Cancelling or Revoking a Power of Attorney

Setfords Law Published: 3rd November 2026, Last reviewed: 3 November 2026, Read time: 8 minutes

A power of attorney isn’t permanent by default. Whether you set one up and have changed your mind, or you’re an attorney who no longer wants the role, there’s a proper process for bringing it to an end. Getting it wrong, or simply tearing up the paperwork, can leave the arrangement technically still in force. This guide covers how to cancel or revoke a power of attorney, and what happens if the donor (the person who made the power of attorney) has since lost mental capacity.

Powers of attorney are meant to be flexible, but ending one properly means following a specific process. That process depends on who’s ending it, why, and whether the donor still has mental capacity to make that decision themselves.

Who can cancel a power of attorney?

Who can bring a power of attorney to an end depends on whose decision it is.

• The donor (the person who made the power of attorney) can revoke it themselves, provided they still have the mental capacity to understand what they’re doing.
• An attorney can choose to step down from the role, sometimes called disclaiming their appointment. The effect on the wider arrangement depends on whether other attorneys are appointed alongside them.
• The Court of Protection can cancel a power of attorney in certain circumstances. This is particularly if there’s concern about how an attorney is acting and the donor no longer has capacity to revoke it themselves.

What is mental capacity in this context? It means the donor can understand, retain, and weigh up the information relevant to the decision to revoke, and communicate that decision. This is assessed at the time of the decision, not by reference to a diagnosis alone.

How a donor revokes a power of attorney

If you made the power of attorney and still have capacity, revoking it involves a specific process rather than simply telling your attorney it’s over.

1. Prepare a deed of revocation. This is a formal, signed and witnessed document confirming that you’re revoking the power of attorney. It doesn’t need to give a reason.

1. Tell your attorney or attorneys. They need to know the power of attorney has ended, since they otherwise have no way of knowing their authority has stopped.

1. Notify the Office of the Public Guardian, if registered. If your power of attorney was registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (as most lasting powers of attorney are before use), let them know. Send them the original registered document, along with any copies, and the original deed of revocation, so their records are updated.

1. Tell relevant third parties. Banks, care providers, and anyone else who has relied on the power of attorney should be told it’s been revoked. That way, they know not to accept instructions from the former attorney from then on.

Destroying your own copy of the document isn’t enough on its own. Third parties and the Office of the Public Guardian need to be formally notified, or the revocation may not be effective in practice.

Key figures

Mental Capacity Act 2005 · Office of the Public Guardian · Court of Protection

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the legal framework for lasting powers of attorney, including how they’re made, used, and brought to an end. The Office of the Public Guardian maintains the register of lasting powers of attorney and needs to be notified of any revocation. The Court of Protection has the power to intervene, including cancelling a power of attorney, where there’s a dispute or concern and the donor can no longer make that decision themselves.

What if the donor has lost mental capacity?

Once a donor no longer has the mental capacity to understand what revoking a power of attorney would mean, they generally can’t revoke it themselves. This applies even if they express a wish to do so. In this situation, the power of attorney doesn’t automatically end. If there are concerns about how an attorney is acting once the donor has lost capacity, you can apply to the Court of Protection. It can cancel the power of attorney or otherwise intervene. Concerns might include suspected financial abuse or a serious breach of the attorney’s duties.

This route tends to be used where there’s a genuine concern about the attorney’s conduct, rather than as a routine step. That’s because it involves a court application rather than a simple administrative process.

How an attorney steps down

If you’re an attorney and no longer want the role, you can disclaim your appointment by completing a formal disclaimer. This should be sent to the donor (if they have capacity) and copies should be sent to any other attorneys and to the Office of the Public Guardian.

The effect of the disclaimer depends on how the power of attorney was set up:

• If you’re the only attorney, or one of several appointed to act jointly. Your disclaimer may bring the whole power of attorney to an end, since the arrangement can’t continue as originally set up without you.
• If other attorneys are appointed to act jointly and severally. The remaining attorneys can usually continue acting, since this appointment type allows each attorney to act independently.
• If there is a substitute appointment. The replacement attorney can start to act.

What does “jointly and severally” mean? It means attorneys can each act on their own, or together, rather than being required to agree and sign off on every decision jointly. This affects what happens if one of them steps down.

When does a power of attorney end automatically?

