Deputyships - Appointing a Deputy Solicitor

Appointing a Deputy Solicitor

Appointment of a Deputy Solicitor by the Court of Protection

If a person has not made a Lasting Power of Attorney or an Enduring Power of Attorney before 1 October 2007 and that person becomes mentally incapable of managing their financial affairs, something may have to be done to appoint a deputy solicitor.

To discuss making a deputyship application, call us on 0113 320 5000

Deputyship and Attorneys

The Court of Protection deals with legal matters for vulnerable people and people who don’t have mental capacity. They can appoint someone to act in a person’s best interests as their deputy.

Although there are similarities between attorneys and deputies, the deputyship application process is longer and more costly than applying for a Lasting Power of Attorney. In addition, the deputy must comply with extensive reporting obligations to the Office of the Public Guardian on an ongoing basis.

A person can become someone’s deputy for property and financial affairs, or health and welfare, although the latter is rarer.

Next steps

To talk to one of our team about applying for a deputyship order please email wills&probate@winstonsolicitors.co.uk or call us on 0113 320 5000.

NB: timescales and fees are subject to change – please ask for details.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows a person (the donor) to appoint someone or more than one person they trust (attorneys) to make decisions for them when they no longer have the mental capacity to make the decisions themselves. An LPA has to be made while the donor still has the mental capacity to give their consent to it.

No. Your family will have no access to your bank accounts and cannot sell your property unless they make an application to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which is a costly and lengthy process.

Client feedback

We are very grateful to Emily and all at Winston Solictors who have gone above and beyond and been so helpful and professional. All queries were responded to quickly and it really felt llike a personal service, tailored to me. We are extremely grateful to them for everything.

Katherine

Emily SPENCER gave me a helpful and timely and efficient update of my will, problem free.

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Anonymous

Emily Spencer helped us review & redraft our wills. From start to finish Emily was very efficient and helpful. She explained legal issues. Very clearly for us. We would highly recommend her.Many thanksLouise Elliott

Louise

Aged 91 I needed to rewrite my will and transfer my affairs from a city-centre solicitor to one more accessible for myself and my executors. Winston proved an ideal choice. Emily was most helpful and efficient with the will, and I am confident that my estate will be dealt with just as well.

David

I recently had my will written by Winston's Solicitors, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From my very first contact with the firm, every member of staff was professional, courteous, and attentive to my needs.The solicitor who handled my will took the time to explain everything clearly, making sure I understood each part of the process and felt confident in the decisions I was making. There was no rushing or jargon — just clear, patient guidance through what can often feel like a daunting task.What stood out most was the consistent professionalism across the entire team, from initial enquiry to the final signing. It's clear that client care is a genuine priority at this firm, not just a tagline.I'd happily recommend Winston's Solicitors to anyone looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable, and professional team to handle their will or other legal matters. Thank you for making the process so straightforward and stress-free.

Richard

We are very grateful to Winston Solicitors for their help in sorting out matters relating to a Last Will and Testament along with a Family Trust. As this was not a straightforward matter, we had no idea where to begin but, thanks to Monika Volsing and her team, this has now been completed. It has taken a good few months but Monika has been there to explain and carry out every step that needed to be undertaken. There is no way we could have done this without Winston Solicitors and I cannot recommend them highly enough

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Emily provided very clear advice and was extremely professional, proactive and efficient.

Philippa