[Home] [Databases] [World Law] [Multidatabase Search] [Help] [Feedback]
	United Kingdom Statutory Instruments
You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Statutory Instruments >> The Court of Protection Rules 2001 No. 824 URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2001/20010824.html

[New search] [Help]

"the Act" means the Mental Health Act 1983;

"attended hearing" means a hearing where one or more of the parties to the proceedings have been invited to attend the court for the determination of the application;

"court" means the Court of Protection;

"direction" means a direction or authority given under the seal of the court;

"entered" means entered in the books of the court;

"filed" mean filed in the court office;

"function" means any power, discretion or function conferred by the Act;

"hearing" means an attended or unattended hearing;

"judge" means the Lord Chancellor or a nominated judge;

"Master" means the Master of the Court of Protection;

"medical certificate" means a certificate by a registered medical practitioner that a patient is incapable, by reason of mental disorder, of managing and administering his property and affairs;

"order" includes a certificate, direction or authority of the court under seal;

"patient" includes a person who is alleged to be or who the court has reason to believe may be incapable by reason of mental disorder of managing and administering his property and affairs;

"receiver" means a receiver appointed under section 99(1) of the Act;

"seal" means an official seal of the Court and "sealed" shall be construed accordingly;

"stock" includes shares in any fund, annuity or security transferable in the books kept by any body corporate or unincorporated company or society, or by an instrument of transfer either alone or accompanied by other formalities and includes any dividends paid in respect of them;

"Visitor" means one of the Lord Chancellor's Visitors

    (2) In these Rules - 

(a) any reference to a numbered rule is a reference to the rule of these Rules so numbered in these Rules;

(b) any reference in a rule to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph so numbered in the rule in which the reference occurs;

(c) a form referred to by letter alone means the form so designated in the Schedule to these Rules or a form to the same effect with such variations as the circumstances may require or the court may approve and in all cases shall include a Welsh translation of the form.

Exercise of the court's functions
     3. Where any function (in whatever words) is expressed by these Rules to be exercisable by the court then, subject to the provisions of the Act, that function may be exercised - 

(a) by a judge;

(b) by the Master;

(c) to the extent to which he is authorised to exercise it under section 94 of the Act, by any nominated officer.

Computation of time
     4.  - (1) Where a period of time fixed by these Rules or by any order or direction of the court for doing an act expires on a day on which the court office for doing that act is closed and for that reason the act cannot be done on that day, the act shall be done in time if done on the next day on which that office is open.

    (2) Where the act is required to be done within a specified period after or from a specified date, the period begins immediately after that date.

    (3) Where any period of time as mentioned in paragraph (1) is less than six days, any day on which the court office is closed shall not be included in that computation.

Power to vary time
     5. The court may extend or abridge the time limited by these Rules or any order or direction of the court for doing any act or taking any proceedings upon such terms as the court thinks fit and notwithstanding, in the case of an extension, that the time so limited has expired.

and that it is not necessary to appoint a receiver for a patient, the court may make a short order or direction under this rule whether or not the application was made for the appointment of a receiver for the patient.

    (3) A short order or direction under this rule is an order or direction directing an officer of the court or some other suitable person named in the order or direction to deal with the patient's property (or any part of it), or with his affairs, in any manner authorised by the Act and specified in the order or direction.

Date for hearing
     9.  - (1) Upon receiving an application under rule 7 the court shall fix a date for the hearing of the application unless it considers that the application can properly be dealt with without a hearing, and on this ground the court may cancel any hearing fixed under this paragraph.

    (2) Where a hearing is fixed under paragraph (1) an officer shall notify the applicant, by letter, of the date and time of the hearing.

Consolidation of Proceedings
     10. The court may allow one application to be made in respect of two or more patients or may consolidate an application relating to two or more patients, if in its opinion the proceedings relating to them can be more conveniently dealt with together.

Power to direct applications by officer of the court or Official Solicitor
     11. Where, in the opinion of the court, an application ought to be made for the appointment or discharge of a receiver or for a direction with regard to the exercise of any other function with respect to the property and affairs of a patient, and there appears to be no other suitable person able and willing to make the application, or the court for any other reason thinks fit, the court may direct that the application be made by an officer of the court or, if he consents, the Official Solicitor.

Representation of patient by receiver
     12.  - (1) Except as mentioned in rule 18 (c), (d) and (e), an application on behalf of a patient for whom a receiver has been appointed shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be made by a receiver in his own name.

