV.UK)

The property and financial affairs type covers things like bank accounts, paying bills, collecting a pension and selling your home. It can be used as soon as it is registered, with your permission. (GOV.UK)

You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity when you make it. You choose your attorneys, fill in the forms, and register it with the Office of the Public Guardian. Registration takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes, and costs £92 unless you get a reduction or exemption. (GOV.UK)

Making a will

You can write your will yourself, but get advice if it is not straightforward. It must be formally witnessed and signed to be legally valid. To change it later, you make an official alteration, called a codicil, or write a new will. (GOV.UK)

Getting help

For help deciding whether to make a lasting power of attorney, contact the Office of the Public Guardian on 0300 456 0300. (GOV.UK)

Related pages

If you need help now

If someone's life is in danger, call 999. If you need medical help urgently and are not sure what to do, call 111 (NHS 111 in England and Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, nidirect explains where to get urgent help.

If someone has just died
If the death was expected, at home
Contact their GP. If community nurses have been visiting, call them too: they can verify the death. Outside surgery hours, contact the on-call doctor.
If the death was unexpected
Call 999 straight away and explain what has happened. The police will also be told, because the coroner needs to know.

Sources: NHS: when to call 999 · NHS: when to use 111 · Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust · nidirect: when someone dies at home

Sources

Further reading from the library

346.05organisation

Marie Curie: Terminal illness benefits and finances

Index page: all of Marie Curie's guidance on money and work. Information about benefits and finances for people who're ill and their carers, including who can claim and how much you might get.

Marie CuriecharityUKVerified 27 Sept 2026
346.05guide

Lasting Power of Attorney

It's important to consider Power of Attorney when living with a terminal illness. It allows you to appoint someone you trust to handle your affairs.

Marie CuriecharityUKVerified 27 Sept 2026
346.05guide

Making a decision for someone else

The law in England and Wales says if someone cannot make a decision for themselves the decision needs to be made by someone else. The person making the decision must act in the person's best interests.

Compassion in DyingcharityEngland · WalesVerified 27 Sept 2026
346.05guide

What to do if someone dies abroad

The steps you must take when someone dies - register a death, report a death with Tell Us Once, coroners, funerals and death abroad.

GOV.UKofficialEngland · WalesVerified 27 Sept 2026