York City Council v C

Subject Matter

MENTAL DISORDER — Capacity — Determination — Decision to cohabit — Wife with significant learning disabilities marrying husband serving prison sentence for serious sexual offences — Husband released on licence assumed to pose risk to wife if cohabiting — Whether wife having capacity to decide to cohabit — Judge ruling wife lacking capacity to decide but welfare best served by resuming cohabitation within approved scheme of monitoring or support — Whether judge applying correct test for capacity — Whether test for capacity decision-specific — Mental Capacity Act 2005, ss 1–3

[2013] EWCA Civ 478; [2014] Fam 10; [2014] 2 WLR 1; [2013] Med LR 213; [2013] WLR (D) 176; The Times, 25 June 2013, CA

Appellate History

Legislation Considered

Statutes

Mental Capacity Act 2005 (c 9), ss 1–3

Cases Considered

Cases considered in: York City Council v C [2013] EWCA Civ 478; [2014] Fam 10; [2014] 2 WLR 1; [2013] Med LR 213; [2013] WLR (D) 176; The Times, 25 June 2013, CA

Cases Cited

Cases cited in: York City Council v C [2013] EWCA Civ 478; [2014] Fam 10; [2014] 2 WLR 1; [2013] Med LR 213; [2013] WLR (D) 176; The Times, 25 June 2013, CA

A Local Authority v H [2012] EWHC 49 (Fam); 124 BMLR 98

A v X [2012] EWHC 2400 (Fam); [2013] WTLR 187, Ct of Protection

Assicurazioni Generali SpA v Arab Insurance Group (Practice Note) [2002] EWCA Civ 1642; [2003] 1 WLR 577; [2003] 1 All ER (Comm) 140, CA

B v I (Forced Marriage) [2010] 1 FLR 1721, Fam D

Banks v Goodfellow LR 5 QB 549, QBD

D Borough Council v B [2011] EWHC 101 (Fam); [2012] Fam 36; [2011] 3 WLR 1257; [2011] 3 All ER 435; [2011] 2 FLR 72, Ct of Protection

D County Council v LS [2010] EWHC 1544 (Fam); [2010] Med LR 499, Ct of Protection

Hamer v United Kingdom (1979) 4 EHRR 139

Hyde v Hyde and Woodmansee LR 1 PD 130, PDA

In The Estate of Park Decd; Park v Park [1954] P 89; [1953] 3 WLR 307, PDA

In re A (Capacity: Refusal of Contraception) [2010] EWHC 1549 (Fam); [2011] Fam 61; [2011] 2 WLR 878; [2011] PTSR 435; [2011] 2 All ER 706; [2011] 1 FLR 26, Ct of Protection

In re B (Adult: Refusal of medical treatment) [2002] EWHC 429 (Fam); [2002] 2 All ER 449; [2002] 1 FLR 1090, Fam D

In re L (Vulnerable Adults with Capacity: Court’s Jurisdiction) (No 2) [2012] EWCA Civ 253; [2013] Fam 1; [2012] 3 WLR 1439; [2012] 3 All ER 1064; [2012] LGR 757; [2013] 2 FLR 511; [2012] 3 FCR 200; (2012) 127 BMLR 24; [2012] WLR (D) 101; (2012) 162 NLJ 503; The Times, 9 July 2012, CA

In re T (Adult: Refusal of Treatment) [1993] Fam 95; [1992] 3 WLR 782; [1992] 4 All ER 649, CA

M v B, A and S (by the Official Solicitor) [2005] EWHC 1681 (Fam); [2006] 1 FLR 117, Fam D

MM, In re [2007] EWHC 2003 (Fam); [2009] 1 FLR 443

Masterman-Lister v Brutton & Co [2002] EWCA Civ 1889; [2003] 1 WLR 1511; [2003] 3 All ER 162; [2003] Lloyd's Rep Med 244; 73 BMLR 1; [2003] PIQR P20; [2003] WTLR 259; The Times, 28 December 2002; [2003] CP Rep 29; [2003] MHLR 166, CA

R v Cooper (Gary Anthony) [2009] UKHL 42; [2009] 1 WLR 1786; [2009] 4 All ER 1033; [2010] 1 Cr App R 104; [2009] WLR (D) 272, HL(E)

R v Robert Millar (Contractors) Ltd [1970] 2 QB 54; [1970] 2 WLR 541; [1969] 3 All ER 257; [1970] RTR 155, QBD