    (2) Subject to any directions given by the court, a patient for whom a reciever has been appointed may be represented by the receiver at any hearing relating to the patient or of which the patient has been given notice.

Representation of patient by the Official Solicitor
     13. Where, in any proceedings, the court considers that the interests of the patient are not adequately represented, the court may, with the consent of the Official Solicitor, direct that the Official Solicitor shall act as a solicitor for the patient either generally in the proceedings or for any particular purpose connected with the proceedings, except that it shall not be necessary to appoint the Official Solicitor to be receiver or guardian ad litem for the patient.

Persons under a disability
     14.  - (1) In this rule, "person under a disability" means a minor or a patient for whom no receiver has been appointed.

    (2) A person under a disability shall not make an application in proceedings relating to another person except by his next friend and shall not resist an application in any such proceedings except by his guardian ad litem.

    (3) Where a person is to be appointed next friend or guardian ad litem of a person under a disability in substitution for the person previously acting as next friend or guardian ad litem, the appointment shall be made by the court but, except for this, an order of the court appointing a next friend or guardian ad litem of a person under a disability shall not be necessary.

    (4) Before the name of any person is used in any proceedings as next friend or guardian ad litem of a person under a disability there shall be filed - 

(a) a written consent of the first-mentioned person to act as next friend or (as the case may be) guardian ad litem of the person under a disability in the proceedings, and

(b) a certificate by the solicitor acting for the person under a disability certifying - 


(i) that he knows or believes that the person to whom the certificate relates is a minor or patient giving (in the case of a patient) the grounds of his knowledge or belief, and

(ii) except where the person named in the certificate is the Official Solicitor, that the person so named has no interest in the proceedings adverse to that of the person under a disability.

Application under section 54 of the Trustee Act 1925
     15. An application to the court with respect to the jurisdiction referred to in section 54(2) of the Trustee Act 1925 may be made only by - 

(a) the receiver for the patient, or

(b) any person who has made an application for the appointment of a receiver which has not yet been fully determined, or

(c) a continuing trustee, or

(d) any other person who, according to the practice of the Chancery Division, would have been entitled to make the application if it had been made in the High Court.

Application under section 36(9) of the Trustee Act 1925
     16. No person other than a co-trustee, or other person with power to appoint a new trustee, may make an application to the court under section 36(9) of the Trustee Act 1925 for leave to appoint a new trustee in place of a patient.

Application under section 96(1)(k) of the Act
     17. The provisions of rule 15 shall apply with such modifications as may be necessary to an application under section 96(1)(k) of the Act for an order for the exercise of any power vested in a patient of appointing trustees or retiring from a trust.

Application for settlement or gift of patient's property or for execution of will of patient
     18. An application under section 96(1)(d) of the Act for an order for the settlement or gift of any property of a patient, or an application under section 96(1)(e) of the Act for an order of execution for a patient of a will, may be made only by - 

(a) the receiver for the patient, or

(b) any person who has made an application for the appointment of a receiver which has not yet been determined, or

(c) any person who, under any known will of the patient or under his intestacy, may become entitled to any property of the patient or any interest in it, or

(d) any person for whom the patient might be expected to provide if he were not mentally disordered, or

(e) any attorney acting under a registered enduring power of attorney, or

(f) any other person whom the court may authorise to make it.

    (6) For the purposes of this rule notice of a hearing shall be given to the person concerned in such manner as the court may direct.

Mode of service
     20. Except where these rules otherwise provide, any document required by these Rules to be served on any person shall be served by - 

(a) delivering it to him personally;

(b) sending it to him by first class post or through a document exchange at his last known address; or

(c) by transmitting it to him at his last known address by fax or other electronic means.

Service on solicitor
     21. Where a solicitor acting for the person to be served with any document endorses on the document or a copy of it a statement that he accepts service on behalf of that person, the document shall be deemed to have been duly served on that person and to have been served on the date on which the endorsement was made.

Substituted service
     22. Where it appears to the court that it is impracticable for any reason to serve a document in accordance with rule 20, the court may make an order for substituted service of the document by taking such steps as the court may direct to bring it to the notice of the person to be served.

