The Surety Bond (also known as a Security Bond) is a guarantee to pay any financial losses suffered arising from the Deputy’s failure to perform their duties as directed by the Court of Protection and/or the Office of the Public Guardian.
What is a Surety Bond?
The Surety Bond is a guarantee to pay any financial losses suffered arising from the Deputy’s failure to perform their duties as directed by the Court of Protection. Failure could be the accidental mismanagement of the estate, or may be a deliberate act of misappropriation/fraud.
How to arrange a new Bond
If you're required by the Court of Protection to obtain a Surety Bond, you can arrange this simply and quickly using our website. All you need to do is submit your contact details, the name of the vulnerable person and the amount of the Security required. You can pay for your Bond securely online using a credit or debit card. Our secure online portal will then save all of your Bonds in one place, making it easy to manage.
If you prefer to apply for your Bond offline, simply complete our application form and submit, and we’ll do the rest for you.
Get in touch with a Surety Bond expert
Useful information
Please select from the links below to access more information and our application form if you prefer to apply for your Bond offline:
- Information sheet
- Insurance Product Information Document (IPID)
- Annual Bond Application Form
- Single (Lifetime) Premium Bond Application form
Here to help you
Based in Cardiff, our team of six has worked at Marsh for a combined total of more than 110 years! Our team has a wealth of knowledge and experience with the Bonds scheme. We've worked closely with the Office of the Public Guardian Scotland, the Office of Care and Protection, and more recently, the Office of the Public Guardian (England & Wales). We're always happy to help with any queries and aim to go above and beyond to help our clients.
We understand that being a Deputy under the Court of Protection can be stressful and we would like to assist you in as many ways as we can. You will find below some frequently asked questions, should you have any further queries that are not covered below please contact us either by email on LPS.enquiries@marsh.com or telephone on 0207 1784116.
Please note “P” refers to the person to whom you have been appointed Deputy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Court of Protection appoints a Deputy to look after the affairs of “P”, who is unable to take care of their own financial affairs. For the Deputy to act, the Court of Protection may require a Surety Bond to be in place to safeguard the assets/estate of “P”.
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You are jointly responsible to act in the best interests of “P”. This will include one Deputy making sure the other(s) are acting appropriately. Refer to your Deputyship order for more information on this.
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Applications can either be made online at www.arrangebonds.com or by completing an application form and returning it to Marsh Limited, along with payment. You will receive confirmation within a couple of days that Security has been granted.
If you are a third party assisting the Deputy(s) with the application of a Bond, you must enter the name, address, date of birth and contact information for the Deputy and not your personal/firm’s details. This should be completed in the presence of the Deputy(s) so they understand the terms and conditions of the Bond they are entering into.
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It is a requirement of the Court of Protection that we complete a soft credit check on each lay Deputy. Any adverse findings are shared with the Court of Protection and the application is referred to them for further consideration.
You may also be asked to provide further information in order that we may refer the Bond to the Surety company.
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Once a Bond has been purchased online or offline and a satisfactory soft credit check has been completed, we will notify the Court of Protection the next working day.
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Unfortunately we are unable to assist in this matter. You should contact the Court of Protection directly on 0300 456 4600 or email them at courtofprotectionenquiries@justice.gov.uk and they will advise of any delays.
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If the Court has instructed you to obtain a Single Premium Bond, which will have a Security amount of £21,000, then there will be a single upfront premium to be paid with the application. This premium covers the lifetime of the Deputyship and there will be no annual premiums to pay.
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You can apply for a new Bond and renew an existing Bond with Marsh via the website.
Currently, you are not able to amend Security via the website but you can use the Contact Us function to notify us of a change in Security and upload any supporting documentation.
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For Bonds greater than £750,000, supporting documentation and approval from the insurer is required. As a result you can use the website to apply, but in order to accept and pay for the Bond you will need to speak with a member of our team.
