Dementia is the biggest single cause of death in England and Wales, responsible for 12 per cent of deaths in 2016, a new study led by Solicitors for the Elderly suggests.
The number of people given a diagnosis of the condition has risen by 54 per cent in ten years, yet people still find it taboo to discuss what should happen if the worst were to happen and they lost mental capacity.
Risks of not having a will
By 2025, more than 13 million people who are at risk of losing mental capacity will be unprepared with no legal plan in place for their future care. Approximately 65% of people mistakenly believe that they can leave decisions relating to what happens after they die to their kin, without taking legal steps to ensure that, meaning they are at risk of not having their wishes fulfilled.
What can be done?
The fact that someone has dementia does not preclude them from making a will. However, if they haven’t already made a will and their dementia has become so severe that they no longer have mental capacity; you may decide to apply for a statutory will on their behalf so that their loved ones can still benefit the way they wanted them to after they have gone.
What is a statutory will?
If a person lacks the testamentary capacity to make a will in their own right, a will can be made on their behalf under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, provided the vulnerable person is over the age of 18 years. These wills are known as ‘statutory wills’.
A statutory will has the same effect, for all intents and purposes, as if the will had been made by someone who had the capacity to execute the will themselves.
When can a statutory will be considered?
A statutory will may be considered where:
- The vulnerable person has lost capacity; and
- Their previous will is no longer satisfactory in the circumstances; or
- The provisions they have without any will (intestate) are not suitable.
How to make a statutory will?
In order for a statutory will to be valid, it must be authorised by the Court of Protection. The Court will focus on the person’s best interests and will aim to make a will which the vulnerable person would have wished to make if he/she had the capacity to do so.
When making an application the applicant must;
- Establish whether the vulnerable person has the capacity to make a will with supporting medical evidence;
- Asses the beliefs and values that would be likely to influence the persons decision if they had capacity;
- Consider any other factors that they would be likely to consider if they were able to do so;
- Consider the person’s past and present wishes and feelings;
- Encourage the person to contribute to the decision making process;
- Consider the views of any relevant third parties; and
- Give details about the vulnerable person’s personal circumstances and their finances.
Once the application has been submitted, the Court of Protection will provide directions for the applicant. They will be required to serve the application on the vulnerable person and any relevant parties, including:
- anyone named in the proposed will; or
- those who would expect to benefit if the vulnerable person died without a will.
The relevant parties will be asked to confirm they have been notified of the application and register any objection. The Court will also appoint an Official Solicitor to assist with the application to represent the vulnerable person in court cases.
What happens next?
If the application is unopposed and the terms of the proposed will are agreed with the Official Solicitor, then the court will then determine the application on the papers. The order is then prepared and sealed, sometimes without an attended hearing.
If the application cannot be dealt with on the papers, then a hearing will be necessary. The judge will make an order at the hearing, which will authorise the applicant or another person to execute the statutory will in the form approved by the court.
Once the Court has accepted the will
Once accepted, a statutory will can then be signed by the applicant, in the applicant’s name and in the name of the vulnerable person with two witnesses present. The Court will then officially seal the will and it will have the same effect as if the vulnerable person had the capacity to make a valid will.
The usual rule is that the estate will bear the costs of the parties; however the question of whether it is essential needs to be considered carefully by the applicant.
