The OPG is an agency with responsibilities that extend across England and Wales (separate arrangements exist for Scotland and for Northern Ireland).

It supports the Public Guardian in the registration of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and the supervision of deputies appointed by the Court of Protection.

It also helps attorneys and deputies to carry out their duties, and protects people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.

It works closely with other organisations to ensure that any allegations of abuse are fully investigated and acted on.

The OPG also has responsibility for mental capacity policy, and provides guidance to public, legal and health professionals.

Shorter LPA waiting time

As of 1 April 2013 the minimum length of time for OPG to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA) has been reduced. This is because of a change in the law.

A faster process

• the length of time the law says we must hold an application before an LPA can be registered – the ‘statutory waiting period’ – is now 4 weeks, instead of 6 weeks
• the people who are entitled to object to the registration of an LPA now have 3 weeks to lodge an objection, instead of 5 weeks.

New forms

New LPA forms reflecting the new timings are now available.

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The OPG produces two newsletters:

• OPG Intouch for court-appointed deputies
• MCA Update for stakeholders, on Mental Capacity Act policy.

To sign up to the newsletters, please email the OPG.