Topic 5 - Adviser and client relationship Flashcards
The clients may be unable to make decisions for themselves, as they may lack xxx capacity which may also mean that they lack xxx capacity.
Mental
legal
People who are elderly or in poor health may be classed as vulnerable. FCA describes a vulnerable person as
“someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to detriment, particularly when a firm is not acting with appropriate levels of care”.
If people become incapacitated without putting provisions in place then xxx comes in.
substituted decision making
What may happen to your ‘client’ over time when dealing with clients and LTC?
Your ‘client’ may change e.g. to the child of the original client if they become incapable
‘legal capacity’ describes xxx
an individuals power (in law) to do certain things such as enter a contract.
Where one party of a contract does not have legal capacity, the contract will be ‘void’ or ‘voidable’ which means:
- A void contract is one in which the legal status of the contract is as if it had never existed
- A voidable contract is one that remains in force unless and until it is declared void by one of the contracting parties. Although one of the parties may be entitled to void the contract, they may also choose to let it continue in force
Advisers need to be sure whose instructions they are able to accept, and who their xxx with.
duty of care lies
It is important that if advisers are not dealing with the main client, that they have the correct xxx and that everything is xxx properly.
authority
executed and documented (done)
Authority must be checked to see it is still valid, and any individuals must have xxx to enter a contract as many long-term care contracts require this.
legal capacity
If anyone making any arrangements which require capacity, and is later proved to have lacked capacity, they may be xxx. The arrangements may be xxx
challenged
set aside, and any transactions (gifts etc) may be set aside also and challenged
People may not be in a capable state all the time, and may have periods of being xxx and some times where they are not xxx.
lucid
The definition of having capacity is essentially that you are xxx
deemed as capable until proved otherwise.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 clarifies a number of areas that were once xxx e.g. a single test for deciding capacity, which may not take account of all aspects.
confusing and uncertain (unclear)
Although there is no specific test for capacity, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 suggests the following principles when assessing this:
- There is a presumption of capacity – a person is presumed to hold capacity unless lack of capacity can be shown
- Even if a person has made an unwise decision, it does not mean they lack capacity (Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2022)
Substituted decision making is a legal concept that allows someone to make decisions on behalf of and individual (PoA for people who still have capacity!). The 3 main examples of this are:
- Power of Attorney
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Deputyship
The two main pieces of legislation in relation to PoAs are:
- Powers of Attorney Act 1971
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
The 2 parties in an PoA are the donor (giver) and done (recipient/attorney). A PoA does not always have to be used when the donor is incapacitated!. This gives the done the power to:
- Sign documents
- Handle the donor’s financial affairs
- Make purchases on the donor’s behalf
- Dispose of the donor’s property
Someone may enforce an ordinary PoA for the following reasons:
- Someone who is travelling for extended periods of time and needs someone to take care of their affairs
- Someone in poor health may delegate these tasks whilst they are getting better
- Someone may delegate responsibilities simply because they do not want to deal with them
PoA can only be given whilst the donor has mental capacity, and falls away in line with any time frame mentioned or when the donor loses capacity. PoA also automatically revokes if the donor:
- Dies
- Revokes the PoA
- Becomes bankrupt
PoA will run out when capacity is lost, which is contradictory as this is the point a PoA is most needed! To combat this, there are 2 types of specialist PoA that can be applied for which makes this easier:
- Enduring PoA
- Lasting PoA