Local authorities' will means test individuals in order to determine whether financial assistance can be granted. The rules are quite complicated but broadly if you have capital assets over £23,250 (not including your main property) you won't receive any assistance towards care home fees. Once assets fall below this level, the local authority will pay part or all of the fees. The means test may also take the main residence (home) into consideration after 12 weeks. Many people wonder about the feasibility of transferring ownership of property and capital to their children, so that its value cannot be eroded by care costs or be taken into account as part of their capital for assessment purposes. However, if a local authority suspects that assets were disposed of with the intention of avoiding the cost of the care, they can pursue both the person who disposed of the assets and the recipient with no time limit. A court will decide on the intention behind the transfer.