Chantal Ul Haq-Weedon

Chantal Ul Haq-Weedon is a senior associate and the head of the Court of Protection team based in our Lincoln office.

Chantal began her career as a paralegal in a local authority within their child litigation unit, before qualifying as a solicitor in January 2017. She specialises in a wide range of Court of Protection matters and regularly acts as an advocate in court proceedings.

She helps her clients plan for the future by completing Lasting Powers of Attorney. Alternatively, where someone has lost capacity, she can also aid in applications to the Court of Protection for Deputyship Orders.

Her work often sees her acting as a professional attorney and deputy for her clients. On a day-to-day basis, she manages the finances of individuals who lack capacity to do so themselves. This can include progressing with the sale or purchase of a property, making best interest decisions, supporting in deprivation of liberty safeguard hearings, and making a statutory Will.

Chantal is also able to help other professionals in assisting their clients and services users by providing information. Her professional clients include:

• Social workers;

• Support workers;

• Financial accountants;

• Estate planners; and

• Carers.

Key specialisms

Deputyship or contested deputyship applications

Chantal regularly makes deputyship applications, so that someone is appointed by the court to manage the finances of an individual who lacks capacity. Her clients in these applications are often family members.

If another family member or friend contests the deputyship application, Chantal is experienced in representing and supporting clients through court proceedings.

She can provide follow-up support after the court order is received. She provides deputies with ongoing support as required in completing their yearly tasks to comply with the Deputyship Order. This work is not commonly offered by other firms and Chantal’s clients often express appreciation for the additional support when needed.

Working alongside our personal injury team, Chantal manages a £11.5 million settlement on behalf of her client. Having suffered brain damage as a result of a birth injury, she acts as a finance deputy to manage the fund, supporting the client to buy a new property and have it specially adapted to suit her client’s needs. She supports her client in using the money to pay for tailored, round-the-clock care, along with various therapies, aids, and equipment to maximise independence.

Trustee applications

These court applications are typically made to remove a joint property owner who has lost capacity as trustee, to enable the sale of the property. Chantal ensures a smooth process for her clients who are in need of help with trustee applications. To achieve this, she often works closely with the conveyancing team for a holistic approach.

Chantal’s clients are usually spouses or children; however, she can make these applications on behalf of anyone who is a joint owner of property where one of the owners lacks capacity.

Deprivation of liberty safeguards

When an individual is in a hospital or care home setting and is deprived of their liberty, but they or a family member object to where they live, this can often become contested. Chantal will regularly be involved in court proceedings, for the court to make a best interest decision.

Her clients are often family members of the individual. Chantal is clear on costs and offers several options in terms of representation, so that almost anyone will be able to receive support from her in some way. This allows her clients to have much more control in regard to fees.

Statutory Wills

Chantal is able to assist family members with applications for statutory Wills. A statutory Will is made by the Court of Protection for someone who is unable to do so due to lack of mental capacity.

She is often approached by clients for help as she is straightforward in her advice as to whether a statutory Will is in the best interest of the person lacking capacity. She carefully considers what is in their estate or existing Will, before weighing the potential benefits of the suggested changes.

Memberships and voluntary work

Chantal is a member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (previously The Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE)).

She also regularly raises money for a number of charities in her own time.