The short answer
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document under the Mental Capacity Act 2008 that lets a person aged 21 or above (the donor) appoint one or more trusted persons (donees) to make decisions on their behalf if they lose mental capacity. Without an LPA, your family cannot simply step in: they must apply to court to be appointed your deputy, a process that is slower, more expensive and more intrusive than making an LPA while you are well.
What decisions can my donee make?
An LPA can grant powers over two areas. Personal welfare covers decisions about where you live, your day-to-day care and your medical treatment. Property and affairs covers your bank accounts, property, investments and bills. You can appoint the same donee for both, or a different donee for each. You can also appoint more than one donee, either jointly, meaning they must act together, or jointly and severally, meaning each of them may act alone. Whichever powers you give, your donees must act in your best interests and follow the principles set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2008.
How do I make an LPA in Singapore?
- Choose your donees. They must be at least 21 years old. For property and affairs, a donee must not be an undischarged bankrupt.
- Complete LPA Form 1 (which suits most people) on the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) portal. Form 2 is for people who want to appoint more than two donees or more than one replacement donee, or who want customised powers. Form 2 must be drafted by a lawyer.
- See a certificate issuer. An accredited medical practitioner, practising lawyer or psychiatrist must witness and certify that you understand the LPA and are not under undue pressure.
- Submit the LPA for registration. It takes effect only after the Office of the Public Guardian registers it. Even then, your donees may act only if you lose capacity.
How much does an LPA cost in 2026?
The application fee is paid to the Office of the Public Guardian. It depends on which form you use and on your citizenship. The fee for Form 1 was permanently waived for Singapore citizens from 1 April 2026, and the remaining application fees were reduced from 1 May 2026. The current fees are:
- Form 1: free for Singapore citizens, S$30 for permanent residents and S$160 for foreigners.
- Form 2: S$30 for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, and S$160 for foreigners.
Every applicant also pays a professional fee to the certificate issuer, and that fee varies from provider to provider. Form 2 carries legal drafting fees on top.
What happens if I lose capacity without an LPA?
Your family must apply to court under the Mental Capacity Act 2008 for one or more persons to be appointed your deputy. A deputyship application takes months and involves legal and medical costs. It is the court, not your family, that decides who is appointed and what powers they are given. In the meantime your family has no authority to use your bank accounts or your property, even to pay for your own care. An LPA made early avoids all of this and keeps the choice of decision-maker in your hands.
Frequently asked questions
Can I revoke my LPA?
Yes. While you retain mental capacity you may revoke your LPA at any time by applying to the Office of the Public Guardian. An LPA also comes to an end automatically in certain situations, for example on the death of the donor or of a donee. Bankruptcy of the donor or of a donee ends the LPA so far as it relates to property and affairs.
Is an LPA the same as a will?
No. An LPA operates while you are alive but lack capacity; a will takes effect only on death. A complete estate plan usually includes both, plus CPF and insurance nominations, and for some clients an Advance Medical Directive.
Can a foreigner make a Singapore LPA?
Yes. It is often sensible for someone who has assets in Singapore, or who is living here long term, to do so.
When do my donee’s powers start?
Not when the LPA is registered. Your donees may act only when you are unable to make the particular decision yourself. Capacity is assessed decision by decision, and at the time the decision has to be made. A doctor is usually involved in that assessment. The starting point under the Mental Capacity Act 2008 is that you are presumed to have capacity unless it is established otherwise.
About the author
Johnathan Lee is an Advocate and Solicitor practising at Fong & Fong LLC, working in wills, probate, estate administration, Lasting Powers of Attorney and deputyship. Before he qualified, he was a funeral director in his family’s funeral business, and that experience shapes how he advises families in the weeks after a death.
He holds a Juris Doctor, awarded cum laude, from Singapore Management University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a second major in Communication Studies, awarded Second Class Upper Honours, from Nanyang Technological University. He teaches business negotiations at James Cook University, Singapore Campus, as a sessional associate educator.
Get your LPA done properly
Johnathan Lee advises on LPAs, acts as certificate issuer, drafts customised Form 2 LPAs, and handles deputyship applications where no LPA exists.
Johnathan Lee, Advocate & Solicitor · 21 Merchant Road #04-00 Unit 502 Singapore 058267
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. The law stated is as at July 2026. Fee figures are as published by the Office of the Public Guardian and may change.