Continuation sheets are extra pages you add to a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) when something doesn't fit on the main form, such as a fifth attorney or longer instructions. There are four types. Each one must be signed and dated by the right person at the right time, and an unsigned or wrongly dated continuation sheet is one of the most common reasons an LPA is sent back.
Key Takeaways
- Continuation sheet 1 is for extra people: more attorneys, replacement attorneys or people to notify than the form has room for.
- Continuation sheet 2 is for extra wording, such as longer preferences and instructions, or explaining how your attorneys should make decisions.
- Continuation sheet 3 is used if you can't sign the LPA yourself. Continuation sheet 4 is only for appointing a trust corporation.
- You, the donor, must sign and date continuation sheets 1 and 2 at the same time as section 9, before the certificate provider signs.
- Every page must be sent to the Office of the Public Guardian, in order, including any continuation sheets.
This guide covers the current paper LPA forms used in England and Wales.
What are the four continuation sheets for?
| Continuation sheet | Use it when | Who signs it |
|---|---|---|
| 1: additional people | You want more attorneys, replacement attorneys or people to notify than the main form has room for | You, the donor |
| 2: additional information | Your preferences or instructions don't fit in the space on the form, or you need to explain how your attorneys should make decisions | You, the donor |
| 3: if the donor can't sign | You can't sign or make a mark, so someone signs on your behalf | The person signing for you, with two witnesses |
| 4: trust corporation | A trust corporation is one of your attorneys (Property and Financial Affairs LPAs only) | An authorised person at the trust corporation |
Most LPAs need no continuation sheets at all. The ones we see most often are sheet 1, for families with lots of children who all want to be attorneys, and sheet 2, for detailed instructions.
Continuation sheet 1: extra attorneys and people to notify
The main LPA form has room for four attorneys and two replacement attorneys. If you want more, each extra person goes on continuation sheet 1, with their name, date of birth and address, exactly as they'd appear in the main form.
Each extra attorney or replacement attorney still needs to sign their own attorney's statement, using a copy of the attorney signature page from the form, in front of a witness.
Continuation sheet 2: extra wording
Continuation sheet 2 is used when your preferences or instructions are too long for the space on the form. It's also used if you've chosen for your attorneys to act jointly for some decisions and jointly and severally for others, and you need to explain which decisions are which.
Keep your wording clear and simple. Instructions that the Office of the Public Guardian can't put into effect, or that contradict the way you've asked your attorneys to act, can cause the LPA to be rejected or a part of it to be removed. Our guide to why LPAs get rejected explains how this happens.
Continuation sheet 3: if you can't sign
If you can't sign your LPA, for example because of a physical disability, someone else can sign for you on continuation sheet 3. They must do so in front of you and two witnesses, who also sign. The person signing for you can't be one of your attorneys or replacement attorneys.
Continuation sheet 4: trust corporations
Continuation sheet 4 is only needed if you appoint a trust corporation, such as a bank's trust department, as an attorney on a Property and Financial Affairs LPA. Very few people do.
How do you sign continuation sheets correctly?
This is where most mistakes happen.
- Sign continuation sheets 1 and 2 at the same time as section 9. You, the donor, sign and date each continuation sheet straight after signing section 9, before anyone else signs anything.
- Make sure the dates are in the right order. Your signature on section 9 and the continuation sheets must come before the certificate provider's, and the certificate provider's before the attorneys'. If any date goes backwards, the LPA will be rejected.
- Fill in the page numbers and tick the right box. Each continuation sheet has boxes to show how many sheets there are and which part of the form it continues.
- Keep every page together, in order. Continuation sheets go at the end of the LPA. Send everything to the Office of the Public Guardian, including pages with nothing written on them.
Because continuation sheets come at the back of the form, it's easy to forget to sign them at the start. In our experience, it's one of the most common reasons an LPA comes back.
How our Signing Guide helps
Every LPA we prepare comes with a personalised Signing Guide. If your LPA has continuation sheets, the guide tells you to sign them straight after section 9, and shows each continuation sheet page with your signature and date boxes highlighted, in the order they need to be signed. See two sample pages (PDF, fictional names): the first page is the overview with the "who signs what" table, which lists the continuation sheet alongside section 9.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get continuation sheets?
They come with the LPA forms. When we prepare your LPA, we include any continuation sheets you need, already completed.
Do continuation sheets cost extra to register?
No. The Office of the Public Guardian's registration fee is £92 per LPA, however many continuation sheets it has.
Can I add a continuation sheet after my LPA has been signed?
No. Continuation sheets must be signed at the same time as section 9. If you need to add something afterwards, the LPA usually has to be signed again from the start.
Does a Health and Welfare LPA use the same continuation sheets?
Yes, continuation sheets 1, 2 and 3 work the same way for both types of LPA. Continuation sheet 4 is only for Property and Financial Affairs LPAs. Read about the difference between the two types of LPA.
The short version: sign them first, keep them together
If your LPA has continuation sheets, sign and date them straight after section 9, before anyone else signs, and send every page to the Office of the Public Guardian in order. Get that right and you avoid one of the most common reasons LPAs are sent back. Find out more about Lasting Powers of Attorney.
About this guide
This guide was written and checked by the Downloadawill Will Team. It explains the current paper LPA process in general terms and isn't legal advice for your own situation. The Powers of Attorney Act 2023 is bringing in a new digital process, and we'll update this guide when it arrives. Downloadawill is a trading style of Direct Wills. All our Will Writers are Members of The Society of Will Writers. We've been writing Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney for people in England and Wales since 1997. Read more about us.
Want your LPA checked before it goes to the OPG?
£75 per LPA · £140 for both · every LPA checked by our expert team · your own personalised Signing Guide, showing who signs where and in what order.
Start your LPA See all prices