Deputyship Lawyers
When someone has lost their mental capacity and no lasting power of attorney has been made, it is common for a family member to become a deputy of this person.
Understanding Deputyship applications
A deputyship application is a legal process that comes into play when an individual has not created a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and subsequently loses mental capacity. In such cases, concerned family members can seek the intervention of the Family Court under the Mental Capacity Court to appoint a "Deputy." This Deputy is entrusted with the responsibility of representing and managing the person's personal welfare and/or property and affairs. This process typically involves a series of required documents and may take several months for the court to issue the Deputyship order.
A deputy, in essence, is an individual appointed by the Family Court under the Mental Capacity Act to make decisions on behalf of a person who is deemed to lack mental capacity. This appointed individual is often a family member.
But what exactly constitutes a loss of mental capacity?
According to the law, a person is considered to lack mental capacity when they are unable to:
- Understand the relevant information necessary for decision-making.
- Retain that information.
- Use or weigh that information as part of the decision-making process.
- Communicate their decision, whether verbally, through sign language, or any other means.
Our expertise in matters of deputyship and loss of mental capacity
Our family lawyers specialise in assisting families in their deputyship applications. Our track record speaks for itself, with our lawyers consistently recognised as leading Singapore lawyers by prestigious publications such as the Straits Times, Benchmark Litigation, Asian Legal Business, Singapore Business Review, and Doyle's Guide. With over 30 years of history and a dedicated team, our reputation extends to major banks, including DBS, UOB, OCBC, and Maybank, making us a trusted and dependable choice.
We believe in clarity and transparency from the outset. Our fees are fixed and clear, ensuring you understand the costs involved before reaching a decision. To get started, we usually offer a free initial consultation to better comprehend your situation.
Work with an award winning team
PKWA Law has been recognised in The Straits Times ranking of “Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2025” for the fifth consecutive year.
For the 8th consecutive year we were recognised by Doyles as a leading family law firm in Singapore.
For the 5th year in a row we have been named as a leading Family law firm in Benchmark Litigation 2024 awards.
We've consistently received positive reviews from our clients on our service and results.