Service on person under a disability
     23.  - (1) Unless the court otherwise directs, any document required by these Rules to be served on a person who is a minor or patient (in this rule referred to as a person under a disability) shall be served - 

(a) in the case of a minor who is not also a patient, on his parent or guardian or, if he has no parent or guardian, on the person with parental responsibility as defined in section 3 of the Children Act 1989[4];

(b) in the case of a patient - 


(i) on his receiver or, if he has no receiver,

(ii) on the person acting in pursuance of an order or direction under rule 8, or, if there is no such person,

(iii) on an attorney acting under a registered power of attorney, or, if there is no such attorney,

(iv) on the person with whom he resides or in whose care he is;



and must be served in a manner required by these Rules.

    (2) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (1), the court may order that any document which has been served on the person under a disability or on a person other than a person mentioned in that paragraph shall be deemed to be duly served on the person under a disability.

    (3) Nothing in this rule shall apply to an order required by rule 42 to be served on a patient.

Notification of application for appointment of receiver, etc
     24.  - (1) Where - 

(a) a first application is made for the appointment of a receiver for a patient or for an order authorising a person to do any act or carry out any transaction on behalf of a patient without appointing him receiver, or

(b) the court proposes to make a short order or direction;

the patient shall be notified in such manner as the court may direct.

    (2) Where the patient is a minor, notification under paragraph (1) shall be given to his parent or guardian or, if he has no parent or guardian, to the person with parental responsibility within the meaning of the Children Act 1989.

Notification to next of kin etc. of intention to make application for appointment of receiver
     25.  - (1) Where an applicant proposes to make an application for the appointment of a receiver or a new receiver, the applicant shall give notice of his intention to - 

(a) all relatives of the patient who have the same or a nearer degree of relationship to the patient than the applicant or proposed receiver; and

(b) such other persons who appear to the court to be interested as the court may specify;

unless the court directs that such notification shall be dispensed with.

    (2) For the purposes of this rule, notice of the intention to make an application is given if the person concerned is notified, in such manner as the court may direct, of the identities of the patient, the applicant and the proposed receiver and supplied with such additional information as the court may direct.

Certificate of service or notification
     26.  - (1) If the court so directs, a certificate of service showing where, when, how and by whom service was effected shall be filed as soon as practicable after service of a document has been effected in accordance with these Rules.

    (2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply to the giving of notification under rules 24 and 25 as they apply to the service of documents and references in that paragraph to service shall accordingly be construed as including references to notification and the giving of notification respectively.

(a) in England or Wales, before any person authorised to take affidavits under the Commissioners for Oaths Acts 1889 and 1891[5], under the Solicitors Act 1974[6], or under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990[7] or before any officer of the court of, or above, the rank of higher executive officer;

(b) outside England and Wales, before any person before whom an affidavit may be sworn for use in the Supreme Court.

Unsworn evidence
     28.  - (1) Notwithstanding rule 27(1), the court may accept and act upon a statement of facts or other such evidence, whether oral or written, as the court considers sufficient, although not given on oath and whether or not it would be admissible in a court of law apart from this rule.

    (2) The court may give directions as to the manner in which a statement of facts or other written evidence under paragraph (1) is to be given but subject to such directions any such statement or other evidence shall - 

(a) be drawn up in numbered paragraphs and dated; and

(b) be signed by the person by whom it is given.

Written questions to Visitors
     29.  - (1) Where a Visitor's report, or information contained in such a report, has been disclosed to any person in pursuance of section 103(8) of the Act, the court may, on the application of any person who appears to the court to be interested, give leave for written questions relevant to the issues before the court to be put to the Visitor by whom the report was made.

    (2) The questions sought to be put to the Visitor shall be submitted to the court, which may put to the Visitor with such amendments (if any) as it thinks fit and the Visitor shall give his replies in writing to the questions so put.

    (3) The court may disclose the replies given by the Visitor under this rule to any person who appears to the court to be interested, or to his legal or medical adviser, on such conditions (if any) as it thinks fit.

    (4) No Visitor shall be required to give written evidence for the purpose of any proceedings to which these rules relate, other than in accordance with this rule.

    (5) In this rule, "Visitor" means a Medical or Legal Visitor.

Cross-examination of deponent
     30. Any person who has made an affidavit or given a certificate or other written evidence for use in proceedings under these Rules may be ordered by the court to attend for cross-examination.

Administration of oaths
     31. The court may direct that an oath be administered to any witness or interpreter in any proceedings before the court.

Filing of written evidence
     32.  - (1) Before an affidavit certificate or other evidence is used in any proceedings under these rules it shall be filed but the court may make an order on the basis of such evidence before it is filed if the person tendering it undertakes to file it before the order is drawn up.

