Articles
Sir Ranulph Fiennes and protecting the vulnerable
29 Oct 2026The full facts of Sir Ranulph's situation are not known and will no doubt be the subject of further investigation and scrutiny. However, the circumstances described are not uncommon and raise questions that our Court of Protection team at VWV advises on regularly in practice. What happens where a loved one loses capacity and disagreements arise as to their financial or welfare arrangements?
Costs provisions in the Court of Protection: Implications for professional deputies and local authorities following the appeal decision in Riddle
27 Jan 2026The appeal decision in Andrew James Riddle v NA, City of York Council ([2025] EWCOP 39) has sparked much debate among practitioners about the adequacy of the costs provisions in the Court of Protection (CoP) Rules.
This short article focuses on whether professional deputies are likely to be deterred from making an application for their appointment, where P opposes it from the outset and nuances in the capacity evidence mean there is a risk the application may fail.
Case law and Business Relief in the Court of Protection
27 Jan 2026Business Relief (BR) is a valuable mechanism for tax planning and can be effectively applied in Court of Protection matters.
Losing capacity: Practical ways to protect the wishes and feelings of those you care about
15 Jan 2026Safeguarding measures, such as a Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) order, can be put in place to protect a family member or for someone you care for who has lost capacity and is living in a care home or hospital. Here, we look at how a DoLS order may be challenged on behalf of a loved one who lacks capacity.
