LPA Signing Order and Witness Rules: Avoid Invalid Execution

Why sequence errors happen

People often focus on collecting signatures and miss the legal order they must follow. LP12 is clear: wrong order can stop registration.

Official signing order (LP12)

Sign in this order:

1. Donor signs first

• LP1H only: complete and sign section 5 (life-sustaining treatment) first.
• Sign any continuation sheets used (for example sheets 1 and 2).
• Then sign section 9.

1. Donor's witness signs next

• The witness signs straight after the donor.
• For LP1H, the same witness process applies to the donor's section 5 signature.

1. Certificate provider signs section 10

• Must be after donor signature and before any attorney signatures.

1. Attorneys and replacement attorneys sign section 11

• They sign after section 10.
• LP12 says they should sign as soon as reasonably possible after the certificate provider (ideally same day).

1. Registration stage signature (section 15)

• Signed by donor or attorney(s) when applying to register.

Witness basics

For donor and attorney signature witnessing, do not assume any adult present is valid.

Key rules:

• Witness should be independent and aged 18+
• Donor cannot witness attorney signatures
• Attorneys cannot witness donor signature
• Avoid anyone with a conflict in the relevant role

High-risk mistakes

• Signing section 11 before section 10
• Signing section 9 before section 5 (LP1H) or required continuation sheets
• Missing witness details
• Pre-dating, backdating, or auto-filling dates
• Trying to fix errors with correction fluid or stickers

Corrections: what LP12 allows

LP12 states:

• Do not use correction fluid/stickers
• Put a line through the mistake
• Add the correct text
• The person who made that part of the entry initials the correction

If multiple errors exist across sections, re-check whether a clean re-execution is safer than heavily corrected pages.

Practical signing checklist

• Confirm everyone understands their role before starting
• Confirm each section to be signed in sequence
• Keep a live checklist and tick each completed step
• Verify names, addresses, and dates after every signature block
• Keep scanned copies immediately after completion
• Only then prepare registration submission steps

Next reading

• Common LPA Registration Mistakes
• Certificate Provider Explained
• Registering an LPA