§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the cost of registering an enduring power of attorney is £220; whether there is any provision for reducing that cost in cases of hardship; and what payment methods are available.[HL540]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin)The fee for EPA registration was set at £220, following a review of Court of Protection and Public Guardianship Office fees in 2001. The review was set up to explore the options for the court and the PGO to recover the full costs of their services, as required by HM Treasury guidance. The fee covers the cost of registration, handling and disputes or technical problems, correspondence during or after registration, helping and advising attorneys or their legal representatives, and investigating allegations of financial abuse against the donor and cancelling registration on the death of the donor. The fee covers this work over the life of the case.
The Court of Protection has remissions guidance to ensure that there is no financial hardship to clients of limited means who need its services, but who cannot afford to pay. The guidance is displayed on the PGO's website.