How to Certify an LPA Copy Yourself in England

Solicitor blogs often imply that only a legal professional can certify a copy of a registered LPA. That is not true while the donor still has capacity: the donor can certify their own copies for free. If the donor has lost capacity, a solicitor or a person authorised to carry out notarial activities can certify a copy.

A certified copy is useful when a bank, care home, or solicitor wants paper documentation but you do not want to hand over the stamped original. If the original is lost or destroyed, the OPG can provide an office copy for £35, so a fresh LPA application is not required solely to replace it.

The Exact Wording to Use

Photocopy every page of the registered LPA, including the OPG's registration stamps. On each page, write the following certification statement:

"I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney."

Sign and date the statement on each page. Print your full name below the signature.

On the final page of the copy, add an additional statement confirming that the entire document is a true and complete copy. This final-page statement should read:

"I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney."

Who Can Certify

The donor can certify copies while they have mental capacity. This is the simplest option — do it immediately after receiving the stamped original back from the OPG and make several certified copies at once.

If the donor has lost capacity, ask a solicitor or a person authorised to carry out notarial activities to certify a copy.

When a Professional Certification Is Better

Some institutions — particularly solicitors handling property transactions and overseas banks — may insist on a copy certified by a legal professional. In these cases, a solicitor or a person authorised to carry out notarial activities can certify the copy; they may charge a fee.

For property transactions involving HM Land Registry, the original, a sufficient copy certified by the donor, solicitor, notary public, stockbroker, or chartered legal executive, or a valid OPG summary sheet may be accepted; check the current HM Land Registry requirements for the transaction.

If the LPA will be used abroad, professional certification combined with an apostille (from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) provides the strongest evidence of authenticity. Self-certified copies are unlikely to be accepted by foreign institutions.

The Digital Alternative

For most everyday situations — registering the LPA with a bank, sharing it with a GP surgery, or showing it to a care home — you do not need a paper copy at all. The OPG's "Use an LPA" service generates a 13-character access code that allows any organisation to verify the LPA online. This is faster, carries no risk of losing the original, and is free.

The Lasting Power of Attorney guide includes the full certification process alongside a step-by-step walkthrough of setting up digital access codes for banks and healthcare providers.

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