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Setting up and registering a Power of Attorney

Appoint someone you trust to manage your pension and make decisions on your behalf.

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What is a Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that lets someone you trust make decisions on your behalf, if you're ever unable to. These decisions could be about your money, property or health.

Who can act? You can appoint one or more ‘attorneys’ – usually a partner, family member, or close friend. Choose people you know well and trust, as they’ll have the authority to make important decisions for you.

If no PoA exists: A Court Order may be needed to appoint a trusted person if you can no longer make decisions yourself.

Why set up a Power of Attorney?

In the event you’re ever unable to make legal and/or financial decisions, having a PoA in place provides you and your loved ones with the peace of mind that your money, health, and welfare will be managed on your behalf.

If you lose capacity to manage your own affairs due to age, illness, accident, dementia, or mental health issues, your attorney(s) can step in, either

  • temporarily, until you regain capacity, or
  • permanently, if you're not expected to regain capacity.

When should you set up a Power of Attorney?

You can set up a PoA at any time. It ensures your finances, health and welfare are managed if you’re unable to do so yourself.

Everyone can benefit from having a PoA in place – it provides peace of mind and avoids delays if decisions need to be made on your behalf.

Setting up a Power of Attorney

The type of PoA and where it was created, determines what information we need to register it.

If your PoA was set up outside of England, Wales or Scotland, please contact us and we'll let you know what you need to do.

For more information, select your location.

There are several types of Power of Attorney within England and Wales. 

Name of PoAPurpose
Enduring Power of AttorneyHealth and welfare
 Property and financial affairs
Lasting Power of AttorneyHealth and welfare
 Property and financial affairs
Ordinary Power of AttorneyFor temporary financial matters

To help us manage your plan smoothly, please ensure that any Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney you provide is set up to cover property and financial affairs. This helps avoid any delays or confusion.

For more detailed information on how to set up a PoA and to explore the different types available, visit the Office of the Public Guardian website.

Registering a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or PoA

If the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) was registered online and has no special instructions

  • You can provide a secure digital access code from the Office of the Public Guardian.
  • The code is 13 characters long, starts with ‘V’, and is valid for 30 days.
  • If the code has expired, request a new code from Office of the Public Guardian.
  • Ensure any continuation sheets or any special instructions set by the planholder are included in the digital version before sharing the code.
  • The planholder or attorney should check this before sending us the code.
  • Visit GOV.UK to get your LPA access code.

If the LPA was registered by paper

  • Send either a certified copy or the original office copy of the LPA to: Prudential, Lancing, BN15 8GB

If the LPA has instructions or any other Power of Attorney

If the LPA includes special instructions not shown on the digital version, or if you’re registering an Enduring Power of Attorney, an Ordinary Power of Attorney, or a Court of Protection Order, please provide

  • the legal paperwork (original office copy or certified copy of the LPA/PoA)
  • identification for the planholder and each attorney, and
  • a cover letter with
    • the planholder’s name, address, contact details, and plan reference numbers
    • your details if you’re not the planholder.

Send these documents to: Prudential, Lancing, BN15 8GB.
 

  •  Use Special Delivery or Recorded Delivery for security.
  •  We’ll return documents the same way.

Arranging a certified copy

If you’d prefer to send us a copy of the paperwork instead of the original office copy, it must be certified in a particular way.  

If the planholder is capable of making their own decisions, they can certify the PoA themselves. Alternatively, you can use a solicitor, notary public or chartered legal executive.

Every page needs to have

  • the words: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the [type] Power of Attorney”. So, if it was a copy of a Lasting Power of Attorney, you’d write: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the Lasting Power of Attorney”. It can be either written or stamped.
  • the name of the person certifying the copy
  • the signature of the person certifying the copy, and
  • the date when the document was certified.

 

Certified copies must be posted to us. We can't accept digital copies.

Acting on behalf of a customer without a Power of Attorney

If the planholder is unable to make informed decisions and there’s no PoA in place naming you as their attorney, we can’t discuss their details with you.

You can apply to become their ‘deputy’ through a Court Order. 

Visit the Office of the Public Guardian for information on how to set up a new PoA or apply to the Court of Protection to become a planholder’s deputy.

There are several types of Power of Attorney within Scotland.

Name of PoAPurpose
Continuing Power of AttorneyMoney and property
Welfare Power of AttorneyHealth and care 
Combined Power of AttorneyCovers both

To help us manage your plan smoothly, please ensure that any Scottish Power of Attorney you provide is either a Continuing or Combined PoA, as these cover financial matters.

For more detailed information on how to set up a PoA and to explore the different types available, visit the Office of the Public Guardian website.

Registering a Power of Attorney (Scotland)

To register a PoA with us, please provide

  •  the legal paperwork (original office copy or certified copy)
  • the Certificate of Registration (original or certified copy) - if the PoA doesn’t show any registration markings
  •  identification for the planholder and each attorney, and
  • a cover letter with
    • the planholder’s name, address, contact details, and plan reference numbers
    • your details if you’re not the planholder.

Send these documents to: Prudential, Lancing, BN15 8GB.

  • Use Special Delivery or Recorded Delivery for security.
  • We’ll return documents the same way.

Arranging a certified copy

If you’d prefer to send us a copy of the paperwork instead of the original office copy, it must be certified in a particular way.  

If the planholder is capable of making their own decisions, they can certify the PoA themselves. Alternatively, you can use a solicitor, notary public or chartered legal executive.

Every page needs to have

  • the words: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the [type] Power of Attorney”. So, if it was a copy of a Lasting Power of Attorney, you’d write: “I certify this to be a true and complete copy of the Lasting Power of Attorney”. It can be either written or stamped.
  • the name of the person certifying the copy
  • the signature of the person certifying the copy, and
  • the date when the document was certified.

 

Certified copies must be posted to us. We can't accept digital copies.

Acting on behalf of a customer without a Power of Attorney

If the planholder is unable to make informed decisions and there’s no PoA in place naming you as their attorney, we can’t discuss their details with you.

You can apply for an Intervention Order or to become their guardian through a Court Order.

You can visit the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) for information on Power of Attorney, Intervention and Guardianship Orders.

Contact us

Need more help?

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, or need more help, there are a number of ways you can get in touch.