Tag: court of protection

Supporting you during World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and beyond

September 29, 2021, By
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

This Alzheimer’s Awareness month, we are shining a light on the amazing work our Solicitors do.

Alzheimer’s affects nearly 50 million people worldwide, yet much is still unknown about the disease. From knowing what causes Alzheimer’s to finding a drug to cure or slow it down, Scientists have got a long way to go.

What we do know, however, is how to improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s and the families who support them. Read on to see how our solicitors can help those affected in Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and thereafter.

What our solicitors do

Court of Protection

Alzheimer’s disease causes dementia by damaging the brain. This leads to memory loss and difficulty thinking, solving problems and making sentences. The changes can start small but then increase in intensity and begin affecting mood and behaviour.

When someone loses this mental capacity, they struggle to make decisions for themselves. They may need help managing their finances, deciding where to live or making healthcare decisions.

The Court of Protection will decide whether someone has the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. If a person is assessed as lacking capacity, the Court Of Protection is able to appoint deputies to make ongoing decisions. We have a dedicated Court of Protection team who are able to assist with Court of Protection deputyship applications and provide specific and specialist advice on Court of Protection matters.

Going through the Court of Protection can be time consuming and complex, so it is important you have the right solicitor who can make this process as quick and easy as possible. Our Solicitors are approachable and friendly and we offer support, advice and assistance, often at times when families are suffering to adjust or in their hour of need.

Find more about Court of Protection here.

Lasting Power of Attorney

A person with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease may want a trusted person to make decisions on their behalf. This person will be your Attorney for either finances, health and welfare, or both. You can have more than one Attorney.

Whilst you have sufficient capacity, it is recommended that you appoint an Attorney who can help you to make decisions or make decisions on your behalf. An Attorney is appointed by signing a legal document called a ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’. Our Private Client team can support you with the correct drafting and registration of your Lasting Power of Attorney.

We are able to offer advice as to how the Power of Attorney works in practice, and we can support you to draw up a document detailing who will receive the lasting power of attorney. This will be done as quickly and easily as possible, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands if you do lose capacity in the future.

Find more about Lasting Power of Attorney here.

Going the extra mile

Our Court of Protection team continue to go the extra mile for whom we act for as either Professional Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney, or Professional Court of Protection Deputy. The Court of Protection team take a holistic approach to their work to ensure that the clients they act for are able to enjoy their life despite their diagnosis.

This Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, we are hearing from Ann Smith, Paralegal from our Private Client team. She explains that getting to know our clients is really important. It helps us to make informed decisions on their behalf, with knowledge of their past wishes, feelings, likes and needs. “When shopping for clothes, we use this information to buy items we know they would like- from choosing their favourite colour to specific clothes styles and sizes.”

We also put knowledge of clients’ hobbies to good use by organising trips and days out. “One particular client lives at home and previously loved fishing. With this information, we are now looking into arranging a fishing trip for him.” Participating in meaningful activities is incredibly important for someone with Alzheimer’s; improving their general wellbeing and connection with themselves.

Get support this Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and would like support, you can contact us on 0161 969 3131 or fill in our contact form and one of the team will be in touch.

Alternatively, there is a range of advice available on the Alzheimer’s Society website. Or you can give them a call on 0333 150 3456 to find the right support for you.

Legal Services For People With Disabilities (And Their Families)

November 24, 2020, By Slater Heelis
legal-services-people-with-disabilities

We have a breadth of services available to assist disabled people and their families. From planning for the future and getting finances in order, to personal injury claims, our cross-departmental team of legal experts can offer expertise and guidance. We will be with you every step of the way.

A snapshot of services for people with disabilities and those who have suffered significant injuries

Scroll through a selection of our services which may be helpful. This resource was used for a Disability Awareness Day we exhibited recently. We thought we ought to share it with a broader audience so that people with disabilities and those who have suffered significant injuries can find legal services in one place.

– Court of Protection

Many people don’t know where to start when it comes to protecting their, or a loved one’s, finances whilst in care.

  • Who is managing the property & finances?
  • Has a full financial assessment been carried out?
  • Are the right benefits being claimed?

