As of March 2024, there are over eight million registered powers of attorney—comprising both Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs)—on the register maintained by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in England and Wales. This figure reflects the cumulative total of all registrations to date.

In the 2023–2024 financial year, the OPG received approximately 1.37 million applications to register powers of attorney, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s 1.07 million applications. This surge is attributed to factors such as the introduction of online application processes, which have streamlined and expedited the registration procedure.

Despite the increased volume of applications, the OPG has made strides in reducing processing times. By March 2024, the average time to register and dispatch LPAs and EPAs had decreased to 76 working days, down from 91 working days in the previous year. However, this still exceeds the pre-pandemic target of 40 working days.

The growing number of registered powers of attorney underscores the importance of these legal instruments in planning for future health and financial decision-making, particularly in the context of an aging population and increased awareness of conditions like dementia