The Court of Protection protects the rights of people who do not have mental capacity. If a person (or donor) were to lose their mental capacity without having made, or being capable of making, a power of attorney arrangement, the Court of Protection can decide who can handle their affairs. A court order will set out what decisions the deputy (normally a family member or close friend) can make on their behalf (for example, it might say that decisions can only be made about the donor’s pension or mortgage).