GUIDES
Compare assessment providers by their competence for the particular decision, support for the person, independence, report contents and full fee. Online reviews and team size cannot establish which service is suitable for your instruction.
Author: Nellie Supports Ltd
Publication Date: 15/05/2026
39 Essex Chambers, Mental Capacity Guidance Note: Carrying out and recording capacity assessments.
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Compare assessment providers by their competence for the particular decision, support for the person, independence, report contents and full fee. Online reviews and team size cannot establish which service is suitable for your instruction. This guide covers the relevant evidence, support, process and limits in England and Wales.
The right provider is one with the skills and experience for the specific decision and purpose of the assessment. A diagnosis, job title, large team or positive review does not by itself show that a provider is right for the instruction.Start by explaining the decision, why capacity is in question, who needs the evidence and any deadline. Establish whether a formal independent report is appropriate and what it must cover before comparing prices.
Ask about relevant decision-specific experience; the named assessor’s qualifications and professional registration where applicable; support for communication, fatigue or fluctuation; records needed; conflicts; report reasoning and limitations; quality review and corrections; appointment and delivery dates; and the complete fee including VAT and extras. Request written answers for your instruction. Team size and employment arrangements do not by themselves demonstrate quality.
A request relating to an LPA, a will, litigation, a property transaction or a Court of Protection application may require different questions, legal tests and documents. Tell the provider exactly what the report will be used for. Where a solicitor or court has specified the scope, share the relevant instruction or order.Do not assume that every report must follow the same court procedure. For example, CPR Part 35 addresses expert evidence in civil proceedings; identify the rules and permissions applicable to the particular case. CPR Part 35 — https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part35
You should be able to identify the decision considered, the relevant information, the support provided, the evidence obtained and how the assessor reached their conclusion. Where information is missing or the opinion has limits, those limits should be explained.Be cautious about promises that a report cannot be challenged or guarantees a court, transaction or funding outcome. A careful assessment can provide useful evidence; the person or body making the relevant legal or administrative decision retains its own role.
Apply the same questions to Nellie Supports: who would assess, how the work is scoped, what review and follow-up apply and what the quotation includes. Published service prices are available at https://www.nelliesupports.com/prices. Before sharing sensitive records, confirm the secure method and the information actually required for the instruction.
The right provider is one with the skills and experience for the specific decision and purpose of the assessment. A diagnosis, job title, large team or positive review does not by itself show that a provider is right for the instruction.Start by explaining the decision, why capacity is in question, who needs the evidence and any deadline. Establish whether a formal independent report is appropriate and what it must cover before comparing prices.
Compare relevant decision-specific experience, professional standing, communication support, evidence review, independence, report contents, timing and the complete fee. Ask who will do the work and request a written scope.
No. Ask about the actual practitioner, supervision, review and follow-up arrangements. Size and employment status do not by themselves establish report quality.
No. Many everyday decisions are assessed by the person responsible for the relevant act or decision. A specialist report may be appropriate where the decision, evidence or required form warrants it.
The related guides below provide further explanation of the decisions, evidence and legal processes discussed here.
Write down the decision, intended use, support needs and deadline. Request a written scope, the name and relevant experience of the assessor, the full fee and the arrangements for clarification before booking.
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