May I ask how many lasting powers of attorney (LPA) have been executed since the fateful closing date for enduring powers of attorney (EPAs) - 30 September 2007?


My small practice used to offer EPAs and living wills (the latter we can still offer) as an add-on to wills, and clients generally seemed happy to pay a reasonable fee for them, which basically covered time but also fostered enormous goodwill.



Clients' eyes now glaze over with horror when I warn that the cost of an LPA, including the reading and explaining of the endless bumf that comes with it, cannot be less than £1,000 in addition to the registration fee and VAT. I have spoken with local practitioners about this. We all did our fair share of EPAs for clients who appreciated their value but nobody has owned up to doing LPAs. I wonder why? Is this sub-prime legislation?



Lindsay J Keith, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex