Catalogue description Records of the Court of Protection and predecessors

The Office of the Master in Lunacy was formed in around 1844 and was the responsibility of the Court of Chancery. Between about 1930 and 1947 the office was sometimes also known as the Management and Administration Department. In 1950 it became the Court of Protection. The jurisdiction derived partly from the royal prerogative and partly under the Lunacy Act 1890 and its work involved hearing summonses, settling deeds, issuing orders, and administering the property of mentally disordered persons coming within its jurisdiction.

The majority of orders and decisions were made by the Master and Assistant Masters. Appeals were reserved to a judge of the High Court, nominated by the Lord Chancellor, but sitting in the Court of Protection. In assessing the ability of a person to manage his own property and affairs the court had the assistance of the Lord Chancellor's Visitors. From 1958 taxation of costs in the court was under the direction of the Supreme Court Taxing Office.