PA14 Medical Certificate (probate):
What is a PA14 Medical Certificate?
A PA14 is a medical certificate for probate use. It can only be completed once a formal mental capacity assessment has determined that the executor or administrator of a will lacks the mental capacity to act or undertake the role of the deceased person's estate. Whilst the PA14 is the administrative form, it is underpinned by a comprehensive and detailed capacity assessment we administer as part of our PA14 service.
Who can complete a PA14?
Only a limited number of registered healthcare professionals approved by HM Courts and Tribunal Service as having the required specialist skillset can complete these assessments. We hold dual qualifications as social workers in England and Wales and Approved Mental Health Professionals, enabling us to complete this work to a high standard.
Do I need a PA14 form?
You will need a PA14 form to certify that someone cannot act as an executor or administrator of a will, which will be required when you submit a Grant of Representation or if the person has already been granted this and has since lost the mental capacity to act. If a person is already an executor or administrator of a will and now lacks the mental capacity to act (or maybe they lost capacity after gaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration), you will need a PA14 form if you or someone else wish to act on their behalf. In some cases, you may be able to act under a Power of Attorney (see below).
What happens if the person can act but would rather not, for example, they have changed their mind or just prefer someone else take this over?
Maybe due to age, illness, disease, physical impairment or personal choice, they no longer wish to undertake the role of executor or administrator. Several options are open if the person has the capacity, such as making a specific power of attorney; in this case, a PA14 is not required. We strongly suggest you link with a solicitor specialising in wills, trusts, and probate; we can signpost you to several local solicitors who specialise in this type of work and with whom we have worked closely for years. For your added peace of mind, we do not get any referral payments, so we only refer to high-quality solicitors we have personally dealt with.
What are your fees for this service?
Our fee includes all telephone and face-to-face consultations; it covers all our case preparation and administrative time, the formal capacity assessment, and the PA14 form. Our fee range for this service is £545 - £645, but can vary depending on the complex nature of each case. The only additional costs are travel time and mileage; no charge is made if you come to us for the assessment. We provide an estimate before accepting your instruction so you know what range of fees you will pay. We do not charge VAT; please contact us, or request a free call back.
Why do you charge a fee for this? I've heard that a GP can do it for free.
Yes, we hear that too. Many years ago, GPs did undertake this work privately; it was never part of the NHS free at the point of contact. Most GPs would charge a small tokenistic fee, such as £60, or do it for free. However, most family doctors now don't offer this service for several reasons. Some include that GPs are under so much pressure in their daily work at the surgery, or some no longer feel confident to complete this work, as it requires more than merely signing a form.
Is an assessment from a doctor or nurse better than a social worker?
It is important to remember that an assessment of capacity is not a medical examination; it is a legal one, and the law has developed and changed over the years. Some judges have gone as far as to make public comments that a social worker's reports are of a higher standard than medical doctors' assessment of capacity. We have the formal legal knowledge and training to complete this work and, most importantly, the professional credentials to undertake this work to an excellent standard. We are often contacted by families who asked a GP or nurse to complete the PA14 form, only to have probate request the assessment as inadequate. This causes you and others further delays and frustration in an already difficult situation.
Will your assessment be accepted by a judge or the court?
Yes, you will be pleased to hear that probate has accepted 100% of our assessments since we started offering this service in 2019. We also offer a unique aftercare service, and if a judge finds an error or requires more evidence, we do this additional work at no extra cost to you or the client (which we have never had to do).
Why use CareDoctors or Social Worker Gary?
We have a 100% acceptance rate on all our work submitted to probate. We have supported customers who have had their work rejected by other services and we offer you a quick service. One customer told us "...I like that if I pick up the phone, I get to speak with you directly, and not someone who doesn't know the answer and promises a callback and never does". Check out what lawyers, customers, and judges say about our work here.
All our assessments include the following as standard:
How do I book you for the assessment of a PA14? (or I have more questions)
Please contact us, or request a free call back to discuss your requirements.
A PA14 is a medical certificate for probate use. It can only be completed once a formal mental capacity assessment has determined that the executor or administrator of a will lacks the mental capacity to act or undertake the role of the deceased person's estate. Whilst the PA14 is the administrative form, it is underpinned by a comprehensive and detailed capacity assessment we administer as part of our PA14 service.
