Protect P's data. Use initials or a pseudonym. Your notes stay on this device only.Any notes or checklists you save are stored in your browser's localStorage only — they stay on this device and are never sent to a server or cloud database (UK GDPR).
Look after yourself. This is a marathon. Rest, eat, and ask someone to share the paperwork load.
Help that costs nothing
You do not have to pay for a solicitor to get proper legal help. This page lists the free routes — Legal Aid, law clinics, pro bono barristers, advocacy and helplines — and then every Court of Protection hearing centre so you know where your case will be heard.
Advocate is the Bar's pro bono charity. It tries to match people in England and Wales who cannot get Legal Aid and cannot afford legal help with a volunteer barrister. A barrister may provide advice, help with drafting or represent you at a hearing, including in a Court of Protection case.
Check Legal Aid first, then apply with your case papers and proof of the result. Apply as early as possible: Advocate normally needs the required information at least three weeks before a hearing or deadline, and help cannot be guaranteed because barristers volunteer their time.
Apply to AdvocateSeven steps to get ready before you apply for a volunteer barrister. The worksheet below saves on your own device only — nothing is sent anywhere until you choose to apply.
Advocate only helps when Legal Aid is not available. In section 21A (DoLS) cases, legal aid for P is free whatever P's money — call Civil Legal Advice on 0345 345 4 345 or use the Legal Aid solicitor finder first. Keep the reference number or any rejection letter: Advocate asks for evidence of the result.
Fill in the worksheet below and work through the document list. Advocate normally needs the required papers at least three weeks before any hearing or deadline, so start early.
One page is enough: what has happened, what has gone wrong, and what you want the court to change. Use 'P' instead of names. Dates in order, newest first.
Write the order you want the court to make, for example 'the DoLS authorisation should end' or 'P should be able to visit family twice a month'. A volunteer barrister can advise faster when the ask is clear.
Never include P's full name, address, date of birth or medical records in the first application. Describe P as 'P' or by initials and ask what Advocate needs before sending more.
Use the button above to open Advocate's application form. Attach the worksheet summary, your evidence of the Legal Aid result and the court papers you have. Apply as early as possible — help is not guaranteed.
Try the other free routes on this page: LawWorks clinics, Law Centres Network, or a fixed-fee chat with a solicitor from our professional directory. Keep the worksheet — any adviser will ask for the same things.
Everything you type stays in this browser on your device. The PDF is made on your device too — nothing is uploaded.
Timings are a rough guide only and can change. Advocate is a charity that relies on volunteers, so help is never guaranteed.
1. You get an acknowledgement
Advocate usually confirms it has received your application. Keep this and any reference number. If nothing arrives within a few working days, check your junk folder, then contact Advocate.
2. Advocate checks your application
Their team looks at whether the case is one a volunteer barrister could help with, and whether you have tried Legal Aid. They may ask you for more papers or information — reply as quickly as you can.
3. They look for a volunteer barrister
If the case is suitable, Advocate asks its volunteer barristers. This can take several weeks. That is why they ask for papers at least three weeks before any hearing or deadline.
4. You hear the outcome
A barrister may be found to give advice, draft documents or, sometimes, represent at a hearing. Or Advocate may say it cannot help — this is not a judgement on your case, often there simply isn't a volunteer free.
5. If a barrister is found
They will say exactly what they can do. Help is often limited to a specific task. Keep your worksheet and papers organised and send what they ask for.
While you wait
Showing 18 of 18 sources of free help.
The government's Legal Aid gateway. Free advice if you qualify — including some mental capacity, community care and deprivation of liberty matters.
How to use it: Check eligibility online, then call. s.21A DoLS challenges for P are non-means-tested.
0345 345 4 345
England · Wales
Visit websiteOfficial directory of solicitors who hold a Legal Aid contract, searchable by area of law and postcode.
How to use it: Search under 'Mental health' or 'Community care'.
England · Wales
Visit websiteFree, confidential advice on benefits, care charging, complaints and next steps, with local face-to-face offices.
How to use it: Use the online adviser finder or the national phone line.
0800 144 8848 (England) · 0800 702 2020 (Wales)
England · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
Visit websiteNetwork of free clinics where solicitors give initial advice to people who cannot afford it and cannot get Legal Aid.
How to use it: Search the clinic directory by postcode and book an appointment.
England · Wales
Visit websiteThe Bar's pro bono charity may find a volunteer barrister for people who cannot get Legal Aid and cannot afford legal help, including in Court of Protection cases.
How to use it: Check Legal Aid first, then apply online with your case papers and evidence of the result. Apply early: a volunteer is not guaranteed, and Advocate normally needs the required papers at least three weeks before a hearing or deadline.
England · Wales
Visit websiteNot-for-profit legal practices giving free advice and representation in community care, housing and public law.
How to use it: Find your nearest centre — availability depends on local funding.
England · Wales · Northern Ireland
Visit websiteFree case-law summaries, practice notes and guidance written by the leading practitioners in this field.
How to use it: Free to read; the monthly Mental Capacity Report is free to subscribe to.
England · Wales
Visit websiteFree advice on mental health law, the Mental Health Act, capacity and carers' rights.
How to use it: Phone or use the online factsheets.
0808 801 0525
England
Visit websiteFree legal information on mental health law, capacity, community care and discrimination.
