If someone you know has suffered an injury which impacts on their ability to make decisions, it may be necessary for a deputy to be appointed for that person.

The circumstances where this might happen involve where someone has been involved in a serious accident and, as the result of which, has suffered a brain injury. Brain injuries are very complex injuries and the impact they have varies from person to person. For some, a brain injury may impact on their ability to make decisions about their own welfare or finances. A deputy can be appointed by the Court of Protection to protect and support that person’s interests.

Where someone has suffered a serious injury, and their litigation claim is ongoing, this can be an extremely difficult and stressful time for the injured person and their relatives. The appointment of a professional deputy to deal with the management of a person’s property and financial affairs can help relieve some of the pressure to allow the injured party and their family to focus on recovery.

At Sintons, our dedicated Court of Protection team focus on supporting those who have suffered serious injuries, including brain injury, with the management of their property and financial affairs. We work closely with our clients and their relatives to ensure that we have a full understanding of their needs to make sure that any decisions made reflect the views of our client.

We become involved from the early stages of a claim and work closely with our highly regarded Neurotrauma team, helping to oversee and report the needs of our client to ensure maximum possible financial recoverability as part of the personal injury claim.

Examples of what a professional deputy can assist with include:

• Paying your bills
• Accessing welfare benefits
• Investing money and working with independent financial advisors to ensure sustainability of compensation awards or interim payments
• Budgeting for the individual’s future
• Direct recruitment for support teams
• Working with case managers and other specialist therapists
• The sale and purchase of property and overseeing any specialist adaptations needed
• Applying for a Statutory Will.

We act for a variety of clients, with a range of needs. Our clients include:

• Adults and children with severe acquired brain injuries
• Adults with learning difficulties
• Elderly clients with dementia

Our Court of Protection team can support clients and their families throughout the course of litigation, but our involvement does not need to end upon settlement. The first few years after a claim has settled can often be the most challenging and our team can ensure that the client is able to adapt to any new living environments, including supporting them through property adaptations, in order allow individuals to focus on rehabilitation whilst we focus on the ongoing management of their finances and budgeting.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any assistance.