It is important that you get this right otherwise you can invalidate the LPA.

The lasting power of attorney (LPA) must be signed in the following order:

• Donor
• Certificate provider
• Attorney(s)

The LPA form provides clear instructions about who is qualified to act as a witness.

Instructions for donor

• Read section 8 “Your legal rights and responsibilities” of the LPA.
• Complete any information that is missing from the LPA in black or blue ink. Remember to cross through any boxes or sections that do not apply. If you make any mistakes, correct them, initial the corrections and ask the witness to initial them.
• Read, sign and date section 9 in the presence of a witness.
• Read, sign and date any continuation sheets (for example, if you need to give details of additional attorneys, replacement attorneys or people to be notified) in form LPC.
• Ask the witness to sign and add his name and address in section 9.
• You need two witnesses if you are unable to sign or make a mark yourself. If so, use continuation sheet 3 in form LPC.

Instructions for certificate provider

• Read section 8 “Your legal rights and responsibilities” of the LPA.
• Complete section 10 with your name and address (if this is not completed already).
• Read the declaration in section 10 of the LPA.
• Sign and date section 10.

Instructions for attorney(s) and replacement attorney(s)

• Read section 8 “Your legal rights and responsibilities” of the LPA.
• Complete section 11 with your name and address (if this is not completed already).
• Read the declaration in section 11.
• Sign and date your section 11 page in the presence of a witness.
• Ask the witness to sign and add his name and address on your section 11 page.
• If you are signing on behalf of a trust corporation (as an attorney or a replacement attorney), sign continuation sheet 4 in form LPC. You must be authorised to sign on behalf of the trust corporation.

Instructions for registration

• If the LPA will be registered immediately, sections 12 to 14 of the form must also be completed. If the LPA will not be registered immediately, these sections are left blank.
• The donor or attorney (depending upon who is applying for registration) must sign section 15. If attorneys are appointed jointly and are applying for registration, they will all need to sign section 15.

For further details or to book an initial consulatation call or email Emma Crompton on 01708 757575 or Emma.Crompton@ker.co.uk or David Gregory on 01708 757575 or David.Gregory@ker.co.uk .

Kenneth Elliott + Rowe Enterprise House 18 Eastern Road Romford Essex RM1 3PJ