Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Lawyers in Singapore
An LPA lets you appoint a trusted person to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the mental capacity to do so yourself. We draft, certify, and submit LPAs for clients in Singapore.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal instrument made under Singapore’s Mental Capacity Act. It allows you (the donor) to appoint one or more donees to make decisions on your behalf if you lose the mental capacity to make those decisions yourself.
An LPA is different from a general Power of Attorney. A general POA typically covers one-off transactions while you still have capacity (for example, a property sale when you are overseas). An LPA only takes effect if and when capacity is lost, and covers two broad areas of decision-making:
- Personal welfare, including day-to-day care, medical treatment, and living arrangements
- Property and affairs, including bank accounts, CPF, insurance policies, and other assets
How JCP Law can help
We prepare both standard (LPA Form 1) and custom (LPA Form 2) LPAs. Form 1 is suitable for most people granting general authority to a trusted donee. Form 2 is used where more specific restrictions, conditions, or tailored powers are required, and must be drafted by a lawyer.
Every LPA must be certified by an accepted certificate issuer. As a practising law firm, we can:
- Advise on whether Form 1 or Form 2 is right for your situation
- Draft the document and any Form 2 restrictions you want included
- Act as the certificate issuer, certifying that you understand the LPA and are not acting under undue pressure
- Submit the LPA to the Office of the Public Guardian for registration
Who should consider an LPA
LPAs are not only for the elderly. Any adult aged 21 or above with mental capacity can make one. Clients commonly put an LPA in place alongside a will, as part of a broader estate plan, before surgery, or after a diagnosis that may affect capacity over time.
Frequently asked questions
When does an LPA take effect?
An LPA only takes effect once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian and a medical practitioner certifies that you have lost mental capacity. Until then, you continue to make all decisions yourself.
Can I appoint more than one donee?
Yes. You can appoint multiple donees and decide whether they must act jointly (together on every decision), jointly and severally (either can act), or jointly on some matters and severally on others. You can also name a replacement donee in case your first choice is unable to act.
What is the difference between Form 1 and Form 2?
Form 1 grants general powers to your donee and is sufficient for most people. Form 2 is used where you want to impose specific conditions, restrictions, or give tailored powers beyond the defaults. Form 2 must be prepared by a lawyer.
Can I revoke or change my LPA later?
Yes, provided you still have mental capacity. You can revoke an LPA, change your donees, or vary its terms by executing a new LPA or notice of revocation.
What happens if I do not have an LPA and lose capacity?
Your family would have to apply to court for a Deputyship Order under the Mental Capacity Act before anyone can manage your affairs. This process is more time-consuming and expensive than putting an LPA in place while you have capacity.
What clients say.
Highly Recommend! Professional and reliable~ JCP Law was incredibly professional and handled my complex "proxy collection" for me perfectly. Special thanks to Ms. Diana Seow for personally going to the university to collect my documents.
Extremely impressed with JCP Law's team, especially Ms. Kaeley. They completed a notarised deed poll with apostille and mailed it to me overseas, all in under a week. Exceptionally fast and efficient.
They accomodated all of my requests regarding my documents to be certified as true copy. The staff are very helpful and friendly, they even offered to send me the scanned copies of my documents with free of charge which made it more easier for me to submit my…
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