Scammell v Farmer [2008] EWHC 1100 (Ch), Ch D

Sheffield City Council v E [2004] EWHC 2808 (Fam); [2005] Fam 326; [2005] 2 WLR 953; [2005] 1 FLR 965, Fam D

Westminster City Council v C [2008] EWCA Civ 198; [2009] Fam 11; [2009] 2 WLR 185; [2008] 2 FLR 267; (2008) 158 NLJ 479, CA

X City Council v MB [2006] EWHC 168 (Fam); [2006] 2 FLR 968, Fam D

Subsequent Consideration

Cases subsequently considering: York City Council v C [2013] EWCA Civ 478; [2014] Fam 10; [2014] 2 WLR 1; [2013] Med LR 213; [2013] WLR (D) 176; The Times, 25 June 2013, CA

Cases citing

Cases citing: York City Council v C [2013] EWCA Civ 478; [2014] Fam 10; [2014] 2 WLR 1; [2013] Med LR 213; [2013] WLR (D) 176; The Times, 25 June 2013, CA

A Clinical Commissioning Group v P [2019] EWCOP 18, Ct of Protection

A Hospital Trust v CP [2024] EWCOP 7, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v AB & Anor [2020] EWCOP 32, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v AW [2020] EWCOP 24, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v GP (Capacity: Care, Support and Education) [2020] EWCOP 56; [2021] COPLR 1, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v JB [2020] EWCA Civ 735; [2021] Fam 37; [2020] 3 WLR 1014; [2021] 1 All ER 1103; [2021] 1 FLR 264; [2020] WLR (D) 336, CA

A Local Authority v JB [2021] UKSC 52; [2022] AC 1322; [2021] 3 WLR 1381; The Times, 28 December 2021, SC(E)

A Local Authority v KP [2023] EWHC 3102 (Fam), Fam D/Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v RS [2020] EWCOP 29, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v TZ [2013] EWCOP 2322, Ct of Protection

A Local Authority v TZ [2013] EWHC 2322 (COP); [2013] CN 1446, Ct of Protection

AC and GC (Capacity: Hoarding: Best Interests) [2022] EWCOP 39, CoP

AR v West London NHS Trust [2020] UKUT 273 (AAC); [2021] PTSR 405; [2020] WLR(D) 597, UT

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership v WA [2020] EWCOP 37, Ct of Protection

B v A Local Authority [2019] EWCOP 3; (2019) 168 BMLR 72; [2019] Med LR 143; [2019] COPLR 163, Ct of Protection

B v A Local Authority [2019] EWCA Civ 913; [2020] Fam 105; [2019] 3 WLR 685; [2019] 2 FLR 1001; [2019] WLR (D) 330, CA

BU, Re [2021] EWCOP 54, Ct of Protection

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust v CC & Ors [2024] EWCOP 65 (T3); [2024] EWCOP 65 (T3), Ct of Protection

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council v LS [2025] EWCOP 10 (T3), Ct of Protection

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v BF [2016] EWCOP 26, Ct of Protection

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v TS [2021] EWCOP 41, Ct of Protection

DM v Dorset County Council [2019] EWCOP 4, Ct of Protection

DP v Hillingdon London Borough Council [2020] EWCOP 45; [2020] COPLR 769, Ct of Protection

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust v GH [2021] EWCOP 18, Ct of Protection

Fox v Wiggins [2019] EWHC 2713 (QB), QBD

GK v EE [2023] EWCOP 49, Ct of Protection

Greenwich London Borough Council v CDM [2019] EWCOP 32; [2019] 4 WLR 130, Ct of Protection

Greenwich Royal London Borough Council v EOA [2021] EWCOP 20, Ct of Protection

HC v FW [2017] EWHC 3162 (Fam); [2018] 2 FLR 70, Fam D

HH v Hywel DD University Health Board [2023] EWCOP 18, Ct of Protection

In re A (An Adult) [2019] EWCOP 2; [2019] Fam 586; [2019] 3 WLR 59; [2019] WLR(D) 120, Ct of Protection

In re DMM (Alzheimer's : power of attorney) [2017] EWCOP 32, Ct of Protection

In re HD (Capacity to Engage in Sexual Relations) [2020] EWCOP 15, Ct of Protection

