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Supporting someone else
There are a range of options available for giving or getting access to an HL account.
On this page
Managing someone else’s account
If the person you want to support has the mental capacity to make their own decisions, they will need to set up your access to their account.
They can do this by linking accounts with you or setting up a power of attorney or via a Letter of Authority (LOA).
If the person you want to support has lost their mental capacity, and they do not already have a power of attorney in place, you will need to apply to be their deputy.
If your application hasn’t been approved yet, you can also get an urgent or emergency interim order.
Let us know about your deputyship by sending us a certified copy of the Order you receive from the Court of Protection.
Letting someone else manage your account
There are two ways you can let someone else manage your account.
- Linked accounts – an easy way to let someone else view your account and carry out some transactions for you.
- Power of attorney – this will formally give someone else complete access to your account.
- Letter of authority - a simple way to give access to a trusted person to obtain information and potentially trade on your account.
Linked accounts
When you link accounts with another HL account holder, they can see the same information as you do when you log in.
There are two options. 'View only access' means they’ll be able to see the same information and use some of the same functions as you do, such as sending secure messages. 'Trade access' allows them to place deals on your behalf as well.
You’ll still need to log in yourself for some things, including adding cash, requesting withdrawals, or amending your personal details.
Please do not share your login details with anyone. Accounts should only be linked to trusted people like family members.
How to tell us about your needs
Complete our form online
Log in to your account to complete our two-page form.
Page one will allow you to select your support options. Page two will ask you to tell us more about your personal circumstances.
Call our helpdesk
If you do not have an online account or prefer to talk to someone directly, call our Helpdesk.
What to expect when you tell us about your needs
- The information you give us will go to our specialist team. They'll use it to look at the ways we can support you.
- We'll add your notes to our records, so you won't need to tell us again.
- You can ask us to update or remove this information at any time.
- The information is kept on your client record and is confidential. It cannot be seen by anyone other than approved HL staff.
- We won't usually need to, but if you complete the form online and we have questions about your circumstances or believe we might be able to offer you more support, our specialist team may contact you. If you’d rather we did not contact you, call us at a time that suits you to speak to us directly.
Power of Attorney (POA)
If you want to be prepared for a situation where you have an accident, illness or you cannot make your own decisions, consider a power of attorney (POA). A POA is a legal document which gives one or more people the power to make decisions and manage:
- your money or property
- your health and welfare (This option is not available in Northern Ireland)
If you’re aged 18 or over, you can set one up at any time, as long as you’re able to make decisions yourself.
Types of power of attorney
There are two types of power of attorney – ongoing or temporary.
Ongoing power of attorney
These have no expiry date and have different names depending on where you live in the UK. Get more information about setting up:
Temporary power of attorney
Useful for things like hospital visits or trips abroad when you might need help with everyday tasks like paying bills. They are called:
- ordinary power of attorney in England and Wales
- general power of attorney in Scotland and Northern Ireland
If you want to set up an ordinary or general power of attorney, you should contact your local Citizen’s Advice or get advice from a solicitor.
Choosing an attorney
When appointing someone as an attorney under a POA, it’s important to consider the responsibility you’ll be giving them. You should also ask:
- Do they have a good knowledge of savings and investments?
- Are they confident making decisions about saving and investing?
You could also consider speaking to one of our advisers. They can provide an impartial opinion and recommend investments that would be suitable for your circumstances. They can work alongside you, or your attorney, and take on some of the responsibility. Learn more about financial advice at HL.
Registering a power of attorney with HL
Lasting Powers of Attorney set in in England or Wales after 1st January 2016
- Create your account at gov.uk.
- When you are registered, you’ll receive a secure code. Along with this code we require the following information:
- Full name of the person providing the code
- Surname of the HL client
- LPA access code (this is 13 characters long and starts with a V)
- If any attorney has changed address since the LPA was registered, their current address - Share this code with us, along with the above information:
- By email: entityauthoritymaintenance@hl.co.uk
- By calling our Helpdesk on 0117 900 9000
- By the Secure Message Centre through the HL Account
- By post to our office. - If you have any specific preferences or instructions on your POA, or you’ve stated that your attorneys must act Jointly for some decisions and Severally for others, we may not be able to see these with just your secure code. Please attach a photo, photocopy, or screenshot of your POA so we can see your preferences. This image does not need to be certified or original.