    (2) There shall be endorsed on every affidavit, certificate or other written evidence the name and address of the solicitor, if any, acting for the person on whose behalf it is filed.

Use of evidence in subsequent proceedings
     33.  - (1) Except where the court otherwise directs, evidence which has been used in any proceedings relating to a patient may be used at any subsequent stage of those proceedings or in any other proceedings relating to the same patient or to another member of the patient's family.

    (2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), the Master may, upon application being made for that purpose, authorise the use of such evidence in any legal proceedings that he may specify.

Evidence to be filed on a first application for receiver, etc
     34.  - (1) Where a first application has been made for the appointment of a receiver for a patient or for a short order or direction under rule 8 authorising any person to do any act or carry out any transaction on behalf of a patient without appointing him receiver - 

(a) the applicant shall, unless the court otherwise directs, file a medical certificate and evidence of family and property; and

(b) the court may - 


(i) require the applicant to produce to it such evidence as it shall direct of the suitability of the applicant to be appointed a receiver or to do any such act or carry out any such transaction without being appointed receiver; and

(ii) make such enquiries as it shall think fit with regard to the suitability of the applicant for such appointment.

    (2) In this rule, "evidence of family and property" means a certificate or, if the court so directs, in a particular case, an affidavit giving particulars of the patient's relatives and such other persons as the court may direct, property and affairs and of the circumstances giving rise to the application.

    (3) Rule 28 applies to unsworn evidence of family and property as it applies to unsworn evidence generally.

Evidence of patient's recovery or death and inquiry by court as to whether patient has recovered
     35.  - (1) Where at any stage of proceedings relating to a patient the court has reason to believe that the patient has recovered or has died, the court may require medical evidence of the recovery or evidence of the death (as the case may be) to be furnished to it by such person as it thinks appropriate.

    (2) The court shall, from time to time, review a patient's case where a medical certificate provided to the court expressed an opinion that there is a possibility of mental recovery and make such inquiries and carry out such investigations as it thinks fit to establish whether or not the patient has recovered.

Proof of amount due to public authority
     36. The amount due to any public authority for the past maintenance of a patient may, unless the court otherwise directs, be proved by the filing of an account certified under the hand of the proper officer of the authority.

    (2) An order appointing an interim receiver shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be served upon the patient within such time as the order may specify and the patient may, within such further time as the order may specify, apply under rule 54 for the review of the order by the court or, if the order was made by a judge, apply to have the order set aside.

Remuneration of receiver
     43.  - (1) Where a receiver is appointed for a patient, the court may, during the receivership, allow the receiver remuneration for his services at such amount or at such rate as it considers reasonable and proper and any remuneration so allowed shall constitute a debt due to the receiver from the patient and his estate.

    (2) No request by a receiver to have the sum payable for this remuneration fixed after the death or recovery of the patient shall be entertained unless the court has during the receivership directed that remuneration be allowed and the request is made within six years from the date of the receiver's discharge.

Appointment of receivers with survivorship
     44. Where in the opinion of the court two or more persons ought to be appointed receivers of the same patient and more than one of them ought to continue to act after the death or discharge of any of the others, the court when appointing them receivers direct that the receivership shall continue in favour of the surviving or continuing receiver or receivers.

    (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall prevent the entry of an interim order, certificate or direction under rule 42 for the protection of a patient's property or for the application of a patient's property for his benefit.

Enforcement of orders
     47. Every writ of execution or other process for the enforcement of an order of the court shall be issued out of the Central Office of the Supreme Court.

    (3) A witness summons shall be served on the witness personally a reasonable time before the day fixed for his attendance and he shall be entitled to the same conduct money and payment of expenses and loss of time as if he had been summoned to attend the trial of an action in the High Court.

Powers of court where undue delay, etc
     49.  - (1) If the court is dissatisfied with the conduct of any proceedings or the carrying out of an order whether by reason of undue delay or otherwise, the court may require the person having the conduct of the proceedings, or any other person appearing to be responsible, to explain the delay or any other cause of dissatisfaction, and may then make such order for expediting the proceedings or otherwise as may be appropriate.

    (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the court may direct any person to make any application and to conduct any proceedings and carry out any directions which the court may specify; and the court may, if it thinks fit and he consents, appoint the Official Solicitor to act as solicitor for the patient in the proceedings in the place of any solicitor previously acting for him.

