More than 50,000 power of attorney applications rejected in last financial year

More than 50,000 applications for power of attorney were rejected in England and Wales during the financial year 2023/24, figures show.

Some 30,180 rejections were for financial lasting powers of attorney while 20,738 were for health and welfare powers of attorney, according to data obtained from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) by Hargreaves Lansdown.

A lasting power of attorney is a legal document allowing someone to nominate others to make decisions for them, which could be needed if they are ill, have an accident or end up having reduced mental capacity. Someone must have mental capacity when they make the lasting power of attorney.

A property and financial affairs power of attorney allows the person appointed to make financial decisions, and a health and welfare power of attorney means those nominated can make decisions about care.

In July, the OPG said that in 2023/24 it received 1.37 million applications to register powers of attorney, up from one million the previous year.

Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Drawing up and registering a lasting power of attorney can make an enormous difference for you and your loved ones if an accident or medical condition means you’re unable to make decisions for yourself.

“However, this is only true if your application succeeds.”

Ms Coles said mistakes to avoid when applying for a lasting power of attorney include misspelling names, signing in the wrong order, omitting information or giving illegible information, making sloppy corrections and making confusing or conflicting instructions.

Trying to add the “wrong type” of instructions could also cause problems, she added, such as adding financial instructions to a health and welfare lasting power of attorney.