Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) Certificate Issuer in Singapore
An LPA certificate issuer is the professional who witnesses and certifies your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in Singapore. In plain English, a lasting power of attorney certificate issuer confirms that you understand your LPA and that nobody pressured you into signing it. At LAW.com.sg, our Singapore practising lawyers at Loh Eben Ong LLP act as your LPA certificate issuer for LPA Form 1. Moreover, we certify LPAs submitted online through OPGO, as well as approved hardcopy LPAs. Therefore, one appointment is usually all you need. Book your LPA appointment.
LPA certificate issuer in Singapore: key facts
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Who can be an LPA certificate issuer? | A Singapore practising lawyer, an accredited medical practitioner, or a registered psychiatrist. |
| What does the certificate issuer do? | Witnesses your signature and certifies that you understand the LPA and signed it freely. |
| Which form do we certify? | LPA Form 1, whether you apply online through OPGO or by an approved hardcopy LPA. |
| Where must you sign? | In Singapore, in person, in front of your certificate issuer. |
| Who cannot certify your LPA? | Family members, your Donees, their family, and staff of your care facility. |
| What does it cost? | The OPG does not fix certificate issuer fees, so please check our LPA fee calculator. |
What is an LPA certificate issuer?
An LPA certificate issuer is an independent professional who must be present when you sign your LPA. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2008, your LPA cannot be registered unless a certificate issuer certifies it. In short, the certificate issuer is a safeguard for you as the Donor.
Your lasting power of attorney certificate issuer must certify three points:
- you understand the purpose of the LPA, and you understand the powers you give your Donee(s);
- nobody used fraud or undue pressure to make you sign the LPA; and
- nothing else stops the LPA from being created.
Because these checks protect you, your certificate issuer will speak with you directly. Consequently, you must attend in person and bring your NRIC or passport.
Who can be an LPA certificate issuer in Singapore?
Only three groups of professionals may act as an LPA certificate issuer in Singapore:
- A Singapore practising lawyer – that is, a solicitor qualified to practise Singapore law in a Singapore law firm. Our lawyers act in this role every week.
- An accredited medical practitioner – a doctor whom the Public Guardian has accredited.
- A registered psychiatrist.
Therefore, a friend, a foreign notary or a Commissioner for Oaths cannot certify your LPA instead. For the official position, see the OPG guidance on where to find a certificate issuer.
Who cannot be your LPA certificate issuer?
The rules also disqualify anyone with a conflict of interest. Accordingly, your LPA certificate issuer must not be:
- a family member of yours;
- a Donee or Replacement Donee under this LPA, or under any earlier LPA you signed;
- a family member of any of those Donees;
- a business partner or an employee of you or of a Donee;
- a director or an employee of an organisation that acts as your Donee;
- an owner, director, manager or employee of a care facility where you live or receive care; or
- a family member of anyone in that care facility group.
Fortunately, an independent law firm avoids all of these problems. For that reason, many Donors ask an independent certificate issuer to certify the LPA.
LPA certificate issuer fees in Singapore
The Office of the Public Guardian does not fix what an LPA certificate issuer may charge. Instead, each certificate issuer sets its own professional fee, and the fee depends on the complexity of your LPA. As at June 2025, the OPG reported the following fee ranges for the 20 most visited certificate issuers who certified LPA Form 1:
| Type of certificate issuer | Median fee | Fee range |
|---|---|---|
| Accredited doctors | $47.50 | $24 to $500 |
| Lawyers | $104.50 | $50 to $600 |
| Psychiatrists | $350 | $24 to $1,500 |
Source: Office of the Public Guardian, as at June 2025. These figures exclude consultation charges and GST.
Naturally, you should confirm the fee before you book. For our own professional fees and add-ons, please use our LPA fee calculator. Separately, the OPG charges its own application fee. From 1 April 2026, LPA Form 1 applications by Singapore Citizens are free, and from 1 May 2026 other LPA applications attract reduced fees. Therefore, please check the current OPG fee position before you apply. In addition, Donors with financial need may ask the OPG about pro bono or means-tested LPA certification.
Why choose a lawyer as your LPA certificate issuer?
Every certificate issuer performs the same statutory checks. However, a lawyer looks at your LPA as a legal document as well. For example, our lawyers explain what each power actually allows your Donee to do, and they flag choices that often cause family disputes later.
In addition, a law firm can help you with the documents that sit around your LPA. Consequently, you can deal with your Singapore Will, a Power of Attorney, a Power of Attorney for an HDB flat or notarisation in the same visit. Finally, our office keeps regular operating hours and a central location, so a certificate issuer appointment is easy to arrange.
Which LPA form do I need?
LPA Form 1 is the standard form. Specifically, the OPG prescribes it, and it suits most Donors. First, you complete the form. Then, you sign it in front of your certificate issuer, for example a Singapore practising lawyer. If you require customised powers, you may need LPA Form 2, which a lawyer must draft. We currently do not provide a service for LPA Form 2.
What can a Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore cover?
A Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore covers two broad areas. First, Personal Welfare lets your Donee decide on matters such as your daily care, your living arrangements and, where you allow it, your medical treatment. Second, Property and Affairs lets your Donee manage your money, pay your bills and handle your property. Importantly, you stay in control, because you choose exactly which powers to grant. Your certificate issuer will also check that you understand the scope of those powers before you sign.
Who can make an LPA Singapore application?