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When applying for a Bond via the website the lead Deputy (the term lead Deputy is used simply to describe a Deputy applying for a Bond on behalf of all Deputies) will have an account automatically created for them. Access can be arranged for you to view the same Bond by contacting Marsh Ltd on 0207 178 4116 or email Lps.enquiries@marsh.com
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This maybe because you have entered the wrong password too many times, or because this is the first time you are accessing ‘Your Account’ since obtaining a Bond quote. In either instance, simply click on the ‘Can’t access my account’ found on the login page and follow the instructions. Alternatively, please contact us on 0207 178 4116 or Lps.enquiries@marsh.com
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Deputies applying for a Bond who reside outside of the United Kingdom will not be able to obtain a quote from our website. You can download a blank application form to complete and sign then return the form to us by email Lps.enquiries@marsh.com or by post to Legal and Protection Services, 1st Floor, Coal House East, 10 Dumfries Place, Cardiff, CF10 3RJ.
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If we have your email address you will be sent an email reminder containing a link to your account where you can pay the annual premium online with a credit or debit card. Otherwise payment can be made by Internet Banking/BACS ‒ our account details are:
Account Name: Marsh Ltd
Account Number: 93 72 98 42
Sort Code: 20 00 00
Alternatively, you can send a cheque or make payment over the telephone with a credit/debit card. To do this please contact Marsh Ltd on 0207 178 4116.
Payment of the Bond premium should be paid from P’s estate.
Please ensure you include your reference number beginning COP/C with any payment.
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The Security amount is set by the Court and can only be amended on their instructions. You will need to make a further application to the Court for the Security to be amended. Please speak with the Office of the Public Guardian for guidance, they can be contacted on 0300 456 0300 or by email customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk.
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If there is an increase in Security, no additional premium will be required until the next anniversary. Where there is a reduction, a refund may be available, we would normally advise you of this when you contact us to amend Security.
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As stated on the Bond application form “I/We shall not be entitled to any refund in the event of early termination or replacement of the Bond”. Whilst no further premiums are payable, no refund is due. This is because under 37(3) of the Public Guardian Regulations, Security may not be discharged for two years from the date of death, or for seven years following discharge of the Deputyship. This allows time for your final account to be reviewed by the Office of the Public Guardian, and your discharge processed, until such times the Surety Company is still required to maintain cover.
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You should notify both Marsh and the Office of the Public Guardian of any change in address or contact details as soon as possible.
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If this has happened, we apologise for any distress this may have caused you. It is possible we have not been informed of “P’s” death by you or by the Office of the Public Guardian, resulting in an automated annual anniversary notice being sent. Please notify us and we will update our records immediately.
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An application to the Court of Protection must be made to relieve you of your duties. Contact the Office of the Public Guardian in the first instance for guidance. The Bond premium is still payable until you are relieved of your duties.
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In the sad event this happens a new Bond maybe required, please contact us to discuss.
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The Court and/or the Office of the Public Guardian can make a claim on the Bond if, after investigation, it has been decided that accidental mismanagement or a deliberate act of misappropriation/fraud has resulted in a loss to “P’s” estate.
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Yes. The Deputy(s) is liable to the Surety Company for any sums paid out, following a claim on the Bond. The Surety Company “may” take such action as is appropriate against the Deputy(s) personally to recover any loss. Action may include requesting the funds be repaid to them, or civil court action etc.
You should also note that if, after investigation, the loss to “P’s” estate is deemed deliberate, the Office of the Public Guardian may report the matter to the Police for further investigation.
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There is a Legal & Counselling Helpline available to offer you support. This is a confidential and discrete service available day or night, free of charge; you only pay for the call.
Legal helpline 0345 300 1899
Counselling helpline 0117 934 0105
Please note this is an advice only helpline.
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You can contact the Office of the Public Guardian for support and assistance at any point, using the telephone number and email address previously stated. Alternatively you can visit their website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian
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If you have a sight impairment and would like to receive your Bond documents in a larger font, please contact us on 0207 178 4116 or email Lpsenquiries@marsh.com.
Get in touch with a Surety Bond expert or apply online