The Pitfall of Gifting Assets
It’s no secret that there is a care crisis in the UK. In order to deliver social care, the Government is being forced to consider increasing Council Tax to help…
Off the Shelf & Off the Mark
Having a poorly written Will is often as bad as having no Will at all, but what are the risks of ‘doing it yourself’ when it comes to writing down…
A Change in Circumstances…
Statistically, the beginning of the year is the busiest time for divorce lawyers, so if you’re currently feeling the chill of a winter break-up, don’t forget to change your Will.…
Will this be the Year…?
By now the majority of people will either have given up on their New Year’s resolution, or be celebrating the end of ‘dry January’. Writing a Will probably wasn’t top…
Is your Will up to date? Changing family dynamics is a key reason for an increase in contested estates
Three animal welfare charities have mounted an appeal to challenge a judge’s decision which allowed a woman’s estranged daughter to overturn her Will. They will be appealing the decision to…
Around one in ten people write their own Will – but are you aware of the risks posed by DIY Wills?
Mistakes made in DIY Wills are often not discovered until after that person has passed away, by which time it is too late to rectify the damage that a poorly…
Grieving families face a significant rise in Probate fees
The Financial Times reported recently that Government proposals unveiled earlier in March; could result in a hundredfold increase in probate fees for some families. This came to light when the…
Why every adult should have Lasting Powers of Attorney…
You would like to think that if a loved one lost mental capacity – the ability to make their own decisions – perhaps through an illness, accident, dementia or a…
Why divorced parents must have a valid up-to-date Will
The act of marriage invalidates an existing Will, unless it was written in contemplation of marriage, as you have become a ‘different legal entity’. Divorce does not have the same…
Can I now leave £1m to my children free of Inheritance Tax?
In the run up to the 2010 general election, the Conservatives pledged to raise the tax-free threshold on death to £1m per person if they got into power. In 2015…