Councils increasingly step in to manage people’s finances as deputyship orders rise by a fifth since 2021
20 October 2026
- Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Legal Services reveals that local authority financial deputyship orders have risen by a fifth (20%) since 2021.
- The member-owned organisation’s findings also show that the number of local authority financial deputyship orders increased by 10% in 2025 alone.
- Staffordshire County Council was appointed to the highest number of deputyship orders in 2025, with Essex County Council being appointed to the most overall since 2021.
- Co-op Legal Services is encouraging people to make a lasting power of attorney (LPA) to ensure that a trusted loved one is in charge of their affairs should they lose mental capacity.
Freedom of Information data shows that thousands of people are having their financial affairs managed by councils each year, with the number of local authority financial deputyship orders rising by a fifth (20%) since 2021.
The data, obtained by Co-op Legal Services from the Ministry of Justice, also reveals that the number of instances where councils have had to step in to manage an individual’s finances increased by 10% in 2025 alone.
Notably, the findings align with the latest Office of the Public Guardian annual report, which found that the number of deputyship orders received from the Court of Protection increased by 5.6% between 2024/25 and 2025/26. *
A local authority deputyship order allows a council to take responsibility for managing a person’s financial affairs during their lifetime, including their bank accounts, pensions, savings and investments, which often represent a lifetime of accumulated wealth.
This can happen if the person loses the mental capacity to make financial decisions themselves, perhaps as a result of an accident, illness or dementia. Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place while they still have capacity, gives individuals the opportunity to choose trusted family members or friends to make decisions about their financial affairs on their behalf.
In the absence of an LPA, decisions about who should take on that responsibility may need to be resolved through the Court of Protection. In some cases, an individual may have wanted a specific loved one to manage their affairs but failed to put an LPA in place before losing mental capacity.
Where disputes subsequently arise between family members over who should act as deputy, the Court of Protection may appoint the local authority instead. As a result, a council can be placed in charge of an individual's finances even where close family members remain actively involved in their life.
In the absence of an attorney being legally authorised to manage an individual's finances, important payments can be missed, and financial matters can quickly become difficult to manage. Bills, care costs and other financial commitments may go unpaid, potentially leading to additional charges, penalties and wider financial complications.
At the same time, loved ones who may be best placed to help can find themselves unable to access accounts or make decisions on the person's behalf. In some cases, this can contribute to county court judgments and other avoidable financial pressures, while family members may not have the time or resources required to apply for deputyship themselves.
Separate Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Legal Services found that the average estate requiring a grant of letters of administration, where there was no will, was worth £212,000, while the highest-value estate exceeded £144 million, highlighting that even those with substantial wealth can fail to put key legal protections in place. **
The data also reveals that Staffordshire County Council has been appointed to the highest number of deputyship orders of any local authority in the UK in both 2024 and 2025, according to figures from the Ministry of Justice, and even saw orders rise by nearly a quarter (24%) last year.
Meanwhile, since 2021, Essex County Council has been appointed to the most deputyship orders overall, with the number of orders it was appointed to increasing by 64% in 2025. With ONS data suggesting that the number of people aged 80 and over is projected to increase by 34% from 3.59 million in 2024 to 4.82 million in 2034, more individuals are likely to be living with conditions that can affect mental capacity. ***
As such, given the growing trend of council deputyship orders and with more people entering later life, the findings suggest the need for intervention in people's financial affairs could become an increasingly significant challenge for local authorities and the wider public sector.
However, making a financial LPA is an important consideration regardless of an individual’s stage of life, as an illness or accident can lead to a loss of mental capacity at any age. Co-op Legal Services is, therefore, encouraging people across the nation to take the time to make a financial LPA.
By having an LPA in place, individuals can have peace of mind knowing that if they ever become unable to express their wishes, decisions about their financial affairs will be made by someone they choose and trust. This prevents the need for intervention through the courts or local authorities having to step in to manage their affairs.
James Antoniou, Head of Estate Planning at Co-op Legal Services said:
“Having a lasting power of attorney is an essential part of planning for the future, regardless of age, as it allows an individual to decide who they would like to be responsible for their affairs if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. It also provides an opportunity for people to set out their wishes and ensure that what matters most to them is considered in the decisions made on their behalf.
“However, the data from the Ministry of Justice suggests a rise in the number of cases in which local authorities are having to step in to manage people’s financial affairs, where an LPA is absent and no individual is willing or able to take on the role of deputy.
“This means that thousands of people’s finances are being looked after by their local council, by necessity, rather than a trusted loved one.
“People insure their homes, pay into pensions and make investments, but many may be overlooking the document that determines who can legally access and manage those assets if capacity is lost. Having a lasting power of attorney in place provides reassurance that important financial decisions can be made by someone they know and trust.
“Making an LPA is about more than completing a legal document. It encourages important conversations with family members and loved ones about future wishes, expectations and responsibilities. By discussing these matters in advance, people can make informed decisions about who they appoint; while giving those chosen individuals clarity about the role, they may one day be asked to fulfil.
“We’re therefore encouraging people to discuss later life planning with loved ones and take the next step of putting an LPA in place to safeguard their affairs. When it comes to making an LPA, it is important to take advice from a regulated provider so that individuals fully understand how an LPA operates, the options available to them and the decisions they are making, while also ensuring that the legal documentation is prepared correctly.”
-ENDS-
Notes to the editor
Freedom of Information data obtained by Co-op Legal Services from the Ministry of Justice.
Local authority deputyship orders (2021-2025)
Councils with the highest number of deputyship orders in the UK since 2021
** Freedom of Information data obtained from His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service.
About Co-op Legal Services
Co-op Legal Services is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, providing legal services in England and Wales. It is one of the largest providers of estate planning and probate services in the UK, with specialist practices in family law, serious injury and medical negligence. Co-op Legal Services’ mission is to help people understand the law, to use the law to protect their future and that of their loved ones. It achieves this by providing accessible, engaging, professional legal advice and support through a blend of digital and 1-2-1 specialist advice.
Co-op Legal Services is part of the Co-op Group.
About Co-op
Co-op Group is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives, operating across food retail, funerals, insurance and legal services. Owned by around 7.5 million active member-owners, Co-op exists to meet their needs and champion the causes they care about.
With more than 2,300 food stores, 800 funeral homes and a wholesale business supplying around 8,000 additional outlets, Co-op employs around 54,000 colleagues and generates annual revenues of over £11 billion. It is a recognised leader in ethical business and community-led programmes, creating long-term value for members and communities across the UK.