Where and who should have copies of your LPA
Your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legally binding document once registered. If it gets lost, damaged, or is difficult to find when you want it desperately, this stress can come at the worst possible moment. Minimal storage keeps things both safe and functional.
Where to store the original
Your original registered LPA should be stored in a cool, dry place and easily accessible to you. A home safe, locked filing cabinet, or secure document box is generally better than a loft or garage (damp and temperature changes can be detrimental to paper). If you use a solicitor or will writer, they may provide secure storage, but make sure that it is easily accessible. For Power of Attorney Hertfordshire, contact https://beesandco.com/our-services/power-of-attorney/hertfordshire
Who should have copies?
Especially with a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, which banks and providers are likely to want sight of, your attorneys should receive a copy. Distribute a copy to:
A loved one who is not an attorney (to serve as alternate)
A copy for your accountant or financial advisor (if any)
Attorneys – in some circumstances (Health and Welfare LPA)
Certified copies: what matters
An ordinary photocopy will be refused by gatekeepers at many institutions. Certified copies (correctly signed to prove they are true copies) are accepted. It might save time to have a handful of those ready when dealing with banks, pensions, or utility companies.
Digital backups
Take a snap of LPA and keep it safe (put the photo in password-protected cloud storage or encrypted drive). While a scan might not always stand in for an official copy, it is good to have one on hand as a quick reference.
Pro tip: Just communicate now from the start where the original is and how to get it. A secure document that can never be located is scarcely a benefit.












