Litigation friends
Overview
You can be appointed as litigation friend to make decisions about a court case for either:
- an adult who lacks the mental capacity to manage their own court case either with or without a solicitor
- a child
The court case can be any of the following:
- a civil case, except a tribunal
- a family case
- a Court of Protection case
You鈥檒l have to go to court if there鈥檚 a hearing, but you cannot act as the other person鈥檚 lawyer.
An adult with a litigation friend is called the 鈥榩rotected party鈥� in court.
How you鈥檙e appointed
You can either:
- apply to be someone鈥檚 litigation friend
- be appointed by the court if someone involved in a case asks them to appoint a litigation friend for one of the other people involved
The court will check if you鈥檙e suitable. It can appoint you as soon as the case has started or at any time during the case.
When there鈥檚 no one suitable, willing and able to be a litigation friend, the court may ask the Official Solicitor to step in.
When your appointment ends
If you鈥檙e the litigation friend for a child who turns 18 or an adult who recovers capacity during the case, you may need to apply to stop being a litigation friend.
You may be replaced by the court if you do not carry out your duties properly.