Testamentary Capacity Assessment Questions and Answers 

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Firstly, let’s get the legal jargon out of the way so you understand the important legal terms that might be mentioned by your Solicitor when supporting you to draw up a new Will, or by our assessor during your testamentary capacity assessment. But don’t worry, our assessors are skilled at explaining these legal terms in…

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Meet the Team at Thornton & Lee

At Thornton & Lee we are so proud of the talent pool of skilled and experienced Mental Capacity Assessors available for face to face and virtual assessments throughout England and Wales. All of our assessment team are qualified, registered and insured Independent Social Workers, and also our Guest Expert Mental Capacity Assessor Registered Mental Health…

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Understanding the Power of Attorney Act 2023: Key Changes 

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The Power of Attorney Act 2023, introduced by Stephen Metcalfe MP and supported by the government, marks a significant step towards modernising the way Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are made and managed in the UK. Here we have included a breakdown of what this new legislation entails and some of the key changes it…

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Form COP3: Your questions answered

Court of Protection logo

What is a COP3  COP3 is a specialist assessment of capacity form used by the Court of Protection. Used to establish if a person has the mental capacity to make a specific decision. The Court of Protection only makes decisions in the best interests of those who have been assessed as lacking the mental capacity…

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When is an Individual being Deprived of their Liberty – Guidance for Legal Professional’s seeking an Order from Court of Protection to Sell a Property 

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What is a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard? Usually, a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) application would be made for an individual who has been assessed as, or assumed not to have the mental capacity to understand their health and social care needs, who may be at risk from harm should they leave the current place…

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Dr Gregory Lecturer of Social Work at the UEA discusses Why Values Matter in Social Work

Dr Gregory in graduation robes

Social work is an inherently value-based profession, but in practice we often spend relatively little time reflecting on what is important to us as social workers and as human beings. Student social workers are regularly encouraged to think about their own values and where they come from by their lecturers and practice educators, however once…

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Dr Corner of the UEA tells us how understanding Personhood and Citizenship can benefit those with Dementia

Dr Corner

This week I received one of my favourite types of emails, Mrs M who is a daughter who we supported with a mental capacity assessment for her mother Mrs R, to assist with a Deputyship application a year ago, sent me a courtesy update on the Court application, but also on how her mother is…

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The role of Independent Social Workers in exploring Undue Influence in drafted Wills

With another high profile contested Will Court case hitting the Newspapers 14th February 2023 titled “War over ‘genius’ bankers £18m fortune: Brother of ex-Goldman Sachs financier brands his Polish lover a ‘call girl’ who ‘conned him out of £4m chunk of estate – including his London flat – before he died aged 55“. It once…

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Happy 2nd Birthday Thornton & Lee

2nd birthday

Happy 2nd birthday to Thornton & Lee Social Work Consultancy who in December 2022 celebrated a wonderful second birthday since the launch of our new and innovative Independent Social Work network across England and Wales. During this two-year period our value driven organisation has gone from strength to strength, with our founding members, Managing Directors…

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Introducing Hayley Lodge Independent Social Worker

Hayley Lodge Independent Social Worker

Hayley has been working with Thornton & Lee as an Independent Social Worker since the summer 2022, her kind and personable approach is a real asset to Thornton & Lee and much appreciated by our clients. Hayley lives with her family and sausage dog Toby, in the Gloucestershire area. Hayley qualified as a Social Worker…

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