​The review on Legal Aid has restarted following a pause induced by the impact of COVID-19. Justice Minister, Alex Chalk, informed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid that the review has re-commenced with a plan to publish findings in Spring 2021.

​There is little doubt Covid-19 has caused many issues for families all over the world. We are having to deal with problems that we didn’t know existed only a few months ago. The current pandemic was unimaginable and as a result, people have not had time to plan for a worst case scenario.

​We were recently involved in an unusual and important case to execute a Statutory Will for one of our client’s (‘P’). It became apparent that the most recent Will made by P had been made in secret under undue influence (whereby a person ‘P’ is induced to act otherwise than by their own free will or without adequate attention to the consequences).

A Deputy, appointed to manage P’s property and finances where they lack capacity to do so themselves, must submit a report to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) on an annual basis. The report allows the Deputy to account for their actions/any decisions made on P’s behalf during that reporting period.

Ramsdens’ Court of Protection team held their annual CoP Conference supported by a panel of experts on the 28 November 2019.

Abuse Partner Natalie Marrison discusses a recent report, in which the Joint Committee on Human Rights said cuts to Legal Aid have left them with “grave concerns for access to justice”.

The Court of Protection appoints a deputy to make decisions on behalf of a person who lacks capacity. A deputy can be appointed in relation to either, or both, a person’s property and affairs and personal welfare.

The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill ("the Bill") has now been passed by both the House of Commons and House of Lords, meaning that it will become law following Royal Assent.