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Who can be a certificate provider?

Last updated 22 August 2026

A certificate provider must either have known the donor personally for at least 2 years and be 18 or over, or have relevant professional skills. Many people are disqualified, including family members and attorneys.

The two routes

Under SI 2007/1253 regulation 8, a certificate provider qualifies either by personal knowledge of the donor for at least 2 years and being 18 or over, or by having relevant professional skills: a registered healthcare professional, barrister, solicitor, advocate, registered social worker, or Independent Mental Capacity Advocate.

Who is disqualified

A family member of the donor; an attorney or replacement attorney under this LPA or any other LPA or EPA of the donor; a family member of any attorney; a director or employee of a trust corporation appointed as attorney; a business partner or employee of the donor or of any attorney; an owner, director, manager or employee of the care home the donor lives in; and a family member of any of those care home people.

Common mistakes

The OPG says a certificate provider cannot be the son or daughter of anyone involved, even if the surname is different. A neighbour of 18 months does not meet the 2-year test. A certificate provider can also act as a witness, provided they are 18 or over and not an attorney.

Frequently asked questions

Can my GP be my certificate provider?

Yes, a GP is a registered healthcare professional and qualifies on professional skills. Some surgeries charge for this.

Can the certificate provider also be a witness?

Yes, provided they are 18 or over and not an attorney.

Related guides

Can a family member be my certificate provider?Can an attorney witness the donor's signature?

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LPA Check is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or any approved regulator under the Legal Services Act 2007. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any government department. We do not provide legal advice. We do not hold professional indemnity insurance.

Our service is a document check. We review your answers against the Office of the Public Guardian's published requirements and the Lasting Powers of Attorney, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Public Guardian Regulations 2007. We do not assess mental capacity. Capacity is a matter for the certificate provider. We are not your certificate provider and cannot act as one.

The OPG registration fee (currently £92 per LPA) is payable to the OPG and is not included in our fee.

Because we are not regulated by the SRA, you do not have access to the Legal Ombudsman or the SRA Compensation Fund. Your statutory rights and the small claims process are unaffected. Our complaints procedure is here.

Information correct as at 22 August 2026. Forms, fees and OPG processing times change. Always check GOV.UK.

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