- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (13/03/2014)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 06/04/2016
Point in time view as at 13/03/2014.
Mental Capacity Act 2005,
Part 3
is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 31 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that nothing in this Act is to be taken to affect the law relating to murder or manslaughter or the operation of section 2 of the Suicide Act 1961 (c. 60) (assisting suicide).
Schedule 3—
(a)gives effect in England and Wales to the Convention on the International Protection of Adults signed at the Hague on 13th January 2000 (Cm. 5881) (in so far as this Act does not otherwise do so), and
(b)makes related provision as to the private international law of England and Wales.
(1)In this Act—
“the 1985 Act” means the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985 (c. 29),
“advance decision” has the meaning given in section 24(1),
[F1 “ authorisation under Schedule A1 ”means either—
a standard authorisation under that Schedule, or
an urgent authorisation under that Schedule.]
F1“the court” means the Court of Protection established by section 45,
“Court of Protection Rules” has the meaning given in section 51(1),
“Court of Protection Visitor” has the meaning given in section 61,
“deputy” has the meaning given in section 16(2)(b),
“enactment” includes a provision of subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30)),
“health record” has the meaning given in section 68 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (c. 29) (as read with section 69 of that Act),
“the Human Rights Convention” has the same meaning as “the Convention” in the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42),
“independent mental capacity advocate” has the meaning given in section 35(1),
“lasting power of attorney” has the meaning given in section 9,
“life-sustaining treatment” has the meaning given in section 4(10),
“local authority” [F2, except in[F3section 35(6A)(a) and] Schedule A1,]F2 means—
the council of a county in England in which there are no district councils,
the council of a district in England,
the council of a county or county borough in Wales,
the council of a London borough,
the Common Council of the City of London, or
the Council of the Isles of Scilly,
“Mental Health Act” means the Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20),
“prescribed”, in relation to regulations made under this Act, means prescribed by those regulations,
“property” includes any thing in action and any interest in real or personal property,
“public authority” has the same meaning as in the Human Rights Act 1998,
“Public Guardian” has the meaning given in section 57,
“purchaser” and “purchase” have the meaning given in section 205(1) of the Law of Property Act 1925 (c. 20),
“social services function” has the meaning given in section 1A of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42),
“treatment” includes a diagnostic or other procedure,
“trust corporation” has the meaning given in section 68(1) of the Trustee Act 1925 (c. 19), and
“will” includes codicil.
(2)In this Act, references to making decisions, in relation to a donee of a lasting power of attorney or a deputy appointed by the court, include, where appropriate, acting on decisions made.
(3)In this Act, references to the bankruptcy of an individual include a case where a bankruptcy restrictions order under the Insolvency Act 1986 (c. 45) has effect in respect of him.
[F4(3A)In this Act references to a debt relief order (under Part 7A of the Insolvency Act 1986) being made in relation to an individual include a case where a debt relief restrictions order under the Insolvency Act 1986 has effect in respect of him.]
(4)“Bankruptcy restrictions order” includes an interim bankruptcy restrictions order.
[F5(4A) “Debt relief restrictions order” includes an interim debt relief restrictions order.]
[F6(5)In this Act, references to deprivation of a person's liberty have the same meaning as in Article 5(1) of the Human Rights Convention.
(6) For the purposes of such references, it does not matter whether a person is deprived of his liberty by a public authority or not. ] F6
Textual Amendments
F1S. 64(1): definition of "authorisation under Schedule A1" inserted (1.4.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 50, 56, Sch. 9 para. 10(2); S.I. 2008/745, art. 4(b)
F2Words in s. 64(1) inserted (1.4.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 50, 56, Sch. 9 para. 10(3); S.I. 2008/745, art. 4(b)
F3Words in s. 64(1) inserted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 135; S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)
F4S. 64(3A) inserted (1.10.2012) by The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2404), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 53(4)(a) (with arts. 5, 6)
F5S. 64(4A) inserted (1.10.2012) by The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2404), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 53(4)(b) (with arts. 5, 6)
F6S. 64(5)(6) inserted (1.4.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 50, 56, Sch. 9 para. 10(4); S.I. 2008/745, art. 4(b)
Commencement Information
I1S. 64 wholly in force at 1.10.2007; s. 64 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 68(1)-(3); s. 64 in force for certain purposes at 1.4.2007 by S.I. 2007/563, art. 2(4); and s. 64 in force for all purposes at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/1897, art. 2(2)(f)
(1)Any power to make rules, regulations or orders under this Act [F7, other than the power in section 21]F7—
(a)is exercisable by statutory instrument;
(b)includes power to make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional or saving provision;
(c)includes power to make different provision for different cases.
