By The Ledger desk · Last verified 4 October 2026
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets anyone aged 21 or above (the donor) appoint one or more people (donees) to make decisions for them if they lose mental capacity. It is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Since 1 April 2026, the application fee for the standard LPA Form 1 is permanently free for Singapore citizens; permanent residents pay $90 and foreigners $230. Everyone still pays a certificate issuer, a doctor, lawyer or psychiatrist, to witness and certify the form. Without an LPA, your family must apply to court for a deputyship order before they can act for you.
Nobody plans to lose capacity, which is exactly why an LPA works best made early, while the choice is still yours.
Quick facts
- Who can make one: anyone 21 or older with mental capacity.
- Two areas of decision: personal welfare, and property and affairs.
- Form 1 grants general powers with basic restrictions; Form 2 is for customised powers and is drafted by a lawyer.
- Form 1 is free for Singapore citizens from 1 April 2026; certificate issuer fees are extra.
- Apply online through OPG Online with Singpass.
- About 404,000 citizens had registered an LPA as of February 2026, roughly one in seven.
What does an LPA let your donee do?
You choose which powers to give, and to whom. You can appoint the same person for both areas or different people for each, and you can name a replacement donee in case your first choice cannot act.
| Area | Typical decisions |
|---|---|
| Personal welfare | Where you live, your daily care, who you see and your social activities |
| Property and affairs | Your bank accounts, bills, investments, taxes and property |
Donees must be at least 21, and an undischarged bankrupt cannot be appointed for property and affairs. An LPA only takes effect when you lose mental capacity. It is not a will (which deals with your estate after death), and it does not let your donee make your will for you.
The fees, as of October 2026
| Applicant | LPA Form 1 | LPA Form 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore citizen | $0 (permanently waived from 1 April 2026) | $185 |
| Permanent resident | $90 | $230 |
| Foreigner | $230 | $275 |
| Cancelling a registered LPA | $28 | |
These are OPG’s application fees. The certificate issuer charges separately, and the waiver does not cover that fee or any lawyer’s fee for drafting Form 2. Doctors’ certification fees have been reported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development at roughly $24 to $60; lawyers and psychiatrists usually charge more, depending on complexity. Ask for the price when you book.
How to make an LPA, step by step
- Decide who your donees and any replacement donee will be, and ask them first.
- Fill in Form 1 on OPG Online with Singpass, following the steps it gives for you and your donees.
- Book a certificate issuer: an accredited doctor, a practising lawyer or a registered psychiatrist.
- Meet them in person. They confirm you understand the LPA and are not being pressured, then sign the certificate.
- The form goes to OPG, which generally registers it about three weeks later, unless a valid objection is raised.
- Tell your donees and family where the registered LPA can be found.
What happens if you don’t have one?
If you lose capacity without an LPA, being your spouse or child does not by itself give anyone legal authority to manage your money or make decisions for you. A family member has to apply to court under the Mental Capacity Act to be appointed your deputy, which takes time and involves its own procedures and costs, and the court, not you, decides who acts and with what powers. An LPA made today avoids that.
The WahLiao Verdict
If you are a Singapore citizen aged 21 or over, make a Form 1 LPA now: the government fee is gone, and the certificate issuer is a short appointment. Choose donees you trust with your bank account and your bedside, name a replacement, and tell them where it is filed. Pair it with a will and a CPF nomination, and your family is covered whether you are ill or gone.
Questions people ask
I’m young and healthy. Do I need an LPA?
Accidents and sudden illness do not check your age. An LPA can only be made while you have capacity, so making one early is the point.
Is the whole LPA free for citizens now?
Only the OPG application fee for Form 1. You still pay the certificate issuer, and Form 2 still carries a fee.
Does my LPA let my donee decide on medical treatment?
Treatment decisions have limits under the Mental Capacity Act. Check OPG’s guidance or speak to a lawyer if this matters to you, and consider an Advance Care Plan alongside the LPA.
Can I cancel or change it?
Yes, while you still have capacity. Cancelling a registered LPA costs $28; you then make a new one.
Sources: Office of the Public Guardian (MSF), what an LPA is and the certificate issuer’s role; Office of the Public Guardian, LPA fees table; MSF on Ask Gov, Form 1 fee waiver for citizens from 1 April 2026; MSF on Ask Gov, what the waiver does not cover. The Ledger explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Making a Will in Singapore · CPF Nominations · Back to The Ledger
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