Capture Redress Scheme: applying for someone else
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-29)

How to apply to the Capture Redress Scheme on behalf of a postmaster who cannot apply for themselves.

A personal representative can apply to the Capture Redress Scheme on behalf of an applicant if they cannot apply for themselves.

If you’re applying for someone else as their personal representative, you need to prove you have the legal right to make decisions for the applicant or for their estate.

You need different documents depending on where you live and whether the person you’re applying for is alive.

If you’re applying on behalf of someone who lacks capacity to apply to the Capture Redress Scheme on their own behalf or has died, you will need to provide proof to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) that you are entitled to act on behalf of them or their estate.

Power of attorney: required documents

If you have power of attorney in England or Wales

You’ll need to provide a registered lasting power of attorney (LPA) document. This must:
- be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG)
- be stamped with ‘Validated – OPG’
- confirm the attorney’s name, address and date of birth
- confirm the donor’s name and address
If the LPA was registered on or after 1 January 2016, you can give your caseworker access to view the online summary (https://www.gov.uk/use-lasting-power-of-attorney).

You can also submit the original LPA document or a certified copy. A solicitor will be able to certify a copy.

If you have power of attorney in Scotland

You’ll need to provide a registered continuing or combined power of attorney document. This must:
- be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland)
- be stamped with the Public Guardian’s certification indicating registration
- confirm the attorney’s name, address and date of birth
- confirm the donor’s name and address
You’ll need to submit either:
- the original certificate confirming the power of attorney is registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland)
- a certified copy of the power of attorney (you can have this certified by a solicitor or notary public)
If you have power of attorney in Northern Ireland

You’ll need to provide a registered enduring power of attorney (EPA) document. This must:
- be registered with the Office of Care and Protection (Patients’ Section)
- be stamped as being registered and carry the seal of the Court
- confirm the attorney’s name and address
- confirm the donor’s name, address and date of birth
You’ll need to submit either:
- the original EPA document
- a certified copy of the EPA (you can apply for certified copies from the Office of Care and Protection)
Applying for someone else: if the person you’re representing has died

If you’re representing someone who has died, you need to provide legal documents to prove you can manage their estate.

If there is a will (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

If you’re an executor of the will, you’ll need to provide a grant of probate which includes:
- the full name and address of the deceased
- the date of death
- what country the deceased lived in (their ‘domicile’)
You can apply for probate (https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate) if you’re named as an executor in either the will or an update to it (known as a ‘codicil’).

Up to 4 executors can be named. ID will be sought for all executors. All executors must act unanimously.

If the will does not name an executor, or the named executors cannot apply, you will need to send ‘a letter of administration with the will annexed’. This proves you have the right to act as an executor of the person’s estate. A solicitor can help you get this.

If there is a will (Scotland)

You will need to provide evidence of ‘confirmation’ (https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/taking-action/dealing-with-a-deceaseds-estate-in-scotland/).

If there is no will

If there is no will, the closest living relative can register once they have been appointed as administrator.

This may be the deceased’s husband, wife or civil partner. It cannot be a partner who was not married to or in a civil partnership with the deceased.

You’ll need to show you have the legal right to administer the estate, for example grant of letters of administration.

You will need to provide a grant of letters of administration, including:
- the full name and address of the deceased
- the date of death
- what country the deceased lived in (their ‘domicile’)
Proving your identity

If any redress payments will go into a bank account in your name, you must provide documents to prove your identity.

To prove your identity, you must provide 3 forms of ID documents. They must all be different. They must be scanned or digital copies.

You should provide 1 form of ID from Group A and 2 forms of ID from Group B.

List of acceptable ID documents. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capture-redress-scheme-list-of-acceptable-id-documents)

If you have a legal representative

If you are submitting your application with a legal representative, they will verify your identity and current address. They’ll need to give scanned copies of your documents to your caseworker. They’ll also need to complete a legal representative verification statement (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capture-redress-scheme-legal-representative-verification-statements). If they verify your identity by video call, they must include screenshots of the call with these documents.

If you do not have a legal representative

If you are submitting an application without a legal representative, you must also provide a completed countersignatory form and one form of ID for the countersignatory, proving their address (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capture-redress-scheme-countersignatory-information).

Your countersignatory must:
- have known you for at least 2 years
- be able to identify you. They might be a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
- be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/horizon-shortfall-scheme-appeals-proving-your-identity/countersignatory-requirements)
- provide one form of ID that provides proof of their address
Your countersignatory cannot be:
- related to you by birth or marriage
- in a relationship with you
- someone who lives at the same address as you
If you need help

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)