How to use it: Phone weekdays or use the online legal briefings.
0300 466 6463
England · Wales
Visit websiteFree information and signposting on learning disability, care, capacity and best-interests decisions.
How to use it: Phone or email the helpline.
0808 808 1111
England · Wales · Northern Ireland
Visit websiteFree guidance on care, education, transition and rights for autistic people and their families.
How to use it: Online guides plus a supporter line.
0808 800 4104
England · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
Visit websiteFree statutory advocacy — IMCA, Care Act, IMHA and RPR support — for P and, in some areas, for families.
How to use it: Referral by a professional or self-refer online where the local contract allows.
England · Wales
Visit websiteFree advice for unpaid carers on rights, assessments, benefits and challenging decisions.
How to use it: Phone or email; also runs online forums.
0808 808 7777
England · Wales · Scotland · Northern Ireland
Visit websiteLegal Aid and free legal advice in Scotland, including adults with incapacity and guardianship matters.
How to use it: Search for a Legal Aid solicitor or contact the Legal Services Agency law centre.
Scotland
Visit websiteFree social welfare, mental health and capacity law advice in Northern Ireland.
How to use it: Advice line for members and referral agencies, plus published guides.
Northern Ireland
Visit websiteFree legal advice clinics and an information line covering capacity and wardship/decision support matters.
How to use it: Phone the information line or attend a local clinic.
Republic of Ireland
Visit websiteThe official service for assisted decision-making, co-decision-making and decision representation.
How to use it: Free information line and online guidance.
Republic of Ireland
Visit websiteFree guidance on deputyship, LPAs, supervision and concerns about a deputy or attorney (not legal advice, but authoritative).
How to use it: Phone or email the OPG contact centre.
0300 456 0300
England · Wales
Visit website“Section 21” means section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It is the court route for questioning a DoLS authorisation — the paperwork a care home or hospital uses to lawfully restrict someone's liberty, for example “P cannot leave the home alone”. If you think the restriction is wrong, too wide, or should have conditions added, a section 21A application lets the Court of Protection decide.
Legal aid for P is free whatever their income or savings. The usual income and savings test does not apply to section 21A cases. P qualifies even if they have savings, a pension or a house — the money test is simply not used for these cases.
How to start: call Civil Legal Advice on 0345 345 4 345, or search the Legal Aid solicitor finder under “Mental health” and say it is a section 21A / DoLS challenge. Read the section 21A wording if you want the legal source.
The Court of Protection is one national court for England and Wales. Applications are issued at the central registry at First Avenue House in London, and health and welfare hearings are then listed at a regional hearing centre near P. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have their own equivalent systems.
London — central registry
42–49 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NP
All new applications for England and Wales are issued here. Property and affairs work, deputyship applications and many paper decisions.
0300 456 4600
courtofprotectionenquiries@justice.gov.uk
Court detailsLondon — senior judiciary
Strand, London WC2A 2LL
Cases before the Senior Judge, Tier 3 High Court judges, serious medical treatment and reported cases.
020 7947 6000
Court detailsMidlands
Priory Courts, 33 Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6DS
West Midlands health and welfare hearings.
0121 681 3181
Court detailsMidlands
60 Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7EJ
East Midlands health and welfare hearings.
0300 123 5577
Court detailsNorth West
1 Bridge Street West, Manchester M60 9DJ
Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.
0161 240 5000
Court detailsNorth West
35 Vernon Street, Liverpool L2 2BX
Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales border cases.
0151 296 2200
Court detailsNorth West
Openshaw Place, Ringway, Preston PR1 2LL
Lancashire and Cumbria.
01772 844700
Court detailsYorkshire & Humber
The Court House, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BG
West Yorkshire.
0113 306 2440
Court detailsYorkshire & Humber
50 West Bar, Sheffield S3 8PH
South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
0114 281 2400
Court detailsNorth East
Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QF
North East England.
0191 205 8750
Court detailsSouth West
2 Redcliff Street, Bristol BS1 6GR
Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and the South West.
0117 366 4800
Court detailsSouth East
160–163 Friar Street, Reading RG1 1HE
Thames Valley and parts of the South East.
0118 987 0500
Court detailsSouth East
William Street, Brighton BN2 0RF
Sussex and coastal South East cases.
01273 674421
Court detailsWales
2 Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1ET
South Wales — the Court of Protection sits in Wales as part of England & Wales.
029 2037 6400
Court detailsWales
Law Courts, Civic Centre, Mold CH7 1AE
North Wales.
01352 707340
Court detailsScotland
Your local Sheriff Court — search by postcode
Scotland has no Court of Protection. Welfare and financial guardianship under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 is dealt with by the Sheriff Court, supported by the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) and the Mental Welfare Commission.
See also publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk and mwcscot.org.uk
Court detailsNorthern Ireland
Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 3JF
Northern Ireland's equivalent function — controllership and capacity matters under the Mental Health (NI) Order and Mental Capacity Act (NI) 2016.
0300 200 7812
Court detailsRepublic of Ireland
Waterloo Exchange, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4
Wardship has been replaced by the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Applications about decision-making representatives go to the Circuit Court, supported by the Decision Support Service.
Court detailsCourt addresses, phone numbers and listing arrangements change. Always confirm on the GOV.UK Find a court or tribunal service before you travel, and check the listing notice on your order. This page is general information, not legal advice.