Office Copies/Certified Copies of Enduring Power of Attorney

[Crambenton]

Hi There

We registered my mother's EPA last year and received it back from the OPG but since then, unfortunately, one of the pages got lost. I spoke with the OPG who provided me with an Office Copy (for £35) advising that this could be used in exactly the same way as the original. They advised they won't do further copies unless they are to replace lost ones. I disposed of the original as I now had a new copy with all pages intact.

We are selling my mother's house as she will not be returning to it and I have gone to a solicitor to have a number of 'Certified Copies' made for use in selling the house and also to send to a few other financial institutions. They have advised me that they can't make copies from this 'Office Copy' that the OPG has provided as it isn't the original. I have explained that the 'original' no longer exists as it has been superseded by the Office Copy I have and the only copy at the OPG is not the original either. The solicitors have advised that this isn't their policy, it would be the same for all solicitors.

Who is correct? If the solicitor is correct, how do I ever get a Certified Copy of the EPA produced?

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

[Peridot]

Hi Cramberton,

Technically the lawyer is correct. A certified copy of a document is certifying it is a true copy of the original document. In this instance you do not have the original document so a certified copy can't be possible. This may help here:- https://www.gov.uk/certifying-a-document

I think your only option is to deal with each institution or company individually to provide them with the official copy that you have and request it's return asap. I would also suggest dealing by registered post at all times. You already know how much it would cost to replace the document you have and the delay this would also cause.

Annoying but I think it is your only solution unless you wish to pay for further official copies?