Services for Deputies

Acting as a deputy for someone with reduced mental capacity is a responsibility involving great legal complexity. Our Public Law solicitors offer a range of advice and support to help both lay and professional deputies fulfil their duty to act in vulnerable people’s best interests.

All deputies can benefit from expert advice, whether you’re acting on behalf of a loved one or you’re an experienced professional with a number of clients.

The laws surrounding mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, health and social care provision, and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are varied and complex. Disputes about these issues can be difficult and intimidating – especially when you’re going up against a public body to protect a vulnerable person.

Our solicitors have both the expertise and the resources you need when facing these challenges.

We’re ranked number one in the country for Court of Protection welfare and medical treatment issues by the independent legal directories Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. We’re the UK’s largest specialist team in this field, with national reach across health, social care, Court of Protection welfare, and education work. Our solicitors have been involved with many high-profile cases that have had a lasting impact on government policy and have set legal precedents.

Whether you’re already facing a dispute or simply need advice on the best way to fulfil your role as deputy, we can help. We’ll help you make the right decisions for your client and put them in action.

We can:

Advise on disputes with local authority social services and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) about social care funding, NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, and EHCPs
Challenge decisions about EHCPs in the First Tier Tribunal
Represent you or your client in welfare applications to the Court of Protection
Advise on mental capacity issues and best interest decisions
Give statements about the likely future cost of public law support or welfare deputyships for people going through personal injury claims
Help you stay compliant with CoP guidance about your role as a deputy and any conflicts of interest
Act as an Accredited Legal Representative (ALR) for clients in the Court of Protection and provide the evidence for a court to appoint an ALR.

We have a range of funding options available to help you access the support you need, and legal aid may be available in some deprivation of liberty cases. We regularly give estimates that have been approved by a judge in the Court of Protection. We’re always fully transparent about costs and can discuss your funding options before you commit.

Out of hours service

Legal aid available in some cases

Involved in recent high profile medical treatment court cases

Offices nationwide

Call one of our team free on

0370 1500 100

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Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year

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0370 1500 100

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Mathieu Culverhouse Partner Meet the team

Services For Deputies - More Information

I feel like I've taken on the world and beaten it, not just for me but for everyone else.”

Mrs R, Client

Case Study – Helping Grace Secure Care Funding

“In this case we were able to make the local authority sit up and pay attention after they had effectively ignored the deputy’s requests for assistance for many months.

By taking the matter to the Court of Protection to seek authorisation of Grace’s deprivation of liberty, we were able to force the local authority to come to the table and to engage with the deputy over the issue of Grace’s future care arrangements.” – Mat Culverhouse, Partner

Awards & Accreditations

We're always proud to be recognised for the work we do for our clients and have been named as a leading firm in the latest legal guides - which provide information and recommendations about lawyers and law firms in the UK