We can help.

At Slater Heelis, we have a dedicated Court of Protection team, which includes two court-appointed Panel Deputies, who can take on cases where a financial Deputy is required.

As Court of Protection specialists, the Private Client department act on behalf of people with disabilities or individuals who lack sufficient mental capacity to make important decisions for themselves. They will manage day-to-day financial affairs to ensure the protection of short and long-term care needs.

– Wills, Trusts & Power of Attorney

Our friendly experts can help with:

  • Court of Protection Applications
  • Acting as your Attorney, Deputy or Trustee
  • Financial planning & management, including trusts
  • Liaising with the Local Authority on your behalf
  • Power of Attorney
  • Tax planning
  • Wills

View our full range of Private Client services here.

– Birth Injury Claims

If you, your partner, or child has suffered an injury during the birth process then it is crucial to seek legal advice at the earliest opportunity.

Many people know all too well that injuries during birth may be life-changing and require long-term, or lifetime, care, assistance and rehabilitation. This can apply to either the mother or the child.

While we can adapt to the circumstances we find ourselves in, there may be scope for compensation from a legal perspective.

Our experienced team of birth injury solicitors will work hard to secure an effective treatment plan, and ensure your family can focus on the most important aspects of physical and psychological recovery. For further peace of mind, you can rest assured in the knowledge that you will be dealing directly with a personal injury lawyer, not a junior.

Plus, the team operates on a no-win, no-fee basis. They will only take on cases with a strong chance of success.

– Brain Injury Claims

When a loved one suffers a brain injury through no fault of their own, families must seek immediate legal advice to safeguard that person’s health and recovery. Our specialist brain injury solicitors are here to support the injured person and their family, and to guide them through the claims process.

Beyond the immediate physical damage, brain injuries put a huge strain on finances, quality of life and family relationships. Our brain injury claims specialists will help to secure you the best possible care and maximise compensation for the injury.

We specialise in coordinating medical assessments, occupational therapy sessions and long-term rehabilitation. Our specialists save families a lot of stress by working directly with insurance companies and serious injury case managers throughout the claim process.

The team also liaises closely with our Court of Protection colleagues to advise on arrangements when a client can no longer make decisions by themselves.

– Clinical Negligence

If you, or somebody close to you, has suffered poor quality treatment at the hands of a medical professional, our clinical negligence solicitors can advise whether you have a claim.

Our clinical negligence solicitors deal with cases involving both the NHS and private sector. They understand how clinical errors and malpractice often put significant strain on families, finances, careers, and home life.

The team will strive to support recovery by helping you access expert analysis and treatment, and take the stress out of the claims process.

After an initial free consultation, we will be able to evaluate the most appropriate action to take. We can assist you with the NHS complaints process or private healthcare claims process covered by ISCAS (Independent Sector Complaints Adjudication Service), in addition to representation at inquest hearings.

With clinical negligence claims, it is important to act as quickly as possible, preferably within three years of an incident, to ensure we can progress your claim and secure early interim payments where due.

– Serious Injury Claims

If you have suffered a serious injury or illness because of somebody else’s negligence at work, on the road or in a public place, it is very important to get advice and support from a solicitor at an early stage.

Our specialist serious injury solicitors draw on decades of experience with brain, spinal cord and many other serious injury claims when providing a clear assessment of your case and prospects of success.

Naturally, you may be concerned about the financial burden that comes with being absent from work for a prolonged period. We work directly with insurance companies to arrange an initial medical assessment, to secure early interim payments and to make sure that Insurers comply with every aspect of The Rehabilitation Code.

Our team puts just as much emphasis on rehabilitation as it does the compensation. We will ensure you have access to first-class medical care from the earliest possible stage.

With our support, you will have access to physiotherapy, surgery or psychological treatment that can make a significant difference to your health and well-being, as well as the medical reports necessary to support your claim.

Get in Touch

Whether you are looking to speak with a specialist for more information or you know which legal service you require, please do not hesitate to contact us.

You can call us on 0161 969 3131 or fill in our contact form and the team will be in touch.