The Office of the Public Guardian and the Court of Protection aims to deal with all applications as soon as possible.
However volumes of LPAs and EPAs received for registration are much higher than estimates predicted and as such we are experiencing some delays in processing . Extra resources have been brought in to tackle these delays and improvements are already being seen.
In order to help you understand how long your application may take we have set out below our current application timescales. Using the following links you can obtain up to date information on the service the OPG is currently providing if you have made an:
- Application to register Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Application to register Enduring Powers of Attorney
It is important to bear these timescales in mind before chasing your application with the Customer Services Team.
This information was updated on 28th July 2008
Applications to register Lasting Powers of Attorney - Recieved after the 14th July 2008
- If we have receive an application to register an LPA after the14th July 2008 and it contains no errors we are currently registering it within 8 weeks of receipt, this includes the 6 week statutory waiting period.
- If we receive an application to register an LPA after the 14th July 2008 but it contains errors or omissions we are currently informing the applicant within 1 week of receipt of the application.
Lasting Power of Attorney application volumes
Last month the Office of the Public Guardian received 5,168 new applications to register an LPA (3,708 Property and affairs and 1,460 Health and Welfare)
Applications to register Lasting Powers of Attorney - Received before the 14th July 2008
- If we received an application to register an LPA before the 14th July 2008 and it contained no errors we are currently registering it within 12 weeks of receipt, this includes the 6 week statutory waiting period.
- If we received an application to register an LPA before the 14th July 2008 but it did contain errors or omissions we are currently informing the applicant within 12 weeks of receipt of the application.
Applications to register Enduring Power of Attorney - Received within three weeks of the applicant notifying relatives
The statutory waiting period for an EPA begins from the date the applicant notifies relatives.
- Providing the application contains no errors or omissions and we receive no objections we are currently registering it within 1 week of the end of the statutory waiting period.
Applications to register an Enduring Power of Attorney - Received after three weeks of the applicant notifying relatives
The statutory waiting period for an EPA begins from the date the applicant notifies relatives.
- Providing the application contains no errors or omissions and we receive no objections we are currently registering it within 3 weeks of receiving the application.
Applications to registser an Enduring Power of Attorney that contain errors or omissions
- If we receive an application to register an EPA but it contains errors or omissions we are currently informing the applicant within 2 weeks of receipt of the application.
Enduring Power of Attorney application volumes
Last month the Office of the Public Guardian received 1,694 applications to register an EPA.