Court of Protection Solicitors
When someone loses the ability to make decisions for themselves, it can feel frightening and overwhelming. We know how heavy that responsibility can be, and how important it is to feel supported by people who understand what you’re going through.
From our Plymouth office, our team supports individuals and families throughout Devon, Cornwall and beyond, offering clear, compassionate guidance when it’s needed most. We know how overwhelming this journey can feel.
The Court of Protection exists to safeguard people who cannot make decisions due to illness or injury, ensuring their wishes, dignity and wellbeing remain central to every decision.
Our Court of Protection solicitors can advise you on:
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Becoming a Court of Protection deputy
- Acting as a Court of Protection deputy
- Appointing a professional Court of Protection deputy
- Making routine or contested applications to the Court of Protection
- Compensation Protection Trusts referred to as Personal Injury Trust previously
- Care funding
- Advice to family members who are appointed as deputies or attorneys.
Here To Support Families
We know how confusing and emotional it can be to step in and manage a loved one’s affairs. Our specialist team will explain your options clearly, guide you through the legal process, and make sure everything is handled with care, respect, and attention to detail.
You’ll always know what’s happening and what the next step is.
Jump to a section
- How our Court of Protection solicitors can help you
- How to decide what is in a person’s best interests
- Court of Protection costs & legal fees
- Our Court of Protection Team
How our Court of Protection Team Can Help
We support individuals, families and professionals across England and Wales with:
- Acting under a Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) or Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA)
- Becoming or acting as a Court of Protection Deputy
- Appointing a professional Deputy
- Property and financial affairs applications
- Health and welfare applications
- Contested Court of Protection applications for both Property and Affairs and Health and Welfare matters.
- Advice for existing Deputies and Attorneys
- Personal Injury Trusts
Property & Financial Affairs Deputyship
Applying to Become a Deputy
If you are stepping in to help a family member or friend manage their finances, we guide you through every stage of the deputyship application. We prepare the forms, liaise with the Court, and ensure you feel confident in your role. Once appointed, our role starts immediately, with our team available whenever you need reassurance or advice.
Professional Deputyship
Where there is no suitable family member, or friend, our Partner and Senior Private Client Solicitor, Samantha Buckthought and Head of Court of Protection, Hannah Goodwin, can act as a professional Deputy. They support clients across the South West, England and Wales with a variety of capacity issues including:
- People living with Dementia
- Adults and children with brain injuries
- Adults and children with learning disabilities
- Individuals with mental health conditions
- Adults and children with compensation awards
- People living alone or without close family
Samantha Buckthought is one of a small number of Panel Deputies in the Southwest appointed by the Office of the Public Guardian. Her highly experienced team manages the practicalities with care and consistency, ensuring every decision is made in the person’s best interests.
Bespoke Court of Protection Advice
We can help with specific issues such as:
- Applications to Sell or purchase property
- Applications to appoint replacement trustees
- Applications to author gifts
- Application for a Statutory Will
- Applications to challenge a decision by an Attorney
- Supporting Deputies with reports, compliance and best interests’ meetings/ decisions
Health & Welfare
Throughout life, we all face important decisions – where we live, what medical treatment we receive, who we spend time with, and how we are cared for. When someone loses the ability to make these choices, families often feel frightened or conflicted.
Our new Health & Welfare team will support clients across the South West with:
- Health and welfare deputyship applications
- Disputes about care, residence or contact
- Best interest decisions around medical treatment
- Applications to the Court of Protection where there is disagreement
When families or professionals cannot agree, or when a decision is simply too difficult, the Court of Protection can step in to determine what is truly in the person’s best interests. We guide you through this process with compassion, ensuring the individual’s voice, values and wellbeing remain central.
Deprivation of Liberty (DOLS)
For people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about where they live to receive care or treatment, the law provides safeguards to prevent them from being deprived of their liberty in a care home or hospital against their wishes and unlawfully. Our team supports individuals and families in their right to appeal.
We provide the following types of support:
- Specialist advice in this complex and ever-changing field of law
- Practical assistance in sourcing appropriate care and treatment
- Negotiations with local authorities and health trusts
- Representation in appeals to the Court of Protection
Best Interests & Decision Making
Every decision made for someone who lacks capacity must be rooted in their best interests. We help you understand:
- How to have capacity assessed
- How to involve the person as much as possible
- How to consider their wishes, feelings, beliefs and values
- How to consult family, carers and professionals
- How to choose the least restrictive option
If disagreements arise, we can support you through mediation, best interests’ meetings or, where necessary, Court applications.
Why choose us
Legal advice that feels human
1300+ years of legal expertise
No jargon. Just real support.
Court of Protection Costs & Fees
We are always transparent about costs. Court fees, capacity assessments, security bonds and supervision fees vary depending on circumstances, and we explain these clearly from the outset. Many costs can be paid from the protected person’s estate, and we help you understand what applies in your situation.
Our Court of Protection Team
Our dedicated team includes solicitors, legal executives, legal assistants and paralegals with extensive experience in deputyship, attorney ship, acting as professional trustees and complex Court of Protection matters.
We understand how emotionally challenging this journey can be. Our aim is to provide steady, compassionate support and ensure every vulnerable person’s best interests are protected, working closely with families across England and Wales.
Specialist Legal Guidance
We support clients through deputyship applications, managing property and financial affairs, and acting as professional deputies where needed.
Whether you’re applying for a loved one or already acting as a deputy, we’ll be by your side to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
If you need guidance, reassurance or practical support, our team is here to help. Click here to meet the Court of Protection team members.
Our accreditations and awards