Order for examination of patient
     50. In any proceedings relating to a patient, a judge or Master may make an order for the patient's attendance at such time and place as he may direct for examination by the Master, a Visitor or any medical practitioner.

    (2) The court may from time to time vary or dispense with any security required.

Manner of giving security
     57. Subject to any directions of the court, security may be given in any one of the following ways, or partly in one of those ways and partly in another - 

(a) by a bond approved by the court and given by the person giving security and also by - 


(i) an insurance company, a group of underwriters or a bank approved by the court; or

(ii) with the approval of the court, two personal sureties; or



(b) in such other manner as the court may approve.

Lodgement of security
     58. Any security given by lodgment of money or stock shall be dealt with in accordance with the terms of the direction filed when the lodgment was made.

Discharge of security where new security given
     59. Where a receiver is authorised or directed to give new security, and - 

(a) the new security has been completed; and

(b) he has paid or secured to the satisfaction of the court any balance due from him,

the former security shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be discharged.

Maintenance of security by bond
     60. Every person who has given security by a bond shall, whenever his accounts are passed, or the court so directs, satisfy the court - 

(a) that any premiums payable in respect of the bond have been duly paid;

(b) if the bond was given by personal sureties, that each surety is living and within the jurisdiction and has neither been adjudicated bankrupt nor compounded with his creditors,

and, if the court is not so satisfied, it may require new security to be given or may give such other directions as it thinks fit.

deliver his accounts to the court within such time and in such manner as the court shall direct.

    (2) The receiver shall answer such requisitions on his accounts as the court shall raise and in such manner and in such time as the court shall direct.

    (3) On the passing of any accounts the court shall make all proper allowances out of the patient's estate, including an allowance in respect of the reasonable and proper costs of the receiver in passing the accounts.

    (4) The court may direct that a receiver need not account under this rule or may dispense with the passing of any accounts at any time at which they would otherwise require to be passed.

Application of balance due from receiver
     62. The balance found due from a receiver on the passing of his accounts or so much of it as the court may direct, shall - 

(a) be paid by the receiver into court to the credit of the proceedings and invested in such manner as the court may direct, or

(b) be invested or otherwise dealt with by the receiver in such manner as the court may direct.

Default by receiver
     63. Where a receiver fails to comply with rule 61 or 62 or fails to pay into court or invest or otherwise deal with any money in accordance with any direction of the court, the court may disallow any remuneration which would otherwise be due to the receiver and, if he has made default in paying into court or investing or otherwise dealing with any money, may charge him with interest on it at such rate as the court may reasonably fix, for the period of his default.

Payment of maintenance and costs
     64. Unless otherwise directed, any money ordered to be paid by a receiver for maintenance shall be paid out of income and any costs ordered to be paid by a receiver may, when agreed, assessed by way of detailed assessment or fixed, be paid out of any moneys coming into his hands, after providing for any maintenance and fees payable under these Rules.

Final accounts
     65.  - (1) Every receiver shall, on the death or recovery of the patient for whom he has been appointed receiver, deliver his final account to the court within such time and in such manner as the court shall direct.

    (2) On the discharge or death of a receiver, the receiver, or in the case of his death, his personal representatives, shall deliver a final account to the court within such time as the court shall direct.

    (3) The court shall pass the final account of a receiver from the date of the receiver's last account or, if no account of his has previously been passed, from the date of his appointment, unless in the opinion of the court the passing of such accounts may properly be dispensed with.

    (4) If a balance is found due from a receiver or his estate, he or his personal representatives (as the case may be) shall pay it into court or otherwise deal with as the court may direct.

    (5) If a balance is found due to the receiver or his estate, it shall be paid to him or his personal representatives (as the case may be) by the patient or out of the patient's estate.

    (6) On payment of any balance found due from a receiver, or if no balance is found due from him or the passing of his accounts has been dispensed with under paragraph (1), the security of the receiver shall be discharged.

Accounting by other persons
     66. Rules 63 to 65 shall also apply, to the extent directed by the court, to any person who is - 

(a) directed to deal with the patient's property or affairs under rule 8;

(b) directed or otherwise authorised to act under rule 42(1)(a); or

(c) appointed an interim receiver under rule 42(1)(b),

as they apply to a receiver.

