New guidance on Professional Deputy costs published

The Office of the Public Guardian, Ministry of Justice, HM Courts & Tribunals Service and Senior Courts Costs Office have issued fresh guidance on how professional deputies should submit estimates of costs and bills for assessment, and to explain what can be claimed for in general management bills.

It details how the Office of the Public Guardian and the Senior Courts Costs Office will work together to make sure deputies act in the client’s best interest and comply with the Court of Protection’s directions.

The guidance contains:

• reminders of what to consider when incurring GM costs against the client’s estate
• advice on submitting bills of costs for assessment
• OPG’s reporting requirements

It should be read in conjunction with the relevant Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), COP Practice Direction PD19B, section 23 of the SCCO Guide (October 2013), the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Code of Practice (the Code) and OPG professional deputy standards. 

You can download the full document here.