- We'll update your account and contact you via post to confirm everything.
All other types of power of attorney and Orders of the Court of Protection
Complete the Legal Representative Registration Form. This can be completed by either the donor or any attorney.
Alongside the signed form, send the original or a wet-certified copy of your document to:
Hargreaves Lansdown
1 College Square South
Anchor Road
Bristol
BS1 5HL
How to certify a copy
You can certify copies of your own power of attorney or you can use a solicitor or notary.
Orders of the Court of Protection will need to be signed by a solicitor or notary. You can find a list of people who can certify documents on gov.uk.
We also accept certification from individuals listed on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) or Chartered Legal Executives (CILEX) registers.
To make sure your registration goes smoothly, your documents need to be certified correctly.
- Every page other than the last page should have this text written in pen at the bottom: “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the corresponding page of the original lasting power of attorney.”
- The last page must say “I certify this is a true and complete copy of the lasting power of attorney.”
- The person certifying the document must sign it on every page.
- The full name and contact details of the person certifying the document must be written clearly on at least one page. We may need to contact them so it will slow down your registration if we do not have this information.
- The date the document was certified must also be written on at least one page.
Letter of authority (LOA)
A Letter of Authority (LOA) lets you give permission for either an independent financial adviser (IFA) or a trusted individual to access information about your Hargreaves Lansdown accounts. If you choose, it can also allow them to place trades or give investment instructions on your behalf.
Whist an LOA is an informal document, it’s a flexible way to let someone support you with your investments without setting up a Power of Attorney, which is a more formal arrangement.
What a Letter of Authority allows
Depending on what you include in the letter, an LOA can authorise your chosen person to:
- View account details, valuations and statements
- Discuss your accounts with HL
- Request copies of documents
- Place trades or provide investment instructions
HL will only follow the permissions you set out clearly in the letter.
When a Letter of Authority may be useful
A Letter of Authority can be helpful if:
- You’re receiving advice from an IFA
- You want someone to help you manage your investments
- You need to give someone trading authority temporarily or on an ongoing basis
- You don’t need the broader powers of a Power of Attorney
What your letter must include
To ensure HL can act on your instructions, your Letter of Authority should include:
- Your full name, address and HL client number
- Full details of the adviser or trusted individual (name, address and contact details)
- A clear list of the permissions you want to give, such as:
- “Authority to access information about my ISA”
- “Authority to place trades within my Fund & Share Account”
- “Authority to discuss all aspects of my SIPP”
- The accounts the authority applies to
- Communication preferences – how HL may contact the appointed person
- Your signature and the date
HL cannot accept a postal Letter of Authority without a valid signature from you.
How to set up a Letter of Authority
You can set up a Letter of Authority in three ways: by telephone, by email/post, or by secure message.
By telephone
If you prefer, you can authorise a trusted individual or adviser over the phone.
During the call, HL will:
- Confirm the details of the person you want to appoint
- Add them as a third-party representative
- Record exactly what level of access you wish to give (information-only or information + telephone dealing)
You will be asked to confirm that:
- You are happy for the named person to obtain information, and if applicable, place telephone trades and provide corporate action instructions
- You understand this access is telephone-only and you remain the only person authorised to log in online
- This authority will remain in place until you ask HL to remove it
- You take full responsibility for any actions carried out by the appointed person
HL may also request that the third party contacts them separately to confirm GDPR declarations if their details are not already on record.
By email
Send your signed Letter of Authority to: operations.queryteam@hl.co.uk
By post
Hargreaves Lansdown One College Square South Anchor Road Bristol BS1 5HL
What happens next
- HL will check that your instructions are valid and clearly set out
- Once accepted, the named person can act only within the permissions you have granted
- You can amend or cancel the authority at any time by contacting HL
Important things to consider
- Only appoint someone you trust, especially if giving trading access
- Write your instructions clearly to avoid delays
- For long-term or wider decision-making powers, a Power of Attorney may be more suitable
Organisations that can offer support
If you’re caring for someone else, their local council may be able to help you care more effectively. You can find their local council on the gov.uk website.
NHS social care and support guide
This website explains your options if you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living.
Carers UK
Expert advice, information and support.
Age UK
A UK charity that specialises in helping older people.
MoneyHelper
Advice for paying for the cost of care and managing money.