When a party fails to disclose assets in divorce proceedings, the courts are entitled to draw appropriate inferences from the non-disclosure. This was demonstrated in a recent case in which the Family Court described the husband's conduct of the...
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is a Government body designed to protect those individuals who lack mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
With over 1100 staff in offices located in Nottingham, Birmingham and London the OPG assists the Public Guardian in carrying out its legal functions contained within the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The OPG has a number of responsibilities and these include:
- Supporting individuals in their role as deputy and ensuring that deputies act in a client’s best interests
- Ensuring deputies act in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Assessing the level of supervision that a deputyship will require
- Registering Enduring and Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Ensuring the public register is maintained and all deputies and attorneys are recorded
- Looking into reports of allegations of abuse (financial or physical) or neglect against deputies and attorneys.
The OPG will also arrange to speak with newly appointed deputies on two occasions. Firstly, a case manager will make an introductory phone call and will book what is known as a ‘settling-in call’. During the second ‘settling-in call’ the OPG case manager will discuss various things including the terms of the court Order, the client’s current financial situation and what funds should and should not be used for.
It is important to note that whilst the OPG can provide lots of helpful information to both attorneys and deputies it cannot give legal or financial advice. If you are an attorney or deputy and require advice about your duties and responsibilities then contact T G Baynes today.
For more information on the OPG and to find contact details please visit their website.