Getting Legal Authority to make decisions about Money

Getting legal authority to make decisions about money, property and welfare: a new information sheet from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation

• Are you a family carer?
• Do you support a family member aged 16 years or above?
• Does your family member have severe learning disabilities?
• Do they live in England or Wales?

If the answer is yes to all these questions, then read on.

If you have a relative with severe learning disabilities they may not be able to make all of their own decisions e.g. choosing where to live. In some circumstances you may need to get legal authority to make decisions on behalf of your family member by applying to the Court of Protection to be appointed as a ‘deputy’.

One example is applying to be a deputy to get legal authority to sign a tenancy agreement on behalf of your relative so they can rent their own property.

Our new information sheet has been written for family carers who wish to gain legal authority to make decisions about money, property and/or welfare on behalf of a family member who has severe learning disabilities. It provides a practical step by step guide to the application process.

The information sheet can be downloaded free of charge: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk

Alternatively a hard copy can be ordered from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. Cost: £1; free to family carers supporting an individual with severe learning disabilities