Make a controller application to support a loved one

It’s heartbreaking to see a friend or relative no longer capable of managing their affairs. It also brings enormous practical challenges. Bills might be going unpaid or property falling into disrepair because nobody is legally allowed to take care of these things.

Our controllership solicitors will help you to solve this problem. We will apply for a controller order so you can look after their finances and property on their behalf. As a controller, you’ll be able to manage everything as they would have wanted.

Discuss a controller order

What can a controller do in Northern Ireland?

Once you are appointed as a controller in Northern Ireland, you will be able to manage financial and property matters on behalf of a friend or relative. This includes:

• Managing their income to meet their day-to-day needs
• Paying bills and taxes on their behalf
• Keeping their property in good condition
• Insuring their property appropriately
• Keeping documents and paperwork up to date

The Office of Care and Protection, part of the High Court in Northern Ireland, must authorise investments, property sales and other uses of assets. You will also have to submit annual accounts to the courts.

How our controllership solicitors help you

The process of applying for a Controller Order can be complicated. Our controllership solicitors will guide you every step of the way to help you protect the patient’s interests.

1. Talk to our controllership solicitors

Book a free consultation to discuss your circumstances with no obligation to proceed. Our controllership solicitors will advise on the likelihood of the courts appointing you as a controller.

2. Completing the paperwork

We will fill out the controller order forms from the Office of Care and Protection on your behalf. Legal paperwork can be confusing – our experienced solicitors will help you to complete it without any unnecessary hassle.

We will also help you secure a medical certificate confirming that your friend or relative doesn’t have the mental capacity to manage their property and finances.

3. Filing the controllership forms

We will file the controllership paperwork with the Office of Care and Protection for you. This includes returning the completed forms, the medical certificate and the application fee.

4. Appointment as a controller

If the Office of Care and Protection believes that appointing you as a controller is the right course of action, it will make a controller order. This will give you the legal power to manage the patient’s affairs.

The court will set out your duties and responsibilities – and you must manage property and finances in accordance with these instructions. But, crucially, it will become much easier to pay bills and take care of all those important matters that are difficult or even impossible to deal with at the moment.

Get in touch to start the controllership application process.

Why choose H McPartland & Sons as your controllership solicitors?

As local solicitors embedded in our communities of Lisburn and Lurgan since 1949, we’ve built decades of experience in helping families and friends protect a loved one’s best interests.

This includes expertise in making controllership applications. In many cases, controller orders are essential for keeping a friend or relative’s affairs in order. Our controllership solicitors will listen to your circumstances and advise you on the best course of action.

We offer free initial legal advice, with no obligation to proceed. Book a consultation at our offices in Lisburn or Lurgan – both of which have ample car parking – to discuss your situation. You can also arrange a home visit or phone consultation, if you prefer.