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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. 

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.

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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.

You can read more about deputyships here.

Next steps

To talk to one of our team about applying for a deputyship order please email @email 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

Emily Spencer has handled our Will & Probate and has explained what we needed to know and made it a very straightforward experience. She has been extremely patient with our sometimes tardy responses.
Mr & M
Having used Winston Solicitors twice, once for the sale of a house and also for Probate. Both experiences were very good, and will be using again when the need arises.
Mike
We have created our WIlls and Power of Attorney with the assistance of Emily Spencer at Winstons. Great service with everthing clearly and considerately explained and executed with us. Would thoroughly recommend Emily & Winstons to anyone seeking this type of assistance.
Suzannah
The service was excellent would definable recommend to friends and family
Sheila
They were businesslike, thorough and pleasant to deal with.
David
We had our Wills updated and redrafted very recently. We received a really good service from Emily. She gave us very good advice, was extremly communicative and responsive and enabled us to get the Wills we wanted.
Anonymous
I used Winston Solicitors and was assigned Emily Spencer as my solicitor for assisting with making a will. I found the process easy and Emily was helpful with advice and guidance. I would definitely recommend using this firm for any legal issues.
Anonymous
Thank you very much to Emily at Winston Solicitors for drawing up my will. Emily went through each section of the will, sent me a list of points to consider and answered all of my questions which I found very helpful for making my will.
Jacqueline
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