Court of Protection solicitors

Specialist Court of Protection solicitors providing expert legal advice on property, financial and personal welfare matters, helping protect the interests of vulnerable individuals.

Trusted Court of Protection solicitors protecting the interests of vulnerable individuals.

Our Court of Protection service helps to protect the best interests of those who may no longer have the mental capacity to make important decisions about their own welfare or finances. This may be due to illness, advancing age or as a result of a personal injury, or medical negligence.

Our Court of Protection solicitors have over 20 years’ experience working with vulnerable clients and their loved ones, helping with appointing and supporting deputies, acting as a professional deputy, community care, adapting properties, statutory wills, personal injury trusts and disputes.

Nationally recognised Court of Protection specialists with decades of experience
Our specialist team provides expert advice and can act as professional deputies, or support appointed deputies in managing property, financial affairs and personal welfare matters.

Sensitive, practical legal advice tailored to the unique circumstances of each client and their family.
We explain complex legal matters in plain English, ensuring you understand your options and can make informed decisions with confidence.

Our Court of Protection expertise

Our extensive Court of Protection team is highly experienced and advises on everything from one-off property and affairs matters, to managing a compensation award in the best interests of a client. Our Court of Protection service is led by Ruth Meyer who often acts for clients as a professional Deputy or Trustee in matters involving injuries which lead to claims for compensation, and Ruth also acts where there are no family or friends who can take on this responsibility.

When supporting, or acting as a deputy, we can provide as much or as little support as required. Quite often we are asked to prepare the application for Deputyship, but sometimes we are only asked to complete annual accounts each year or even one-off applications to the Court for care allowances, holiday homes, gifts, and tax planning.

We act for clients all over the country from Cornwall to Yorkshire and will often visit clients at their home address where they may feel more comfortable. Our professional connections with case managers, care agencies, therapists, bankers, fund managers and accountants are far-reaching so that we can provide a holistic and supportive service. We have a Trust Corporation of four partners and a senior solicitor. All directors can act as a Deputy or Trustee, which provides a seamless service should one Director be unable to act.

Court of Protection FAQs

What is Court of Protection?

The Court of Protection is a specialist Court to protect and support vulnerable people who are unable to make decisions regarding their finances or health and welfare, as they do not have the mental capacity to make those decisions. The Court of Protection decides on whether a person lacks mental capacity.

In cases where someone lacks mental capacity, the Court appoints a Deputy to look after the affairs of the vulnerable person and makes decisions in their best interests.

Find out more about a Court of Protection application.

What powers do the Court of Protection have?

The Court of Protection has the power to:

Decide if someone has the mental capacity to make financial or welfare decisions for themselves.
Decide who should be appointed as deputy.
Give permission for someone to make a one-off decision for someone who lacks capacity.
Handle emergency applications in urgent circumstances.
Handle decisions around lasting power of attorneys, statutory wills, gifts.

What is a Court of Protection solicitor?

A Court of Protection solicitor is appointed to support the client in making decisions, represent the client’s best interests and can also represent in court. A specialist solicitor will be appointed in situations where the client is vulnerable or doesn’t have the mental capacity to make these decisions for themselves. This could be about financial or welfare decisions.

Who can our Court of Protection solicitors help?

Our experienced team specialise in all Court of Protection matters and can help:

Those who are responsible for a vulnerable person’s affairs and need some support.
Those who are concerned about someone else’s ability to manage your own, or a vulnerable person’s affairs.
Those who are concerned about their own ability to manage their own affairs.
We also often work with a range of professionals such as case managers, financial advisors and personal injury solicitors.

When should you go to the Court of Protection?

To ensure the best interests of the vulnerable person, decisions that are often referred to the Court of Protection are:

What decisions should be made on behalf of the individual.
Appointing deputies who will make decisions on behalf of the individual.
Where the individual should live.
What care the individual needs, both now and in the future.
Financial arrangements.
Who can visit the vulnerable person.

In cases where there are disagreements around serious decisions, our Court of Protection solicitors can also support and represent you.

How long does a Court of Protection application take?

A deputyship application can take approximately 4–6 months for a Deputy to be appointed. Timelines can differ depending on if any further information is required in support of your application. In specific circumstances, sometimes this process can be quicker.

Statutory Will applications can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Personal injury trusts should be set up as soon as possible, as they must be set up within 52 weeks of the first compensation payment being received, even if this is an interim payment.

Contact us

If you would like advice regarding a Court of Protection matter, please complete the form and one of our specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

Rather give us a call:

0800 124 4845

Our Court of Protection case studies

Our Court of Protection solicitors

What our clients say

Very positive experience

We have had a very positive experience with Boyes Turner – we had had many months of difficulties with our daughter’s previous care provider, alongside our local authority making decisions about future care that were against her best interests. The advice and interventions from our solicitor at Boyes Turner, James Pantling-Skeet, were invaluable in arranging the transfer of care to a much better care provider that we had identified, rather than the choice of our local authority. Several months on, it is an immense relief that we finally have care provision that is meeting the needs of our daughter.

Boyes Turner Client

What our clients say

Very gratefully received

I just wanted to thank you not only for your professionalism but also for your compassion and support for Anja and Tom’s situation. You have had a profound impact for Anja, giving hope where there was none. I am sure you will say you are just doing your job but the unexpected humanity you have displayed that is not normally received from lawyers has been very gratefully received.

Marcus

What our clients say

Thank you for a great result

On behalf of my myself and my family, I would like to thank you for keeping us informed through every stage, and negotiating a great result.

Boyes Turner client

What our clients say

Professional and efficient

Everything was handled in a friendly and sympathetic, but also professional and efficient, manner.

Irene Dowdall

What our clients say

Review following handling of our family’s social care case.

We contacted Boyes Turner earlier this year after we ran into a dispute with our local authority. This was about a social care matter and learning disability. The case was handled with professionalism and tact.

Andrew

What our clients say

I would recommend

I would not hesitate in recommending Boyes Turner to anyone.

Mr Hopkins

What our clients say

James is strategic and has high-quality written work

“James is compassionate and results based. He helps defuse legal situations and has a gentle and convincing manner…He is very precise, with an eye for detail, and very approachable.

Chambers and Partners 2024

What our clients say

James Pantling-Skeet is absolutely stellar

They have the unique ability to run complex cases involving community care issues as well as education and disability law. James Pantling-Skeet is absolutely stellar. One to watch for sure.

Legal 500 – 2024

Why choose Boyes Turner?

Watch the video1min 17secs

All decisions are always made in a client’s best interests, leaving the family free to concentrate on the care of their family member and not be burdened by paperwork. We also understand the emotional and practical implications of acting for a person who lacks mental capacity and the impact this can have on families. By appointing us as a professional Deputy, the family will have peace of mind in the knowledge that their family member is well-supported, and all financial paperwork is in order.

We provide the highest standards of advice, understand that each individual has different needs, and offer a bespoke and caring service.
We have established relationships with care agencies, therapists, fund managers and accountants to provide a ‘joined up’ approach for clients.
We have an extensive and highly experienced Court of Protection team with proven skills in supporting clients in professional deputyship, community care, personal injury trusts and statutory wills.
We are nationally acclaimed Court of Protection solicitors. Boyes Turner is recognised as a leading law firm by legal directories Chambers Directory and the Legal 500.