Recent figures show that orders made under the Mental Capacity Act grew by almost 50% during 2017.
According to the latest statistical bulletin from the Family Court, 38,945 orders were made under the act last year, with over a third relating to the appointment of a deputy for property and affairs.
Whilst the growth is clearly significant, the report does state that some of it should be put down to an improvement in methods of recording, as well as a clearing of outstanding cases from the first three months of the year.
Also up on 2016 was the number of Lasting Power of Attorneys received; with the final quarter of 2017 seeing 180,210, this is an 18% uplift on the number recorded over the correspondent period in the previous year. It is however, important to note that there has been a decline over the last two quarters, despite a growth of 28% over the duration of the year.
Where Enduring Powers of Attorney were concerned, the figures from the last quarter of 2017 were down 5% on the same period in the previous year, at a total of 2,552. On a yearly basis, 2017 saw a fall of 7% compared to 2016, seeing the long-term downward trend continue.
