Councils, ICBs, courts and family groups

42–49 High Holborn, London WC1A 9JA. Applications, COP forms and case enquiries.

Ring the Royal Courts of Justice security desk and ask for the urgent out-of-hours judge for a Court of Protection emergency.

Deputyship supervision, LPA registration, concerns about a deputy or attorney.

Acts as litigation friend for P where no one else can.

Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL.

Parliament Square, London SW1A 2AJ.

Official HMCTS finder — search by town or postcode for the exact address, phone number and opening hours of every court, including regional Court of Protection hearing centres.

Guardianship and intervention orders under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act.

Registers guardianships and supervises financial guardians.

Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 3JF. Controllership applications in Northern Ireland.

Circuit Court applications and the DSS under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015.

Enter a postcode to get the exact adult social care number, safeguarding line and address for that local authority. Every English council is covered.

Every council runs an EDT for evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Its number is on the council's own adult social care page — search the council name plus 'emergency duty team'. Save it in your phone before you need it.

All 22 Welsh councils, with social services and safeguarding contacts.

All 32 Scottish councils and their social work / adult protection numbers.

Belfast, Northern, South Eastern, Southern and Western Trusts handle adult safeguarding in NI.

If someone is at immediate risk of harm, ring 999. Police non-emergency is 101.

Official NHS list with each ICB's website, switchboard and complaints/PALS contact — use this for continuing healthcare, s117 aftercare and funding disputes.

Escalation where an ICB will not respond, plus specialised commissioning queries.

Hospital-level advocacy and complaints — every NHS trust has one.

The equivalent commissioners outside England for funding and placement decisions.

Report a failing care home, hospital or supported living service.

Free national gateway. Check if you qualify, then get referred to a legal aid solicitor. Ask specifically for Court of Protection / mental capacity work.

Enter income, benefits and savings to see the likely answer before you ring anyone.

Search by postcode and category — choose 'Mental health' or 'Community care' for most Court of Protection cases.

If P is under a standard DoLS authorisation, P (and an RPR acting for P) can get legal aid with no means or merits test. This is the fastest route to a free solicitor — say 's.21A' when you ring.

Where legal aid is not normally available, ECF can be granted if refusing it would breach your human rights. Often used for welfare COP cases. ECF forms and guidance from the Legal Aid Agency.

Queries about an existing certificate, delays or a provider's refusal to act.

Free legal information and advice for parents and carers on education, SEND, care proceedings and children's social care — vital where a young person is heading into the Court of Protection at 18.

Children's charity group behind the Children's Legal Centre, Coram Voice advocacy and CoramBAAF.

Always Heard helpline: free advocacy for children and care-experienced young people up to 25.

Legal aid for guardianship and Adults with Incapacity applications at the Sheriff Court.

Legal aid for capacity and Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016 matters.

Civil legal aid, including Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act applications.

Charity matching people who cannot get legal aid with barristers willing to act free of charge.

Network of free legal advice clinics for people who cannot afford a solicitor.

Search Facebook for 'Court of Protection' and pick the family-run groups (deputyship, DoLS and welfare). Read the pinned rules first — most are private and closed to professionals.

Practical help with COP1 bundles, annual reports and security bonds from other deputies.

Families challenging placements and restrictions share hearing experiences here.

Campaigning against inappropriate hospital detention of autistic and learning disabled people.

Family Support Service and closed groups for parents of people with severe learning disabilities.

The parent-led community behind this app — advocacy, training and family support.

Free advice on care, benefits and rights.

Independent advocacy, IMCA and NHS complaints advocacy across England.

Advice line for unpaid carers on rights, benefits, carer's assessments and breaks.

Find your nearest carer centre for one-to-one support, groups and respite.

Helpline and local parent groups across the UK, including transition to adult services at 16–18.

Every English council area has a Parent Carer Forum — free to join, they sit at the table with the council and ICB.

Grants and peer support for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child across all four nations.

Local branches, parent-to-parent support and an autism advice line.

Families, self-advocates and providers working together on rights and better support.

Parent-led organisation supporting families of disabled children and adults, including COP and hospital discharge fights.

Welsh carer advice, rights under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act.

Independent advice and advocacy for Welsh families on education, disability and rights.

Support and rights advice for carers in Scotland, including guardianship worries.

Family support for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers.

Advice, local groups and advocacy for people with learning disabilities and their families.

Northern Ireland carer support, rights and local groups.

Family support, advocacy and local groups across NI.

Freephone careline and local carer supports across the Republic of Ireland.

Rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, including capacity law (ADMA 2015).

Search your county plus 'parent carer forum' or 'special needs parents' to find local groups. Keep P's details out of posts.