Medico-Legal Reports We Provide

Testamentary Capacity Assessments

We provide independent psychiatric assessments of an individual's capacity to make, amend, or revoke a Will. Our assessments consider the relevant legal and clinical principles, including the Banks v Goodfellow test and, where applicable, the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Reports are structured to address the person's understanding, retention, weighing of relevant information, freedom from relevant impairment of judgment, and ability to communicate their decision. We have extensive experience preparing reports for solicitors where testamentary capacity, cognitive impairment, dementia, vulnerability, undue influence, or family dispute may be relevant.

Court of Protection Deputyship Assessments — COP3

We provide expert medical input for Court of Protection applications, including completion of the relevant medical sections of Form COP3. Assessments may relate to property and financial affairs, health and welfare, residence and care arrangements, litigation capacity, or other specific decision-making capacity — including complex cases involving dementia, delirium, psychosis, mood disorder, or fluctuating cognition.

Our reports include diagnostic formulation, functional capacity analysis, relevant clinical history, collateral information, and a clear opinion on the person's ability to make the decision in question.

Lasting Power of Attorney Capacity Evaluations

We undertake independent assessments of capacity in relation to the granting of a Lasting Power of Attorney, covering both Property and Financial Affairs and Health and Welfare LPAs. Where appropriate, NMRS Medical Practice may act as an independent Certificate Provider or provide a formal expert opinion regarding the donor's capacity.

Assessments include consideration of the donor's understanding of the LPA, appreciation of the powers being granted, ability to weigh relevant information, and any concerns regarding vulnerability, coercion, or undue influence.

Deprivation of Liberty / Article 5 Opinion Reports

NMRS Medical Practice has substantial experience in work relating to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Dr Suman Ahmed is a trained DoLS Mental Health Assessor with 13 years of DoLS-related experience, providing specialist psychiatric opinion on complex deprivation of liberty, restrictive care arrangements, objection, vulnerability, and post-Supreme Court deprivation-of-liberty issues.

Section 49 & Court of Protection Reports

Preparation of reports for Court of Protection-related matters where appropriately instructed. Dr Suman Ahmed has experience preparing Section 49 reports for the Court of Protection, including reports addressing capacity, diagnosis, mental disorder, care arrangements, deprivation of liberty, and best-interests-related clinical issues.

Mental Health Act / Section 12 Related Opinion

Both doctors are Section 12 approved and have more than 12 years' experience undertaking Section 12 assessments in NHS and independent settings, across inpatient, community, domiciliary and care-home environments. Dr Suman Ahmed is also an Approved Clinician under the Mental Health Act, with senior experience in clinical leadership, statutory decision-making, risk assessment and psychiatric governance.