Form COP1 UK: Deputy Application Guide (2025)

What this document is

Form COP1 is the application form used to ask the Court of Protection to appoint a deputy for someone who is unable to make certain decisions for themselves. The Court of Protection operates under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and a deputy is a person (often a relative, close friend, or in some cases a professional) given legal authority to make decisions on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to make those decisions independently.

There are two main types of deputyship. A property and financial affairs deputy handles things like bank accounts, bills, benefits, and property. A personal welfare deputy makes decisions about day-to-day care, medical treatment, and where the person lives, though these orders are less common and the Court only grants them where genuinely necessary.

Form COP1 is where you set out which type of deputyship you want, why it is needed, and how you intend to act in the person's best interests.

How to use this document

1. Gather the background information you'll need. Before you start filling in COP1, collect the personal details of the person you want to become deputy for (often called 'P' in Court of Protection documents), details of their family members and anyone with an interest in their welfare, and a summary of their assets, income, and outgoings if this is a property and financial affairs application. 2. Complete Form COP1 itself. Work through each section carefully, explaining who you are, your relationship to P, the type of deputyship you are applying for, and the specific orders you want the Court to make. Be clear and factual. If you are asking for unusual powers, for example authority to sell a property or make gifts, you will need to flag these and explain why. 3. Prepare the supporting forms. A COP1 application is almost never submitted on its own. You will usually also need Form COP3 (an assessment of capacity completed by a doctor or other qualified professional), Form COP4 (a deputy's declaration setting out your suitability), and, for financial deputyship, Form COP1A with details of P's finances. For welfare applications you'd use COP1B instead. 4. Pay the application fee and submit to the Court. There is a fee payable when you lodge the application, and further fees may apply later for the hearing and annual supervision. Check gov.uk for the current amounts. If P has limited means, a fee exemption or remission may be available. Send the completed bundle to the Court of Protection at the address on the form. 5. Notify the relevant people. Once the Court issues your application, you have a legal duty to tell P and at least three other people connected to them (such as close family members) that the application has been made. This is done using Forms COP14 and COP15, and you then confirm to the Court that you have done it using Form COP20. Only after this is complete will the Court move towards making an order.