Application for Discharge from Wardship
The Assisted Decision-Making Act brought about a sea change for people living in wardship.
The focus is now on the person’s specific decisions about personal welfare, health, accommodation, education… and the support they need to make those decisions.
If you are currently a ward of court, you can apply to be discharged from wardship to make your own decisions, on your own, if you can, or with the assistance of a co-decision maker, or by a Decision-Making Representative (DMR).
If you are a family member of a ward, you can make such an application and look to be the person’s Decision-Making Representative (DMR) from that point forward.
The role of a Decision-Making Representative is a responsible one, and it carries obligations, including reporting requirements. If there is no family member who is willing or able to take up that role, a Decision-Making Representative can be appointed from a panel of professionals (which includes solicitors, accountants, social workers). The application for discharge from wardship is brought before the High Court.
We act for a number of wards to bring an application for discharge, completing the necessary paperwork and moving the applications before the High Court.
