Use a lasting power of attorney

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Prove you're an attorney on a lasting power of attorney

Any company or organisation you deal with on behalf of the donor can ask you to prove you’re the attorney on a lasting power of attorney (LPA). You can:

  • let them view an online summary of the LPA
  • show them the original registered LPA
  • show them a certified copy of the LPA

They may also ask you to prove other details, such as:

  • your name, address and date of birth
  • the donor’s name or address
  • information the organisation uses, such as an account number

Check what proof they need, and how you should share this with them, before sending any documents.

Share an online summary of the LPA

If your LPA was registered on or after 1 January 2016, you can let companies and organisations view an online summary of the latest version of the LPA. 

You’ll need to sign in to your online account to generate an access code for each LPA.

Companies and organisations can use the access code to view a summary of your LPA which includes:

  • if it’s still valid and registered
  • the donor’s name, address and date of birth
  • the attorneys’ names, addresses and dates of birth
  • how decisions are made by the attorneys
  • the donor’s restrictions and conditions (sometimes known as ‘preferences and instructions’)

An access code is valid for 30 days from the day you create it. The code has 13 characters and starts with V.

If you give an organisation the wrong access code, they may not be able to verify decisions you can make as an attorney.

Using a paper version of the LPA

To prove you’re an attorney on the LPA, you can show a company or organisation the registered paper version or a certified copy of the LPA.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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