Court of Protection
The Court of Protection is a specialist Court which oversees the financial and personal welfare of those who lack mental capacity.
Incapacity can arise as a result of a brain injury, learning disability or degenerative condition. Our Court of Protection specialists can guide you through the legal processes to ensure that the finances and welfare of your vulnerable loved ones are protected.
If you lose mental capacity and you have not made a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, your family, the Local Authority or a professional may need to apply to the Court of Protection for a Court Order appointing a Deputy to manage your finances for you.
The Court has the power to appoint a Deputy to take control of the property and financial affairs of someone unable to manage their own affairs and in some cases to make decisions regarding their personal welfare. Once appointed by the Court, the Deputy is subject to ongoing supervision by the Office of the Public Guardian.
Applications to the Court are time-consuming and it can take months for the Court to issue an Order appointing a Deputy or to make a particular decision.
The application requires full details of the mentally incapable person’s finances and personal information about their family. A medical assessment must be carried out and the proposed Deputy must complete a Declaration so that the Court can decide whether the proposed Deputy is suitable to act.
Once appointed by the Court, the Deputy will receive an Order setting out the specific powers they have to manage the individual’s property and financial affairs.
This will include matters such as managing a bank account and investments, paying bills, etc but a Deputy is not automatically authorised to make gifts out of the individual’s money or to sell their home. Separate applications can be made to the Court if this authority is required. Similarly, a Deputy can not make a Will on behalf of the individual, but they can apply to the Court to make a Statutory Will.
As well as being responsible for making decisions for the vulnerable client, Deputies are under a duty to keep accounts and keep their own money entirely separate.
The Deputy is subject to ongoing supervision by the Office of the Public Guardian to ensure that they are acting in the best interest of the mentally incapable person. A requirement of the Deputy’s appointment is to put in place a Security Bond to safeguard the investments the Deputy is taking care of.
Our experts provide a full Deputy management service to lighten the administrative burden so you can focus on providing care and support to the vulnerable client.
The Deputy is also required to submit an annual report explaining all significant decisions made throughout the year, and accounting for all income and expenditure. Periodically, the Office of the Public Guardian sends out visitors to visit the mentally incapable person, the Deputy and others involved in their care to check that all of their needs are being met.
Do I need a Solicitor to apply for Court of Protection?
How much does it cost to appoint a Deputy?
Dealing with the Court of Protection can be time-consuming and stressful.
Contact us to see how we can help. Our bespoke service means you can benefit from as much or as little help as you need.
Call us free on 0800 9875564