Increase In Mental Capacity Inquiries, But Jersey Law Reforms Will Make A Difference

Islanders will be able to plan for their physical care and well-being in the future under a new law slated for 2018, and Ogier's Head of Probate has welcomed the reforms.

The new Capacity and Self-Determination Law will do a better job of protecting vulnerable people from financial abuse, and will also let them make legally-binding choices about what should happen if they start to lose their capacity to make informed decisions.

Although mental capacity issues tend to be thought of as being linked only to age, a variety of factors – some temporary and some permanent – can have an impact on a person's ability to make decisions. They include addiction, mental illness, mental health and physical conditions such as brain tumours.