Inspection of a patient's property
     68. For the purpose of any proceedings relating to the property of a patient - 

(a) the court may inspect the property or direct an officer of the court, the Official Solicitor (if he consents) or any other appropriate person to inspect the property, make any necessary enquiries and report to the court; and

(b) the court may, if it thinks fit and of its own motion, make such an inspection and inquiries or direct some other appropriate person to do so and report to it.

Inquiries as to prior dealing with the patient's property
     69. In any proceedings relating to a patient the court may make or cause to be made such inquiries as it thinks fit as to any dealing with the patient's property before the commencement of the proceedings and as to the patient's mental capacity at the time of such dealing.

Inquiries as to testamentary documents executed by patient
     70. The court may make or cause to be made inquiries whether any person has in his possession or under his control or has any knowledge of any testamentary document executed by a patient, and may direct that person to answer the inquiries on oath and to produce any such document which is in his possession or under his control and to deal with it in such manner as the court may direct.

Power to direct other inquiries
     71. The court may make or cause to be made any other inquiries which it or he may consider necessary or expedient for the proper discharge of its functions under the Act of these rules.

and that person shall, if so ordered, receive any sum accrued due before the transfer by way of dividend, bonus or periodical payment in respect of the stock and pay it into court to the general account of the patient or to a separate account or otherwise deal with it as the court may direct.

Disposal of property on patient's recovery or death
     74.  - (1) On the recovery of a patient the court may order any money, securities or other property belonging to the patient, or forming part of his estate, or remaining under the control of, or held under the directions of the court, to be transferred to the person who appears to be entitled to it.

    (2) On the death of a patient the court may direct any money, securities or other property belonging to the patient or forming part of his estate, remaining under the control of, or held under the direction of the court, to be transferred to the person who appears to be entitled to it.

    (3) If no grant of representation has been taken out to the estate of a deceased patient and it appears to the court that the assets of the estate, after deduction of debts and funeral expenses, do not exceed £5,000 in value, the court may, if it thinks fit, provide for payment of the funeral expenses out of any funds in court standing to the credit of the deceased and order that any such funds, or the balance of them, or any other property of the patient remaining under the control, or held under the directions, of the court be paid, transferred, delivered or released (as appropriate) to the personal representative of the deceased when constituted or to the person who appears to be entitled to apply for a grant of representation to his estate.

    (4) The court may at any time, pending notification to him of the grant of representation to the estate of a patient, direct that any money or securities which belonged to the patient when he died and were not already in court shall be transferred to the court.

    (3) Upon the issue of a certificate under this rule the amount of the fee shall be charged upon the patient's estate, and the payment shall be made within such time (not exceeding one month from the date of the certificate) as the court may allow.

    (4) In any case in which it appears to the court that amount of the fee certified under this rule has been wrongly assessed, the court may direct that the fee is to be adjusted as it appears to it to be convenient.

    (5) No administration fee shall be taken where the proceedings are terminated less than four weeks from the date of issue of the first application for the appointment of a receiver.

Transaction fee
     79.  - (1) A transaction fee shall be payable in respect of any order or direction or, as the case may be, any application for an order or direction to be made in exercise of the specific powers conferred by - 

(a) paragraphs (d), (e), (h) or (k) of section 96(1) of the Act;

(b) section 100 of the Act;

(c) sections 36(9) and 54 of the Trustee Act 1925; and

(d) section 1(3) of the Variation of Trusts Act 1958[8].

    (2) A transaction fee shall be payable in respect of an application for authorisation of a person under section 20 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996[9].

    (3) In a special case, the standard fee payable in accordance with the Appendix shall be increased in accordance with the Appendix where there is readily ascertainable pecuniary consideration in the nature of capital arising to or provided by the patient (otherwise than by way of a loan to, or repayment of a loan by, the patient), no account being taken of the possible capitalisation of the value of rents or interests or other income payments.

    (4) Where a transaction is to be approved under an order or direction mentioned in paragraph (1), or authorisation is to be given as mentioned in paragraph (2), the fee shall be taken - 

(a) in a special case, upon the approval of the transaction;

(b) otherwise, upon the making of the application for the order, direction or authorisation

and the court shall issue a certificate stating the amount payable.

    (5) A transaction fee as specified in paragraph 3(4) of the Appendix shall be payable on application for the appointment of a new receiver.

    (6) A transaction fee as specified in paragraph 3(5) of the Appendix shall be payable upon the making of the application for an order or direction to be made in exercise of the specific powers conferred by paragraph (b) of section 96(1) of the Act, offering or authorising the sale of any land as defined in the Law of Property Act 1925[10].

