Loss of Mental Capacity

“PKWA Law offers friendly services and affordable fees in addition to legal excellence.” – The Straits Times

PKWA Law is an established, award-winning firm recognized for providing reliable mental capacity services in Singapore. For over 30 years, our experienced team has helped families and individuals secure their future with transparent and affordable fee structures. Whether assisting with Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) applications or deputyship matters, we bring professionalism and expertise to ensure you and your loved ones are fully protected. Recognized by The Straits Times for our commitment to excellence, PKWA Law is here to provide peace of mind through expert guidance and compassionate support.

When do you need to apply for Deputyship?

If a person did not make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and subsequently loses mental capacity, their family members may apply to the Family Court to appoint a “Deputy” tasked with representing and managing the individual’s personal welfare and/or property and affairs. This process typically involves the submission of various documents and may take several months for the court to issue the Deputyship order.

A doctor has to certify that the person lacks mental capacity to make decisions due to an impairment of or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain.

A deputy is thus an individual appointed by the Family Court under the Mental Capacity Act to make decisions on behalf of a person who lacks mental capacity and who has not made a LPA. A deputy is typically a family member.

How is loss of mental capacity defined?

A doctor has to certify that the person lacks mental capacity due to an impairment of the brain. The law indicates that a person has a lack of mental capacity when they cannot:

• understand the information relevant to the decision;
• retain that information;
• use or weigh that information as part of the process of making the decision; or
• communicate their decision (whether by talking, using sign language or any other means).

Specialists in deputyship applications

PKWA family lawyers act for families who wish to apply for a deputyship order.  Our family lawyers are consistently named as leading Singapore lawyers by the Straits Times, Benchmark Litigation, Asian Legal Business, Singapore Business Review and Doyle’s Guide. Our firm has more than 100 employees and 30 years of history. Our clients include all the major banks such as DBS, UOB, OCBC and Maybank. We are a safe and trusted choice.

Contact us now

Our fees are fixed, clear and transparent from the outset.  We offer a free initial consultation to understand your situation.