The Public Guardian’s Severance Applications: CoP 19 Jun 2017

18 applications by the Public Guardian for the severance of clauses in instruments intended to have effect as Lasting Powers of Attorney – When severance is and is not necessary – Construction of section 12 (gifts) in relation to providing for the needs of others from the donor’s estate
District Judge Eldergill compared and contrasted the new terminology in the latest versions of the prescribed forms with the statutory language in s.9(4): ‘It is always risky to depart from the statutory language when drafting forms and the adoption of the headings ‘Preferences’ and ‘Instructions’ in the forms introduced by the Amendment Regulations is potentially misleading.
The term ‘instructions’ is not synonymous with ‘conditions or restrictions’.
Equally, the term ‘preferences’ is not synonymous with ‘best interests’ or a donee’s duty when deciding what is in the donor’s best interests to consider anything written in section 7 of the form concerning the donor’s wishes, feelings, beliefs and values, and the other factors to be considered by their donee(s): see s.4(6) of the 2005 Act.’

Judges:

District Judge Eldergill

Citations:

[2016] EWHC COP 10

Links:

Bailii

Statutes:

Mental Capacity Act 2005 57

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Cited by:

ApprovedThe Public Guardian v DA and Others CoP 5-Oct-2018
The court considered the validity of lasting powers of attorney in the authorisation of euthanasia, and the appointment of multiple attorneys. . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Agency, Health

Updated: 23 May 2022; Ref: scu.588180