The Mental Capacity (Registration of Professional Deputies) Regulations 2018 came into effect on 1 September 2018, allowing professional deputies to act for persons who lack mental capacity (known as ‘P’) for remuneration. Professional deputies must be unrelated to P.

The Professional Deputies (PD) scheme aims to serve individuals who may not have family members or close friends to rely on; to be their proxy decision makers. The PD must be prepared to make key decisions affecting P’s property & affairs and personal welfare. Professionals registered under this scheme come from selected professional groups (i.e. lawyers, doctors, accountants, allied health professionals, nurses and social workers).