Mental Capacity Act

Application to be appointed as Deputy under the Mental Capacity Act

1.        When a person (P) loses his mental capacity and is unable to manage his personal and                       financial affairs, there are two (2) possibilities:-

           (a)           if P had made a Lasting Power of Attorney (BEFORE he lost his mental capacity),                              once he loses his mental capacity, the Donee under the LPA will proceed to manage                           his affairs;

           (b)          if there is no LPA, the intended Deputy has to file an application to the Court to be                             appointed as Deputy for P.

2.        Under the MCA, parents of intellectually disabled children can also apply to court to be a                       deputy for their children. They can also appoint another person as successor deputy in the                   event they pass away or become mentally incapacitated.

Who is a Deputy?

3.        A deputy is a person authorised by the court to make decisions on behalf of a person who lacks            mental capacity (“P”) in relation to his “personal welfare” and “property and affairs”.

Who can apply to be a Deputy?

4.         The Deputy must meet the following requirements:-

            (a)           an individual of at least 21 years old; or

            (b)          in respect of powers relating to property and affairs, either an individual or a person                           other than an individual (ie a professional trustee), who is eligible to be appointed as                           donees.

5.         The Deputy need not be a blood relative of P.

6.         However when you apply to be a Deputy, you need to inform the “Relevant Persons” of your             application to be a Deputy.

7.         “Relevant Persons” are persons involved in P’s life and/or are likely to have an interest in the             application, such as:-

            (a)           P’s spouse;

            (b)          P’s children (aged 21 and above);

            (c)           P’s parents and guardian(s); and

            (d)          P’s brothers and sisters (aged 21 and above);

            (e)          any other relatives or friends who have a close relationship with P;

            (f)           any person who has a legal duty to support P;

            (g)           any person who will benefit from P’s estate; and

            (h)          any person who is responsible for P’s care.

8.         You can also apply for a “joint deputy” and/or “successor deputy.”

How do you apply to become a Deputy?

9.         You apply to Court by filing the following documents:-

            (a)           Originating Summons;

            (b)          Supporting Affidavit;

            (c)           Doctor’s Affidavit and Medical Report.

10.       You will need to state clearly in your Originating Summons the powers you are seeking as a                Deputy.

11.       The doctor’s Medical Report must be the most current report; it must not be dated more than             6 months before the date of application to court.

12.       If there are any “Relevant Persons”, their consents must be filed.

What are your Powers as a Deputy?

13.       The court may appoint the deputy to be authorised to make decisions relating to

            (a)          personal welfare; and/or

            (b)          property and affairs.

Personal welfare

14.       A Deputy’s powers with respect to “personal welfare” include:-

            (a)           deciding where P is to live;

            (b)          deciding what contact P is to have with any specified person;

            (c)           making an order prohibiting a named person from having contact with P;

            (d)          giving or refusing consent to the carrying out or continuation of a treatment                                      (including the conduct of a clinical trial) by a person providing health care for P;

            (e)          giving a direction that a person responsible for P’s health care allow a different                                   person to take over that responsibility (Section 22 of the MCA).

Property and affairs

15.       A Deputy’s powers with respect to “property and affairs” include:-

            (a)           the control and management of P’s property;

            (b)          the sale, exchange, charging, gift or other disposition of P’s property;

            (c)           the acquisition of property in P’s name or on P’s behalf;

            (d)          the carrying on of any profession, trade or business on P’s behalf;

            (e)          the taking of a decision which will have the effect of dissolving a partnership of                                  which P is a member;

            (f)           the carrying out of any contracts entered into by P;

            (g)          the discharge of P’s debts and any of P’s obligations whether legally enforceable or                              not;

            (h)          the settlement of any of P’s property by way of trust whether for P’s benefit or for                               the benefit of others;

            (i)            the making or revoking of any insurance nomination on P’s behalf ;

            (j)            execution of a will for P;

            (k)           execution and revocation of any memorandum or nomination on P’s behalf under                                the CPF Act;

            (l)            the maintenance, education, benefit and advancement of P’s spouse, P’s parents,                               P’s child below 21 years old or an intellectually disabled child of P;

            (m)         exercising any power (including power to consent) vested in P whether beneficially                               or as trustee under a trust;

            (n)          conducting legal proceedings in P’s name or on P’s behalf  (Section 23 of the MCA).

16.       A deputy does not have powers to:-

            (a)          prohibit a named person from having contact with P; or

            (b)          direct a person responsible for P’s health to allow a different person to take over that                            responsibility (section 25 of the MCA).

            (c)           to make decisions on the following matters:-

                           (i)            consenting to marriage;

                           (ii)           consenting to touching of a sexual nature;

                           (iii)          consenting to divorce being granted on the basis of 3 years separation;

                           (iv)          consenting to the making of an adoption order;

                           (v)          adopting or renouncing a religion;

                           (vi)         receiving treatment for a change of gender;

                           (vii)        consent or revoking consent to treatment to terminate pregnancy;

                           (viii)       registering or withdrawing an objection in respect of an organ removal                                                 upon the person’s death;

                           (ix)          making or revoking an advance medical directive;

                           (x)           making or revoking a gift of a body or any part thereof  (Section 26 of the                                           MCA).

17.          A deputy may not be given powers with respect to the following:-

               (a)           disposition of P’s property by making gifts;

               (b)           making any insurance nomination on P’s behalf, or any revocation of the                                          nomination;

                (c)          execution of a will for P;

                (d)          executing a memorandum under the CPF Act on behalf for P, or any revocation of                               the memorandum of nomination which has been executed under the CPF Act on                               behalf of P;

                (e)          the carrying out of continuation of life sustaining treatment on P or any other                                  treatment on P which a person providing health care reasonably believes is                                          necessary to prevent a serious deterioration in P’s condition.

If you have any queries please contact us at 6532 6560 or al@alagappanlawcorp.sg