Professional Deputies are entitled to general management costs which are reasonable and proportionate to the total value of the client’s estate. The amount of work done and that any work done should be done by the appropriate fee earner. Last but not least, the professional deputy is required to demonstrate they are acting in their client’s best interests. Professional Deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection are required to submit estimates of costs and bills for assessment at the end of a reporting period.
From Monday 20 January 2020, deputies are required to send a Bill of Costs, N258 and authority to assess (deputyship order) through the e-filing system in PDF Format.
Bills of costs submitted in paper form will be rejected by the Senior Courts Cost Office (SCCO) after this date. Any files submitted after this date in paper form will be returned.
How to E-File
To E-File, your firm should register as a user on the E-Filer system using an email address and password.
You can register by clicking here – scroll to the bottom of the page and select register as an e-filer.
Guidance on the SCCO e-filing system works is here.
Guidance from the HMCTs is also available here.
Costs that can be claimed
Practice Direction 19B sets out the fixed costs that may be claimed by solicitors and office holders in public authorities appointed to act as deputy for P.
You can find the Practice Direction here.
Fees
Payment can no longer be made to the SCCO by way of cheque. The firm must have a PBA or debit payment facility.
To find out more about applying for PBA accounts click here.
[This post was written for us by Hannah Nicholas, @thecapacitycat]
Court of Protection Handbook 