So, you’ve decided to make a power of attorney — well done! This simple document can save you and your family a huge amount of worry and work down the line. There’s just one thing left to consider: how much does a power of attorney cost?
Don’t worry. We’ve got a round up of all the fees involved here. Let’s take a look.
To calculate the cost of a power of attorney in the UK in 2020…
…There are two main fees to add up:
- The government’s registration fee (mandatory)
- Fees for a solicitor or PoA service (optional)
We’ll talk you through both below.
How much does it cost to get a power of attorney registered in the UK?
It typically costs £82 to register a single power of attorney in England or Wales. It’s £79 in Scotland and £151 in Northern Ireland.
Remember, there are two types of power of attorney:
You’ll have to pay the full fee for each one you get. So, in England or Wales, you’d pay £164 to get both types of power of attorney set up.
I can’t afford that. Can I get money off the cost to get power of attorney registered?
Yes! If you’re on a lower income, you can get the fee brought down. In England and Wales, a power of attorney costs £42 if you earn less than £12,000 a year. And the government will waive the fee entirely if you’re on these income-related benefits.
How much does power of attorney cost with a solicitor or PoA service?
It is possible to fill out the power of attorney forms yourself and submit them. But a lot of people prefer to get legal advice — this is especially important if you have more than one attorney or if you want to leave your attorneys instructions. The wrong wording can make your PoA unusable when the time comes.
So, how much does it cost to arrange a power of attorney with a legal professional?
Typically, a traditional solicitor charges between £200 and £400 for a power of attorney form. An online PoA service will charge less, and additionally let you sort everything out from home.
Before choosing a legal service to help you with your PoA, it’s a good idea to get quotes from one or two. And don’t forget to ask them if it is a fixed fee or an hourly rate.
Find out more
Now that you know the cost of obtaining power of attorney in the UK, why not check out our other guides? You can find out more about getting power of attorney here. And you can discover the cost of a last will and testament (another essential bit of life admin) here.