    (7) Except where the court otherwise directs, no fee shall be payable under this rule upon the sale or purchase of personal chattels or any investment for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust property or in securities quoted on any stock exchange in the United Kingdom.

    (8) In this rule - 

(a) "special case" means an order made by the court under paragraphs (d) or (h) of the Act or under section 1(3) of the Variation of Trusts Act 1958; and

(b) references to an application for an order or direction include (without limitation) an application for an order or direction made at the same time as a first application for the appointment of a receiver or other originating process.

Fee on detailed assessment of costs
     80. A fee is payable in respect of the detailed assessment of costs and on an appeal against a decision made in a detailed assessment of costs.

Receivership fees
     81.  - (1) An appointment fee shall be payable, as set out in paragraph 5 of the Appendix, upon the appointment of an officer of the court as receiver for a patient.

    (2) In cases where an officer of the court is receiver a receivership administration fee shall be payable - 

(a) on the first and every subsequent anniversary of the date of his appointment as receiver, until the termination of the proceedings, and at such other times either during the proceedings or at their termination as the court may direct;

(b) where the period for which the administration fee is payable is for less than one year, the fee payable shall be the proportion of the full fee as such period bears to one year.

    (3) The court shall annually, or at such other intervals as may be convenient, issue a certificate in respect of each patient stating - 

(a) the amount of the administration fee payable in respect of the patient at the date of the certificate;

(b) the period in respect of which the administration fee is payable; and

(c) the name of the person by whom the payment is made.

    (4) No administration fee shall be taken where the proceedings are terminated less than four weeks from the date of issue of the first application for the appointment of a receiver.

Winding up fee
     82. A winding up fee shall be payable on the death of a patient in cases where a receiver has been appointed.

Remission and postponement
     83.  - (1) The court may remit or postpone the payment of the whole or part of any fee where in its opinion hardship might otherwise be caused to the patient or his dependants or the circumstances are otherwise exceptional.

    (2) The court may remit a payment of the whole or any part of any fee where the cost of calculation and collection would be disproportionate to the amount involved.

(a) in rule 43.2(1)(c) of the 1998 Rules, costs officer shall include - 


(i) a judge;

(ii) the Master;



(b) in rule 43.2(1)(d) of the 1998 Rules, authorised court officer shall include an officer of the court;

(c) rule 44.3(2) of the 1998 Rules (costs follow the event) does not apply;

(d) rules 44.9 to 44.12 of the 1998 Rules (costs on small claims and fast tracks and on track allocation or reallocation) do not apply;

(e) rules 48.1 to 48.3 (costs payable by or to particular persons) and 48.7 to 48.10 (costs relating to solicitors and other legal representatives) of the 1998 Rules do not apply.

Costs of unnecessary employment of solicitor, etc not to be allowed
     87.  - (1) No receiver for a patient, other than the Official Solicitor, shall, unless authorised by the court, be entitled at the expense of the patient's estate to employ a solicitor or other professional person to do any work not usually requiring professional assistance. Where two or more persons having the same interest in relation to the matter to be determined attend any hearing by separate legal representatives, they shall not be allowed more than one set of costs of that hearing unless the court certifies that the circumstances justify separate representation.

Costs of Official Solicitor
     88. Any costs incurred by the Official Solicitor in relation to proceedings under these Rules or in carrying out any directions given by the court, and not provided for by remuneration under rule 43, shall be paid by such person on or out of such funds as the court may direct.

Ascertainment of costs not relating to the proceedings
     89. Where in any proceedings relating to a patient a claim is made against his estate in respect of any costs alleged to have been incurred by him or on his behalf or otherwise than in relation to proceedings, the court may refer the claim to a costs judge of the Supreme Court so that the amount due to the claimant may be ascertained by him or under his direction.

