An individual asked for some guidance and we provided the required information to register a deputyship with HMRC.
This was submitted in October 2025.
In December the individual called HMRC who confirmed receipt.
In February they called again and was told that it would be processed in October 2026.
The relevant individual is 95 with Dementia and unlikely to last that long.
Without the deputyship being registered it is not possible to access funds to pay for care, sell the property or liaise with HMRC. There is also the possibility of a let property report being required.
All I have been able to find out, is that it is not dealt with via the trusts/estate team. Does anyone have any suggestions?
My colleague who does COP work wonders if your clients mean that they made a Deputyship application in Oct 2025 to HMCTS rather than HMRC and were told it would not be registered until October 2026? She says that this is a standard timeline for the COP to authorise a Deputyship order and the COP are unlikely to see it as urgent based on age. The COP are also unlikely to give authority to sell in the Deputyship Order unless specifically asked for and the relevant information provided.
She adds that if a professional is being appointed as the Deputy, it can be possible to ask for an interim order to be issued to authorise a set amount of money be released from P’s bank account to the professional Deputy to be used on their behalf e.g. care home fees. Also, someone can apply to be appointed as a DWP appointee to gain access to P’s benefit, so they have some form of personal allowance.