Generally, you can make an LPA Singapore application if you are at least 21 years old and you still have mental capacity. In other words, you must understand the document at the time you sign it. Consequently, it is wise to plan early. Moreover, once you lose mental capacity, no certificate issuer can certify an LPA for you. At that stage, your family may need a Deputyship order from the Court instead. You can compare that route on our Deputyship (Mental Capacity Act) page, and you can estimate the cost with our Deputyship fee calculator.
How to choose your Donee
Your Donee is the person who will act for you, so choose carefully. Ideally, pick someone who is trustworthy, reliable and good with practical matters. In addition, you may appoint a Replacement Donee who steps in if your first Donee cannot act. Furthermore, you can appoint more than one Donee, and you can decide whether they act jointly or severally. Because these choices shape how your LPA works in practice, our lawyers explain the options at your appointment.
How to book an LPA certificate issuer for LPA Form 1
There are two pathways to an LPA Form 1. Most Donors use the online route. Either way, you still sign in front of a certificate issuer.
Option 1: LPA online via OPGO (the usual route)
First, submit your LPA Form 1 through the Office of the Public Guardian Online (OPGO) using Singpass. Afterwards, once your OPGO application is complete, book an appointment with our lawyer as your LPA certificate issuer.
Book appointment (LPA online / OPGO): https://glutenfreepleasure.com/__proxy_domain/book.law.com.sg/lasting-power-attorney/
Option 2: Hardcopy LPA (exceptional situations only)
The OPG accepts hardcopy LPA applications only in exceptional situations. Furthermore, the OPG must review and approve each application. Therefore, if you cannot apply through OPGO, you may proceed in one of these ways:
- DIY hardcopy: download and complete the OPG hardcopy LPA Form 1 yourself, using the OPG guidance on how to make an LPA; or
- Office-assisted hardcopy: use our Hardcopy LPA Online Form so that our office prepares the hardcopy LPA Form 1 and cover letter from your answers (additional fees apply).
Book appointment (hardcopy LPA): https://glutenfreepleasure.com/__proxy_domain/book.law.com.sg/lasting-power-of-attorney-hardcopy/
What to prepare before you meet your LPA certificate issuer
- The Donor must attend and sign in Singapore, in front of the certificate issuer.
- Bring your NRIC or passport, and bring the full names and NRIC numbers of your Donee(s).
- Have your OPGO reference ready if you applied online.
- Donee attendance is optional, and it depends on your chosen signing arrangement.
- For a hardcopy LPA, every signature must be a wet-ink signature.
- If your Donee or Replacement Donee signs outside our office, you must make sure the signing is properly witnessed, dated and executed in line with OPG requirements.
Lasting Power of Attorney Singapore vs a Will
People often confuse a Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore with a Will, yet the two documents do very different jobs. A Will takes effect only after you pass away, whereas an LPA works while you are alive but lack mental capacity. Consequently, most people benefit from having both. If you would like to plan your estate too, see our Singapore Wills service. You may also explore our wider Power of Attorney Singapore options.
Why register an LPA early?
Registering an LPA early gives you and your family real peace of mind. Firstly, it removes uncertainty about who will manage your affairs. Secondly, it usually costs far less time and money than a court application later. Thirdly, it keeps the decision in your hands while you can still make it. Finally, appointment slots with a certificate issuer fill up quickly near fee-waiver deadlines, so early planning helps. For official details on the scheme, refer to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) under the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
LPA certificate issuer FAQs
What is an LPA certificate issuer?
A certificate issuer is the accredited professional who witnesses your LPA and certifies that you understand it, that you signed it freely, and that nothing prevents the LPA from being created.
Who can act as a lasting power of attorney certificate issuer in Singapore?
Only a Singapore practising lawyer, a medical practitioner accredited by the Public Guardian, or a registered psychiatrist may act.
How much does an LPA certificate issuer charge?
Fees are not fixed by the OPG. As at June 2025, the OPG reported median fees of $104.50 for lawyers, $47.50 for accredited doctors and $350 for psychiatrists, before consultation charges and GST. For our fees, use the LPA fee calculator.
Do I need a lawyer to make an LPA?
For LPA Form 1, you need any certificate issuer, and a Singapore practising lawyer can act. For customised powers under LPA Form 2, a lawyer must draft the document.
Can a family member be my LPA certificate issuer?
No. Your family members, your Donees, their family members and the staff of your care facility are all disqualified.
Must I meet the LPA certificate issuer in person?
Yes. You must attend in Singapore and sign in front of your certificate issuer, because the certification depends on that meeting.
Do my Donees need to attend the appointment?
Not always. Donee attendance depends on your chosen signing arrangement, and our lawyer will confirm what your LPA needs.
How long does an LPA Singapore application take?
After you submit LPA Form 1 through OPGO and your certificate issuer certifies it, the OPG reviews the application before registration. Processing times vary, so apply early.
Can I cancel my Lasting Power of Attorney in Singapore?
Yes. While you still have mental capacity, you may revoke your LPA, and the OPG now accepts a notice of revocation through OPGO. We can guide you through the steps.
What should I bring to my LPA certificate issuer appointment?
Bring your NRIC or passport, your OPGO reference, and your Donee details. Also bring any earlier LPA documents, if you have them.
Related LPA and estate planning services
- LPA fee calculator – estimate your certificate issuer costs.
- Hardcopy LPA online form – for exceptional situations only.
- Deputyship under the Mental Capacity Act – the court route after capacity is lost.
- Singapore Wills lawyers and Wills fees.
- Power of Attorney Singapore and Power of Attorney revocation.
- Singapore Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths.
- Contact us to ask about an LPA certificate issuer appointment.