A power of attorney, or an attorney’s appointment under it, can also come to an end without anyone choosing to revoke or disclaim it:

• If the donor becomes bankrupt or subject to a debt relief order, a property and financial affairs power of attorney is automatically revoked.
• If an attorney becomes bankrupt or is subject to a debt relief order, their appointment under a property and financial affairs power of attorney will be terminated.
• If an attorney dies or loses mental capacity, their appointment under either type of lasting power of attorney (property and financial affairs, or health and welfare) will be terminated.
• If an attorney and donor divorce or dissolve their civil partnership, the attorney’s appointment will also terminate.

As mentioned earlier, the effect of any termination will depend on how the power of attorney was set up.

What about older enduring powers of attorney?

Enduring powers of attorney (EPAs) were replaced by lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) for new arrangements from October 2007. However, existing EPAs made before that date can still be valid and in use. The process for revoking an EPA is broadly similar to a lasting power of attorney: a formal revocation while the donor has capacity, and notification to the Office of the Public Guardian if the EPA has been registered.

If you’re unsure whether a document is an EPA or an LPA, or whether it’s still valid, get this checked before relying on it or attempting to revoke it.

What helps

Act while capacity isn’t in question. If you’re thinking about revoking a power of attorney, doing so while your capacity is clear avoids any dispute about whether the revocation is valid.

Put the revocation in writing properly. A signed and witnessed deed of revocation, rather than an email or verbal instruction, gives everyone involved something clear to rely on.

Notify everyone who needs to know, not only the attorney. The Office of the Public Guardian and any relevant banks or organisations should all be told directly.

What happens next depends on whether the donor still has capacity, whether the power of attorney is registered, and how many attorneys were originally appointed. Speak to our wills and probate team for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about your options.

Common mistakes

1. Destroying the document and assuming that’s the end of it. A registered power of attorney needs a formal revocation and notification to the Office of the Public Guardian, not only disposal of the paperwork.

1. Waiting until capacity is already in question. Revoking a power of attorney becomes far harder, and sometimes impossible for the donor to do themselves, once capacity has been lost.

1. Assuming one attorney stepping down ends the whole arrangement. Where attorneys were appointed jointly and severally, the others can often continue acting.

1. Not checking whether an old document is an EPA or LPA. The two have different histories and slightly different processes, so confirm which you’re dealing with before acting.

When to speak to a solicitor

Revoking a power of attorney is often straightforward, but the details matter, particularly where capacity or multiple attorneys are involved. Speak to a solicitor if:

• You’re unsure whether the donor still has capacity to revoke the power of attorney themselves.
• You’re concerned about how an attorney is acting and the donor can no longer make this decision themselves.
• You’re an attorney wanting to step down and aren’t sure what happens to the wider arrangement.
• You have an older enduring power of attorney and aren’t sure of its current status.
• A bank or other organisation isn’t accepting a revocation you believe should be effective.

What to bring to your first conversation

Having the right information ready makes your first conversation with a solicitor far more useful. Gather together:

• The original power of attorney document, or a copy if you have one.
• Any correspondence with the Office of the Public Guardian.
• Details of any other attorneys appointed alongside you or the donor.
• Any medical or professional assessment of the donor’s capacity, if one exists.

FAQs

Can I revoke a power of attorney without telling the attorney?

You can complete the deed of revocation without their involvement, but they need to be told once it’s done. Otherwise they may continue acting under an authority that’s technically ended, which can cause problems for everyone involved.

Does revoking a power of attorney need to go through a solicitor?

Not strictly, but, like any legal document, the deed needs to be correctly drafted, signed and witnessed to be effective, and mistakes can leave the position unclear. Many people choose to get this professionally prepared.

What happens to a power of attorney when the donor dies?

A power of attorney automatically ends on the donor’s death. At that point, the executor or administrator of their estate takes over dealing with their affairs, not the former attorney.

Can I revoke just part of a power of attorney?

Not usually. Revocation generally ends the power of attorney entirely, rather than removing specific powers. If you want a different arrangement, this typically means making a new power of attorney rather than editing the existing one.

Find out more about how our wills and probate team can help with powers of attorney.

About the author:

This article is general information about powers of attorney in England and Wales and is not legal advice. The law can change and every situation is different, so please speak to a qualified solicitor about your circumstances.