Who can complete a PA14?
Only a limited number of registered healthcare professionals approved by HM Courts and Tribunal Service as having the required specialist skillset can complete these assessments. We hold dual qualifications as social workers in England and Wales and Approved Mental Health Professionals, enabling us to complete this work to a high standard.
Do I need a PA14 form?
You will need a PA14 form to certify that someone cannot act as an executor or administrator of a will, which will be required when you submit a Grant of Representation or if the person has already been granted this and has since lost the mental capacity to act. If a person is already an executor or administrator of a will and now lacks the mental capacity to act (or maybe they lost capacity after gaining a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration), you will need a PA14 form if you or someone else wish to act on their behalf. In some cases, you may be able to act under a Power of Attorney (see below).
What happens if the person can act but would rather not, for example, they have changed their mind or just prefer someone else take this over?
Maybe due to age, illness, disease, physical impairment or personal choice, they no longer wish to undertake the role of executor or administrator. Several options are open if the person has the capacity, such as making a specific power of attorney; in this case, a PA14 is not required. We strongly suggest you link with a solicitor specialising in wills, trusts, and probate; we can signpost you to several local solicitors who specialise in this type of work and with whom we have worked closely for years. For your added peace of mind, we do not get any referral payments, so we only refer to high-quality solicitors we have personally dealt with.
What are your fees for this service?
Our fee includes all telephone and face-to-face consultations; it covers all our case preparation and administrative time, the formal capacity assessment, and the PA14 form. Our fee range for this service is £545 - £645, but can vary depending on the complex nature of each case. The only additional costs are travel time and mileage; no charge is made if you come to us for the assessment. We provide an estimate before accepting your instruction so you know what range of fees you will pay. We do not charge VAT; please contact us, or request a free call back.
Why do you charge a fee for this? I've heard that a GP can do it for free.
Yes, we hear that too. Many years ago, GPs did undertake this work privately; it was never part of the NHS free at the point of contact. Most GPs would charge a small tokenistic fee, such as £60, or do it for free. However, most family doctors now don't offer this service for several reasons. Some include that GPs are under so much pressure in their daily work at the surgery, or some no longer feel confident to complete this work, as it requires more than merely signing a form.
Is an assessment from a doctor or nurse better than a social worker?
It is important to remember that an assessment of capacity is not a medical examination; it is a legal one, and the law has developed and changed over the years. Some judges have gone as far as to make public comments that a social worker's reports are of a higher standard than medical doctors' assessment of capacity. We have the formal legal knowledge and training to complete this work and, most importantly, the professional credentials to undertake this work to an excellent standard. We are often contacted by families who asked a GP or nurse to complete the PA14 form, only to have probate request the assessment as inadequate. This causes you and others further delays and frustration in an already difficult situation.
Will your assessment be accepted by a judge or the court?
Yes, you will be pleased to hear that probate has accepted 100% of our assessments since we started offering this service in 2019. We also offer a unique aftercare service, and if a judge finds an error or requires more evidence, we do this additional work at no extra cost to you or the client (which we have never had to do).
Why use CareDoctors or Social Worker Gary?
We have a 100% acceptance rate on all our work submitted to probate. We have supported customers who have had their work rejected by other services and we offer you a quick service. One customer told us "...I like that if I pick up the phone, I get to speak with you directly, and not someone who doesn't know the answer and promises a callback and never does". Check out what lawyers, customers, and judges say about our work here.
All our assessments include the following as standard:
- A face-to-face assessment meeting with the person being assessed and any follow-up assessment(s) required.
- Consultation with any family members or professionals concerned with your care.
- Your assessment is returned free via email generally within 12 days from assessment for a PA14 form.
- A formal legal deceleration regarding the assessor's independence and their qualifications.
- A printed form posted to you recorded and tracked delivery, included in the PA14 fee.
- Our reports are always independent, so the outcome of the assessment may differ from the view of another person or professional.
How do I book you for the assessment of a PA14? (or I have more questions)
Please contact us, or request a free call back to discuss your requirements.
