Deputyship Solicitors | Appoint a Court of Protection Deputy

Appointing a deputy in the Court of Protection

We can act as a Court of Protection Deputy for someone who doesn’t have the capacity to manage their affairs. Alternatively we can assist you with an application to appoint a family member as deputy. Our award winning team is nationally recognised and one of the largest and most experienced in the country.

Award winning team of deputyship lawyers

What is a Deputy?

A deputy is appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the affairs of someone who lacks the mental capacity to make decisions about their property, financial affairs and other matters. A deputy can be:

A friend or relative
The local authority
An experienced solicitor or a Trust Corporation, such as the Thomson Snell & Passmore Trust Corporation.

The Court appoints a deputy only when someone lacks capacity, and usually where there is no Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) or Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place. However, even if there is an EPA or LPA in place, there are situations where it might still be appropriate and in the person’s best interests for a deputy to be appointed instead – such as where there is going to be a damages award.

What is the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Court of Protection Deputyship?

A Lasting Power of Attorney is made by the person before he or she loses capacity. A deputy is appointed by the Court of Protection after the person loses capacity.

How our Court of Protection lawyers can help with Deputyship matters

The Thomson Snell & Passmore Trust Corporation, can act as professional deputies to administer the property and financial affairs of the person who lacks capacity. To find out more, read our information sheet: Thomson Snell & Passmore Trust Corporation
Assist with applications to the Court of Protection for a relative or friend to be appointed as a lay deputy
Support lay deputies through the decision making process by advising on legal matters
Advise and assist deputies with applications to the Court of Protection for statutory wills, gifts, and property transactions
Provice an expert witness service.

Why choose Thomson Snell & Passmore?

We have one of the largest specialist Court of Protection teams in the country, offering a personal and tailored service that few firms undertaking this work can provide.

We have a great deal of experience in this area of practice. We have a dedicated team of lawyers specialising in Court of Protection work. Partners in the firm, both personally and as Directors of our Trust Corporation, act as the professional deputy in over 250 cases. Our Court of Protection team has been ranked by Chambers and The Legal 500, two independent legal directories, in the top tier for Court of Protection work in the UK. We are one of only three firms in the country to achieve this status.

Eddie Fardell and Brian Bacon are highly regarded experts, with many years of experience between them and both regularly receive direct referrals from other solicitors, barristers and professionals.

Eddie is named in Chambers 2018 in the 'Ranked Lawyer' list as a Band 1 'Leader in their Field', in Court of Protection Property and Affairs work (one of only five practitioners to achieve this ranking nationally). Brian is ranked in Chambers as a Band 2 ‘Leader in their Field’, also in Court of Protection Property and Affairs work. Partner Catherine Fuller was also noted as a ‘next generation lawyer’ in The Legal 500.

Our deputyship team provides straightforward, practical advice and have the experience to ensure we secure the best possible outcome for a vulnerable or elderly person who lacks mental capacity.

We have particular experience in dealing with issues for severely disabled clients (including people with brain injuries and birth injuries) and managing large personal injury or clinical negligence awards. We also manage the affairs of many elderly clients suffering from dementia.