If you are looking for ‘Court of Protection solicitors near me’, our expert team is here to help. We have decades of experience in all types of Court of Protection matters, and our approachable solicitors offer exceptional legal support at highly competitive rates.
Please call us now on 01603 672222 for a no-obligation conversation today or Click Here To Make An Online Enquiry.
“I was delighted by the prompt response and the friendly helpful service we received. Thank you.”
What Is The Court Of Protection?
The Court of Protection is a specialist court that protects the interests of vulnerable individuals who are unable to make decisions for themselves due to a lack of mental capacity.
The Court handles a wide range of issues, including decisions about where a person should live, the kind of care they should receive, and how their money and property should be managed. It also considers complex medical decisions, such as whether life-sustaining treatment should be continued or withdrawn. The Court can make one-off decisions itself, or it can appoint someone, usually a family member or friend of the individual concerned, to act as their ‘deputy’ and make decisions for them.
How Can Court Of Protection Solicitors Near Me Help?
Court of Protection matters can be incredibly complex and sometimes involve sensitive issues of significant personal importance to the parties involved. Our Court of Protection Solicitors specialise in this niche area of legal practice. We advise a wide variety of clients, including vulnerable individuals, their family members and friends, and care providers, helping them to navigate the wide range of matters handled by the Court of Protection.
Just some of the Court of Protection matters with which our solicitors can assist you include the following:
• Deputyship Applications
Our Court of Protection solicitors frequently assist clients in applying to take on the role of a deputy. Deputies are responsible for making decisions on behalf of an individual who has lost the mental capacity to make them for themselves.
A deputy can make the decisions detailed in the Order made by the Court of Protection. Those decisions might relate to the following matters:
- Managing the vulnerable person’s income
- Paying the vulnerable person’s bills and clearing any of their debts
- Managing the vulnerable person’s property, for example, by renting it out or selling it
- Managing the vulnerable person’s bank or building society accounts
- Managing the vulnerable person’s investment portfolio
- Buying gifts on behalf of the vulnerable person
- Making decisions relating to the vulnerable person’s medical care
- Advising And supporting deputies in fulfilling their role
Deputies are obliged to act in the vulnerable person’s best interests. There are various restrictions on what they are permitted to do, and, in some cases, they may need to apply to the Court of Protection before proceedings with a proposed course of action. Deputies are under the supervision of the Office of the Public Guardian. They must prepare an annual report detailing the decisions they have made on the vulnerable individual’s behalf and explaining what they have spent their money on.
If a deputy does not act in the vulnerable person’s best interests, they can face investigation or be subject to increased supervision, and may be removed from their role.
Our Court of Protection solicitors regularly assist deputies in properly fulfilling their role. We will give advice on the steps you must take to abide by your duties, including keeping accurate records and preparing your annual report for the Office of the Public Guardian. We can help you prepare your report, ensuring it is comprehensive and accurate.
• Statutory Wills
Statutory Wills are Wills made on behalf of individuals who lack the necessary capacity to make a Will themselves, or to change a Will they made when they had capacity. The Court of Protection must authorise the creation of a Statutory Will.
You might consider applying for a Statutory Will in various situations. For example, a Statutory Will might be appropriate if the vulnerable person’s family circumstances have changed since they made their Will, perhaps because of a birth or a death, or the original beneficiaries have died. If the vulnerable person lost capacity before they made a Will, Statutory Wills can be useful in ensuring their estate goes to their loved ones who would not inherit under the Intestacy Rules, such as life partners or stepchildren.
Our Court of Protection solicitors regularly represent clients wishing to apply for a Statutory Will. We will advise you on the types of evidence you need to support your application, draft the proposed Statutory Will, and prepare the necessary application. If the Court of Protection insists on a hearing, we will represent you and explain to the Court how the proposed Statutory Will is in the vulnerable person’s best interests.
If you need help with a Court of Protection matter, please get in touch today for a no-obligation chat with one of our expert solicitors.
Please call us now on 01603 672222 for a no-obligation conversation today or Click Here To Make An Online Enquiry.
“Nothing could be improved with the service. Extremely satisfied.”
