Professional Attorneyship And Deputyship Management
Tollers’ Elderly and Vulnerable Client Unit (EVCU) is a specialist team with extensive experience in managing financial affairs cases as a professional Deputy or Attorney.
We work closely with Local Authorities to provide appropriate solutions for vulnerable people, offering a smooth and efficient transition throughout the Court of Protection application process and beyond.
Tollers Professional Attorneyship And Deputyship
Martin Hill is an approved Panel Deputy and Tollers have had a member of the firm on the Court of Protection’s approved Panel list since its inception. Partner of the firm Barry Rogers and Head of the EVCU, Tonina Ashby, are also available to act as Professional Deputies.
Why use a professional Deputy?
Professional Deputies have the advantage of having extensive knowledge and experience of the role. When appointing a professional Deputy who is also appointed to the Court of Protection’s Panel of Deputies, you can have the comfort of knowing that the Court of Protection themselves have scrutinised and inspected the professional concerned and considers them to have the expertise to have been selected for the limited nationwide Panel. It is also worth noting that all Deputies, including professional Deputies, are obliged to complete annual reports to account for funds used for the person who has lost capacity (referred to as “P”) and are subject to spot-checks and inspections by the Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”).
Appointing a third party professional can also relieve the stress and the burden of acting in this legal post, which can often take away from being the friend or relative to the person in question. It can also avoid putting you in a potentially difficult position with other members of P’s family and avoids the possibility of conflicting interests becoming an issue.
Why use Tollers?
Tollers is one of the leading law firms acting in the area of Court of Protection, with a distinct and separate team set up in 2013, which is dedicated to supporting and assisting our professional deputies. Our EVCU team has a wealth of experience in managing client financial affairs in accordance with the Court guidelines and directions.
Our friendly and approachable EVCU team is made up of 5 fee earners and legal assistants of various grades to allow for cost-effective management of client files. Together, the team manages a caseload of over 80 clients who are deemed unable to manage their own financial affairs.
Costs
Whilst there are ongoing Solicitors fees payable for the management of a client’s file in cases where a professional Deputy is appointed, you can be sure that Tollers apply the reduced hourly rates and rules as set by the Court of Protection themselves. Where the prescribed fixed fees set by the Court’s Practice Direction 19B are exceeded, our file is sent to the Senior Courts Cost Office for a full review and detailed assessment of costs. This ensures that an independent third party physically checks the work we have undertaken and ensures that our fees are a reasonable and proportionate reflection of this.
Talk to Tollers
To find out more about our services as professional Attorneys or Deputies, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team or alternatively complete the below form.