(a) The provision that such applications are to be made to the Court of Protection ("the Court") whereas the previous rules provided for a division of functions between the Court and the Public Trustee;

(b) The requirement for the Court to review a Patient's case from time to time where a medical certificate provided to it has expressed an opinion that there is a possibility of the Patient's mental recovery (rule 35(2));

(c) The requirement that the current administration fee, which is payable on the first and every subsequent anniversary of the appointment of a Receiver until the termination of the proceedings, shall also be payable at such other times during the proceedings or at their termination as the Court may direct and that where the period for which the fee is payable is less than one year the fee payable shall be the proportion of the full fee as that period bears to one year (rule 78); and

(d) The requirement that the current receivership fees, which were formerly payable on the appointment of the Public Trustee as Receiver for a Patient and at such times as the Public Trustee considered convenient, will now be payable on the appointment of an officer of the Court as Receiver for a Patient, on the first and every subsequent anniversary of his appointment and at such other times during the proceedings or at their termination as the Court may direct and where the period for which the fee is payable is less than one year the fee payable shall be the proportion of the full fee as that period bears to one year (rule 81).

The Rules continue to contain provisions which: - 

(a) provide that any function under them expressed to be exercisable by the Court may be exercised by a judge, the Master of the Court or, in certain cases, by an officer of the Court (rule 3);

(b) Specify the information to be provided on a first application for the appointment of a Receiver and require that an application to the Court in respect of the exercise of any of its other jurisdiction to be made by letter or, if the Court so directs, in specified form (rule 7);

(c) Provide for the Court to make a short order or direction without appointing a Receiver in certain cases (rule 8);

(d) Enable the Court to direct an officer of the Court or the Official Solicitor to make an application for the appointment or discharge of a Receiver, or for a direction relating to the exercise of any other function relating to a Patient's property and affairs, where is appears to the Court that there is no other suitable person willing to make the application (rule 11);

(e) Enable the Court, where it considers that the interests of the Patient are not adequately represented in any proceedings, to direct the Official Solicitor to act as solicitor for the Patient in any of those proceedings (rule 13);

(f) Specify those persons who can apply to the Court for an order for the settlement or gift of a Patient's property or for the execution of a Patient's Will (rule 18);

(g) Provide for the service of notice of the hearing of an application to the Court (rules 19 to 23) and for the notification of an application for the appointment of a Receiver and of an intention to make such an application (rules 24 and 25);

(h) Specify the evidence to be filed on a first application for the appointment of a Receiver or for a short order or direction (rule 34);

(i) Regulate hearings before the Court (rule 37 to 41);

(j) Provide for the appointment of interim Receivers and for the remuneration of a Receiver (rules 42 and 43);

(k) Provide for the issuing of witness summonses (rule 48);

(l) Enable the Court, if it is dissatisfied with the conduct of any proceedings or the carrying out of an order (whether or not because of undue delay) to require a person to appear before it to explain the delay or other cause of its dissatisfaction (rule 49);

(m) Provide for reviews of, and appeals from, decisions of the Court (rules 54 and 55);

(n) Provide for the giving of security by a Receiver (other than where the Receiver is an officer of the Court or the Official Solicitor) (rules 56 to 60);

(o) Require a Receiver to deliver accounts to the Court annually, on the death or recovery of the Patient and at any other time that the Court directs and to answer any requisitions raised by the Court on such accounts (rules 61 and 65);

(p) Enable the Court to make inquiries as to the desirability of the appointment of a person as a Receiver (rule 67) and as to testamentary documents which may have been executed by a Patient (rule 70);

(q) Require a commencement fee to be paid on the first application for the appointment of a Receiver (rule 77) and a transaction fee to be paid in respect of an order or direction made by the Court under certain statutory provisions (rule 79);

(r) Require a fee to be paid in respect of a detailed assessment of costs (and on an appeal against a decision made in such an assessment) (rule 82);

(s) Relate to the Court's discretion as to costs in proceedings before it (rule 85) and to the disallowance of certain unnecessary costs (rule 87)

The fees specified in the Rules remain the same as in the previous rules (Rule 76 and Appendix)

[2] 1925 c. 19; section 54 was substituted by the Mental Health Act 1959 (c. 72), Schedule 7.back

[3] 1981 c. 5.back

[4] 1989 c. 41.back

[5] 1889 c. 10; 1891 c. 50.back

[6] 1974 c. 47.back

[7] 1990 c. 41.back

[8] 1958 c. 53.back

[9] 1996 c. 47.back

[10] 1925 c. 20. The definition of "land" in section 205(1)(x) was amended by Schedule 4 to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.back

[11] S.I. 1998/3132 as amended by S.I. 1999/1008, 2000/221, 2000/940, 2000/1317 and 2000/2092.back

[12] S.I. 1994/3046.back

[13] S.I. 1999/2504.back

[14] S.I. 2000/2025.back

 © Crown copyright 2001