In November 2019, Clarion hosted another Court of Protection Masterclass and the event was widely attended, including speakers from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), Slater Heelis Solicitors and Clarion. Ria Baxendale from the OPG revealed that there is currently a consultation underway to increase the percentage fixed fee allowed in Hardship Cases.
Practice Direction 19B sets out what can be claimed by a Solicitor. Currently, where the net assets of P are below £16,000, the professional deputy for property and affairs may take an annual management fee not exceeding 4.5% of P’s net assets on the anniversary of the court order appointing the professional as deputy. This has remained the same for a number of years and these cases have been widely referred to as ‘Hardship Cases’.
The OPG and the Court recognise that it’s very difficult to manage a client’s need with such a small fixed fee available, particularly when cases of this nature can often be the most demanding. In order to ensure that professional deputies can continue to manage the property and affairs of vulnerable clients, the fees need to be sustainable, which is an ongoing concern of professionals.
If there are any changes made to the Practice Direction, particularly the percentage fixed fee for cases of this nature, we will further notify our database.
Brian Ferry is an Associate in the Costs and Litigation Funding Department at Clarion Solicitors. You can contact him at Brian.Ferry@clarionsolicitors.com and 07741 663809 or the Clarion Costs Team on 0113 246 0622.
