The UK government’s LPA service provides solicitors and organisations such as banks with limited access to your lasting power of attorney. To do this, they need an activation key. This means they do not have to send paper versions or attend in person. Here, we explain the key and its uses.
When was the government service launched?
It was launched in 2020 and is a new way of sharing information about an LPA with third parties. Latest figures show 2m LPAs are currently registered.
What are the benefits of an activation key?
It is a big improvement on the previous system involving certified documents which had to be sent to everyone who needs to see the LPA, such as solicitors, health providers or banks. It also fits in with the modern method of creating an LPA online. If you do not already have a lasting power of attorney, you can look for information online to find firms who specialise in this area, such as powerofattorneyonline.co.uk/.
Where can I see my activation key?
Your LPA activation key is given to you by the OPG when they confirm that your lasting power of attorney has been registered. You will receive it automatically for LPAs registered after the 17th July 2020. Then the organisations who need to can see a synopsis.
What happens if I misplace my LPA activation key?
You should always keep the information in a safe place, but if it is lost, you can ask for a replacement or new code, if registered after 1st January 2016.