*Latest news: Andy Riddle our Managing Director recounts his experience of a personal hearing held with the Vice President of the Court of Protection when it came to costs for one of his matters. It was a sad and frustrating case from his perspective where P passed with considerable debt to her name due to the inactions of the court. Read More here

Professional Deputies manage the property and financial affairs of adults who are deemed mentally incapable of doing this themselves, and have no family or friends that could or want to assist them with this vital day-to-day task. These adults are some of the most vulnerable members of society, and safeguarding their assets is at the heart of what we do. We do this in one of three ways:

Appointeeship: offered to a person who just receives state benefits, but lacks the mental capacity to manage their own finances. Appointees are appointed by the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP), and are provided with the authority to manage the state benefits of the client. This is the extent of an Appointees control.

Deputyship: works in the same way as appointeeship but offers the protection of the client’s assets, savings or property. Deputies are appointed by the Court of Protection (CoP). The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is entrusted with supervising the work of deputies appointed by the CoP. Deputies are provided with sealed legal documents allowing them to act for an individual in all aspects of their financial affairs.

Lasting Powers of Attorney: allows an individual to appoint someone to make decisions (either about Property & Financial Affairs or Health & Welfare) on their behalf, if and when they are unable to make such decisions for themselves at a future point in time, due to loss of mental capacity.

Drafting applications to the Court of Protection for members of the public also forms a large part of our business. Such applications cover the following areas:

• Property & Financial Affairs
• Health & Welfare
• Change of Trustee
• Gifting
• Amended/extended powers
• Contested applications

We work closely with local authorities, charities, not-for-profit organisations, social enterprises, law practices, care providers, Primary Care Trusts, the NHS, advocates & the general public. Our clients come from a range of care groups including: Elderly, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Alcohol & Substance Misuse, and Physical & Sensory Disabilities.

With over forty-five years of experience in the field, we are able to provide an all-round money management system for people that are unable to manage their own finances due to mental incapacity. In what can be a very difficult and complicated area of work for all involved, we believe our systems are at the forefront of our success. This is achieved by the software we use, our specific expertise, a cost-effective approach, security at the core of our ideals, practicality and lastly our caring approach. By working with the wider care team that supports the individual, we are able to concentrate fully on our main responsibility – administering our client’s funds & assets.

Authorised by the Court of Protection and regulated by the Office of the Public Guardian.