Protection and Planning for the vulnerable
Our team provides advice on how to provide for, and protect the interests of, individuals who may lack mental capacity to manage their affairs and make decisions for themselves.
A lack of mental capacity may be due to:
- a stroke or brain injury;
- a mental health problem;
- a learning disability;
- dementia;
- confusion, drowsiness or unconsciousness because of an illness or the treatment for it; and
- substance or alcohol misuse.
We can offer guidance and support to those who are:
- concerned about the ability of someone to manage their financial affairs or make decisions about health and welfare issues;
- responsible for managing someone’s financial affairs or making decisions about health and welfare issues; and
- concerned about their own ability to manage their own affairs.
We can advise you on:
- Planning for incapacity;
- General management of financial affairs;
- Providing for vulnerable beneficiaries via trusts; and
- Protection of vulnerable individuals via the Court of Protection.
Bulletins
Why make a will?
A Will is a legal document in which a person declares their intention as to what should happen to their assets after their death. You are not legally obliged to… Read more →
News
Is your LPA fit for purpose?
You may have a Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) that appoints persons (“attorneys”) to look after your financial affairs and/or health and welfare at a time in the future when… Read more →
News
HNW Pitfalls to avoid: Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA)
The article was first published by Spear’s on November 10, 2018. As incidents of financial abuse against the are on the elderly increase, its important to look at rigid LPA’s,… Read more →
News
Ann Stanyer: Are electronic signatures safe for vulnerable clients?
Ann Stanyer’s article on the Law Commission’s consultation on the use of electronic signatures in legal documents has been published in Professional Adviser and its sister publication Retirement Planner. Ann examines… Read more →
News
PROTECTION, PLANNING AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION FOR THE VULNERABLE
Wedlake Bell is a central London law firm that has been servicing its clients for over 200 years. It has 61 partners and is one of the top 100 firms… Read more →
News
Ministry of Justice Power of Attorney Fee Refund Scheme
If you applied to register a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) during the period 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017, you could be… Read more →
Bulletins
THE POWERS THAT BE
A comparison of the protection against the threat of financial abuse given by LPA attorneys and Court of Protection deputies. ABSTRACT This article discusses what safeguards are in place to… Read more →
Bulletins
LPAs: Safeguarding the client or facilitating abuse by attorneys?
The increase in people registering LPAs is heartening, but there are concerns that some attorneys are taking advantage of the ease with which they can be prepared, warns Ann Stanyer.… Read more →
Bulletins
Duties of Attorneys under a Lasting Power of Attorney (‘LPA’) for Financial Affairs
1. When does an Attorney’s authority begin? An LPA cannot be used until it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (‘OPG’). If the LPA contains a… Read more →