You are in section Home Help and FAQs | first direct bank Life Events | Bank Support - first direct bank Third Party Access To Bank Accounts - first direct bank Court of Protection order Current Page

Court of Protection order

The Court of Protection (COP) makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for those who can no longer do so themselves.

A Court of Protection order is usually introduced if the person needing help has lost mental capacity and they don’t have a power of attorney. The COP can authorise deputies to make decisions on behalf of the person needing help (the donor).

The application can be a lengthy process, and the proposed deputy will need to apply to the court, rather than the person needing the help. The court is there to protect and safeguard those who can no longer manage or look after their own affairs.

If the deputy doesn’t bank with first direct and they’re registering court of protection, they’ll need to provide us with identification.

Understanding mental capacity

Having mental capacity means you're able to make and communicate your own decisions.

Someone who is lacking mental capacity can't do one or more of the following things:

Understand information given to them about a particular decision
Retain information long enough to make a decision
Weigh up information to make a decision
Communicate their decision

For example, someone may lack mental capacity if they have one of the following conditions:

dementia
a severe learning disability
a brain injury
a mental health condition

For more information on understanding mental capacity, see www.nhs.uk Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first].

How to register a Court of Protection order

Step 1 - get everything ready
You'll need the original or a certified copy of the Court of Protection order

You’ll also need:
• the full name and contact details of any deputies
• the donor’s full name

Step 2 - call us
Give us a call on 03 450 511376.

We'll gather all the information we need from you and let you know which documents to send us.

Step 3 - send us your documentation
Next, send us any documentation we've asked you for.

Step 4 – registration
Once we’ve received your documents, the Court of Protection order will be registered.

We’ll contact you to let you know when it’s registered.

FAQs

Who can apply for a Court of Protection order?

If you're a friend, relative or know someone who has lost their mental capacity, you can apply to the Court of Protection to become their deputy.

To apply for a Court of Protection order visit gov.uk Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first]. You may want to seek legal advice before applying.

What is a deputy?

A deputy is a person appointed by the Court of Protection to manage the affairs of someone who lacks the mental capacity to manage their own affairs.
Find out more at gov.uk Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first]

What account information can you give me to help with my Court of Protection application?

We only share information with the Office of the Public Guardian, not with solicitors, friends, or relatives working on an application. So, if you're not a signatory on the account, we can't provide you with any details about it.

What information can you give the Court of Protection or the Office of the Public Guardian about the way I'm managing the account as a deputy?