If your loved one doesn’t have capacity to manage their own affairs, the court has the power to appoint a deputy to make those decisions on their behalf. The Court of Protection also helps handle emergency applications should you need to have a decision made quickly; it can make decisions regarding Lasting Power of Attorney; it will make decisions on statutory wills and gifts, and can give permission for you to make one-off judgments about your loved one if needed.
Note: A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is appointed by the individual before they lose mental capacity. If a decision-maker needs to be appointed but the individual no longer has capacity, the family may apply for deputyship or seek the help of a professional deputy. Read more below.