When a member of your family becomes physically or mentally incapable of dealing properly with financial matters, and if he or she has not previously made an Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney, an Application must be made to the Court of Protection.

The Court will need to be given all the details of the Patient's income and savings and investments with a view to Orders being made to secure that property for the longer term. The Court will also need a medical certificate confirming that the patient is mentally incapable.

It is normal for a close relative, or perhaps two of them, to be appointed by the Court as Receivers to deal with the day to day financial matters and they will be required to make periodic returns to the Court on how the income of the Patient has been spent.

Although called the "Court of Protection", under normal circumstances there is no requirement to appear in a Court and matters are generally dealt with by correspondence by the Public Guardianship Office which is a civil service department.