In re KG (Capacity) [2021] EWCOP 30, Ct of Protection

In re M (An Adult) (Capacity: Consent to Sexual Relations) [2014] EWCA Civ 37; [2015] Fam 61; [2014] 3 WLR 409; [2014] 3 All ER 491; [2014] WLR (D) 31, CA

In re RS (An Adult) (Capacity: Non-recognition of Foreign Marriage) [2015] EWHC 3534 (Fam); [2017] 4 WLR 61; [2017] 1 FLR 141; [2016] 1 FCR 461, Fam D

In re S (A Child) (Child Parent: Adoption Consent) [2017] EWHC 2729 (Fam); [2019] Fam 177; [2018] 2 WLR 1029; [2018] 2 FLR 111; [2018] 1 FCR 74; [2017] WLR (D) 726, Fam D

In re SF [2020] EWCOP 15, Ct of Protection

In re Z [2016] EWCOP 4, Ct of Protection

In re ZX [2024] EWCA Civ 1462; [2025] 1 WLR 1432; [2024] WLR(D) 528, CA

LBX v K & Ors [2013] EWHC 3230 (Fam), Fam D

Local Authority A v ZZ [2023] EWCOP 61, Ct of Protection

London Borough of Hackney v SJF & Anor [2019] EWCOP 8, Ct of Protection

London Borough of Tower Hamlets v A & Anor [2020] EWCOP 21, Ct of Protection

Mental Health Trust v DD [2014] EWCOP 13; [2014] CN 1319, Ct of Protection

Mental Health Trust v DD [2015] EWCOP 4; [2015] CN 201, Ct of Protection

NCC v PB [2014] EWCOP 14, Fam D

NHS Foundation Trust v AB [2019] EWCOP 45, Ct of Protection

NK v RK [2023] EWCOP 37, Ct of Protection

North Bristol NHS Trust v R [2023] EWCOP 5; [2023] 39ECMCR 1, Ct of Protection

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v AB [2020] EWCOP 40, Ct of Protection

P v A Local Authority [2015] EWCOP 89, Ct of Protection

PBM v TGT [2019] EWCOP 6, Ct of Protection

PN (Capacity: Sexual Relations and Disclosure), Re [2023] EWCOP 44, Ct of Protection

R (Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2021] EWCA Civ 1363; [2022] PTSR 544; [2022] 1 All ER 416; [2022] 1 FLR 69; [2021] WLR(D) 490, CA

R (Bell) v Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust [2020] EWHC 3274 (Admin); [2021] PTSR 593; [2022] 1 All ER 416; [2022] 1 FLR 30; [2020] WLR(D) 655, DC

RB v Brighton and Hove City Council [2014] EWCA Civ 561; [2014] CN 854, CA

Sunderland City Council v AS [2020] EWCOP 13; [2020] EWCOP 13, Ct of Protection

TB v KB [2019] EWCOP 14, Ct of Protection

TB v KB (Capacity to Conduct Proceedings) [2019] EWCOP 14; [2020] COPLR 149, Ct of Protection

The London Borough Of Tower Hamlets v TB [2014] EWCOP 53, Ct of Protection

The Mental Health Trust v DD [2015] EWCOP 4, Ct of Protection

The Mental Health Trust v DD [2014] EWCOP 13, Ct of Protection

Tower Hamlets London Borough Council v NB (Consent to Sex) [2019] EWCOP 27; [2019] COPLR 398, Ct of Protection

Tower Hamlets London Borough Council v TB [2014] EWCOP 53; [2015] CN 151, Ct of Protection

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust v Thirumalesh, decd [2024] EWCA Civ 896; [2025] 2 WLR 19; [2025] 1 All ER 1119; [2024] WLR(D) 362, CA

V v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2015] EWCOP 80, Ct of Protection

Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group v IA [2014] EWHC 990 (COP); [2014] CN 651, Ct of Protection

Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group v IA [2014] EWHC 990 (COP), Ct of Protection

Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group v IA (By the Official Solicitor As His Litigation Friend) [2014] EWCOP 990, Ct of Protection

Wandsworth London Borough Council v M [2017] EWHC 2435 (Fam); [2017] 4 WLR 180; [2018] 1 FLR 919; [2017] WLR (D) 648, Fam D

Warrington Borough Council v Y [2023] EWCOP 27, Ct of Protection

X NHS Foundation Trust v RH [2024] EWCOP 150, Ct of Protection