In a letter sent out on 18 November 2024, HMCTS has confirmed that Court of Protection Practice Direction 9H is being updated to confirm that from 4th December legal professionals must submit applications for Property and Affairs Deputyship applications via the digital submission portal on gov.uk.
The letter notes that:
In support of mandation, in respect of any Property and Affairs Deputyship applications made on paper after 4th December by professionals, it is unlikely that authorisation to recover costs of making the application from the estate of P will be granted.
Although litigants in person are encouraged to submit digitally, mandation of the submission portal will only apply to professional court users.