How to Revoke or Change a Power of Attorney in the UK: Complete Guide

You can revoke a power of attorney at any time, for any reason, as long as you still have the mental capacity to make that decision. For a lasting power of attorney, you sign a written deed of revocation, send it with the original LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian, and tell your attorneys and any organisations that have relied on it. You cannot amend a registered LPA by crossing things out. If you want different attorneys or different instructions, you usually cancel it and make a new one.

The steps depend on which type of power of attorney you made. Most people today use lasting powers of attorney, but older enduring powers and short-term ordinary powers are still around, and they work differently.

Which type of power of attorney do you have?

Type	How the donor revokes it	Who needs to know
Lasting power of attorney, registered	Deed of revocation, sent with the original LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian	The Office of the Public Guardian, your attorneys, banks and others holding a copy
Enduring power of attorney, not registered	A signed and witnessed written revocation, ideally a deed	The attorney and anyone relying on it
Enduring power of attorney, registered	Court of Protection confirmation is needed	The court, the Office of the Public Guardian and the attorney
Ordinary power of attorney	Written notice or deed, and ask for the document back	The attorney and third parties such as banks

An ordinary power of attorney stops working if you lose mental capacity, which is the main reason people use LPAs instead. Our guide to the difference between ordinary and lasting powers explains why, and how enduring powers compare with lasting ones is useful if you hold an older document.

How to revoke a lasting power of attorney, step by step

If you have mental capacity, you can end your LPA yourself. GOV.UK sets out the process and the wording to use.

1. Check you can make this decision. You need to understand what revoking means and what follows from it.

2. Complete the deed of revocation using the GOV.UK wording. It must be signed by you and witnessed, and it must state which LPA you are cancelling and who the attorneys were.

3. Send the deed and the original LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian. Include any certified copies you hold, or explain if you no longer have them.

4. Tell your attorneys in writing that you have ended the LPA.

5. Tell the banks, care providers, GP surgery and anyone else who has a copy or has relied on the document.

6. Decide whether you need a replacement and start it straight away.

Say you appointed your brother as sole attorney years ago and you have since fallen out. You cannot just cross his name off and write in someone else. You revoke the original and make a new LPA, which is why it helps to set up an LPA early and review it when your circumstances change.

Can you remove just one attorney?

Yes, if your LPA is registered and you still have capacity. You send the Office of the Public Guardian a partial deed of revocation, with the original LPA, and tell your attorneys. The GOV.UK page on removing an attorney gives the wording.

There are two traps. You cannot add a new attorney to an existing LPA, so if you want to add someone you have to end the LPA and make a new one. Removing an attorney can also cause the whole LPA to fail if your attorneys were appointed to act jointly and there is no replacement who can step in. That is why how your attorneys make decisions together matters before you act.

What you want	What you do
Cancel the whole LPA	Deed of revocation, sent with the original LPA
Remove one attorney	Partial deed of revocation, with a risk to check first
Add an attorney	Cancel and make a new LPA
Change the instructions	Cancel and make a new LPA
Change your name	Tell the Office of the Public Guardian and send evidence such as a marriage certificate or deed poll
Change your address	Tell the Office of the Public Guardian; no evidence is usually needed
Attorney wants to step down	The attorney formally disclaims and the Office of the Public Guardian is told

Never alter the LPA document itself. GOV.UK warns that it may become invalid. If you are weighing up your options, our overview of how to amend or cancel a lasting power of attorney sets out the routes side by side.

What if you have lost mental capacity?

Once you lose capacity to make this specific decision, you cannot revoke an LPA yourself. Only the Court of Protection can then cancel it or remove an attorney, usually where the attorney has acted improperly, acted outside their authority or is no longer suitable.

Capacity is judged for each decision, so a diagnosis does not automatically take away your right to revoke. Someone with early dementia may still understand what revoking an LPA involves. Our guide to mental capacity and powers of attorney explains how this is assessed, and it is worth getting a professional view on capacity before you sign anything.

If you are worried about someone else’s attorney, you can report a concern to the Office of the Public Guardian. Our guides on who can override a power of attorney and what to do if an LPA is being misused cover the court route.

Revoking an enduring or ordinary power of attorney

You cannot make new enduring powers of attorney, but existing ones remain valid. If yours has not been registered, you can revoke it with a signed, witnessed written revocation and by telling your attorney and anyone relying on it. Once an enduring power has been registered, revocation needs confirmation from the Court of Protection.

For an ordinary power, send your attorney written notice, ask for the document back and tell any bank or organisation that has relied on it. Keep copies of everything you send.

Tell everyone who relies on the document

Revoking the power is one thing. Making sure nobody keeps acting on it is another. A bank or other third party that acts in good faith without knowing about the revocation may be protected, so the responsibility to tell them falls on you. Write to each one, enclose a copy of the deed or revocation notice and ask them to confirm in writing that they have updated their records.

Costs and timing

There is no standard GOV.UK fee listed simply for sending a deed of revocation. The cost to plan for is usually the replacement. Registering an LPA costs £92, so £184 if you register both types, with reductions or exemptions available for some people on low incomes. The Office of the Public Guardian says registration takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes.

That gap matters. Take advice on the order of steps so you are not left without cover while the new document is registered. Our guide to registering with the Office of the Public Guardian walks through the process.

When an LPA ends by itself

Some endings happen automatically. An LPA ends when the donor dies, and the executors or personal representatives take over, which is where wills and probate planning comes in. A spouse or civil partner’s appointment usually ends on divorce or dissolution unless the LPA says otherwise, so a review alongside family law advice is sensible.

An attorney who is bankrupt or subject to a debt relief order can no longer act under a property and financial affairs LPA, though different rules apply to health and welfare decisions. The Court of Protection can also remove an attorney. If an attorney is selling your home while an LPA is in place, our conveyancing solicitors can handle that transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Can you revoke a power of attorney without telling the attorney?

You should not. You need to tell your attorneys and anyone else who has relied on the document. Until they know, they may keep acting, and third parties acting in good faith may be protected.

Can you revoke a lasting power of attorney verbally?

No. A registered LPA must be revoked in writing by a deed of revocation, signed and witnessed.

Can an attorney revoke a power of attorney?

No. Only the donor can revoke it while they have capacity. An attorney can step down by formally disclaiming their appointment.

Does a lasting power of attorney work abroad?

An LPA made under the England and Wales system is designed for use in England and Wales. Other countries may not recognise it automatically, so cross-border advice is needed if assets, care arrangements or family members are overseas.

Get it right the first time

Revoking a power of attorney is simple in principle and easy to get wrong in practice, particularly when a replacement has to be in place without a gap. Athi Law can revoke an old document, prepare a new one and make sure the right people are told. We also help clients who live between the UK and another country, where immigration and cross-border planning questions often sit alongside an LPA. Contact us today to talk it through.