(2)Any statutory instrument containing rules, regulations or orders made by the Lord Chancellor or the Secretary of State under this Act, other than—
(a)regulations under section 34 (loss of capacity during research project),
(b)regulations under section 41 (adjusting role of independent mental capacity advocacy service),
(c)regulations under paragraph 32(1)(b) of Schedule 3 (private international law relating to the protection of adults),
(d)an order of the kind mentioned in section 67(6) (consequential amendments of primary legislation), or
(e)an order under section 68 (commencement),
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(3)A statutory instrument containing an Order in Council under paragraph 31 of Schedule 3 (provision to give further effect to Hague Convention) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4)A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 34 or 41 or by the Lord Chancellor under paragraph 32(1)(b) of Schedule 3 may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
[F8(4A)Subsection (2) does not apply to a statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under Schedule A1.
(4B)If such a statutory instrument contains regulations under paragraph 42(2)(b), 129, 162 or 164 of Schedule A1 (whether or not it also contains other regulations), the instrument may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(4C)Subject to that, such a statutory instrument is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.]
[F9F8(5)An order under section 21—
(a)may include supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional or saving provision;
(b)may make different provision for different cases;
(c)is to be made in the form of a statutory instrument to which the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 applies as if the order were made by a Minister of the Crown; and
(d)is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.F9]
Textual Amendments
F7Words in s. 65(1) inserted (3.4.2006) by The Lord Chancellor (Transfer of Functions and Supplementary Provisions) (No.2) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1016), arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1 para. 37(2)
F8S. 65(4A)-(4C) inserted (1.4.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 50, 56, Sch. 9 para. 11(2); S.I. 2008/745, art. 4(b)
(1)The following provisions cease to have effect—
(a)Part 7 of the Mental Health Act,
(b)the Enduring Powers of Attorney Act 1985 (c. 29).
(2)No enduring power of attorney within the meaning of the 1985 Act is to be created after the commencement of subsection (1)(b).
(3)Schedule 4 has effect in place of the 1985 Act in relation to any enduring power of attorney created before the commencement of subsection (1)(b).
(4)Schedule 5 contains transitional provisions and savings in relation to Part 7 of the Mental Health Act and the 1985 Act.
(1)Schedule 6 contains minor and consequential amendments.
(2)Schedule 7 contains repeals.
(3)The Lord Chancellor may by order make supplementary, incidental, consequential, transitional or saving provision for the purposes of, in consequence of, or for giving full effect to a provision of this Act.
(4)An order under subsection (3) may, in particular—
(a)provide for a provision of this Act which comes into force before another provision of this Act has come into force to have effect, until the other provision has come into force, with specified modifications;
(b)amend, repeal or revoke an enactment, other than one contained in an Act or Measure passed in a Session after the one in which this Act is passed.
(5)The amendments that may be made under subsection (4)(b) are in addition to those made by or under any other provision of this Act.
(6)An order under subsection (3) which amends or repeals a provision of an Act or Measure may not be made unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(1)This Act, other than sections 30 to 41, comes into force in accordance with provision made by order by the Lord Chancellor.
(2)Sections 30 to 41 come into force in accordance with provision made by order by—
(a)the Secretary of State, in relation to England, and
(b)the National Assembly for Wales, in relation to Wales.
(3)An order under this section may appoint different days for different provisions and different purposes.
(4)Subject to subsections (5) and (6), this Act extends to England and Wales only.
(5)The following provisions extend to the United Kingdom—
(a)paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 1 (evidence of instruments and of registration of lasting powers of attorney),
(b)paragraph 15(3) of Schedule 4 (evidence of instruments and of registration of enduring powers of attorney).
(6)Subject to any provision made in Schedule 6, the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 6 and 7 have the same extent as the enactments to which they relate.
Subordinate Legislation Made
P1S. 68(1) power partly exercised: 1.4.2007 appointed for specified provisions and purposes by {S.I. 2007/563}, art. 2
P2S. 68(1) power partly exercised: 1.10.2007 appointed for specified provisions and purposes by {S.I. 2007/1897}, art. 2
P3S. 68(2) power partly exercised: different dates appointed for specified provisions and purposes by {S.I. 2007/856}, arts. 2-5
P4S. 68(2)(a) power partly exercised: different dates appointed for specified provisions and purposes by {S.I. 2006/2814}, arts. 2-5 (as amended by S.I. 2006/3473, art. 2)
This Act may be cited as the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: