Our own Rachel Roche sits down with Andrew Gray from Truth Legal to discuss Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, the Court of Protection, and many other bits and pieces about planning for the future. The main points we cover If you would like to listen to any particular points in our discussion, skip to the …
You have probably heard the term ‘estate’ when it comes to inheritance. It generally means the money, property, assets, personal belongings etc of someone who has died. Their estate will also include any debts or other liabilities (such as utility bills or credit card balances) which that person had at the time of their death. …
Joint Ownership – Does Joint Money and Property pass in my Will? Read More »
Today, the Government has launched a scheme to enable people in England and Wales to Claim back excessive fees they paid the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) applications. The OPG refund scheme is for fee payments between 1 April 2013 and 31 March …
Government refund scheme launched for Powers of Attorney Read More »
We’re always keen to explain how important it is to make a Will. Everybody who is 18 or over should have one! But many people worry about the possibility that their Will might be challenged – the risk of their wishes being altered by someone else. The most common basis for challenging a Will relies …
How Long Does Someone Have to Challenge my Will? Read More »
A Will is crucial to making your intentions known after your death. We have written hundreds of Wills for clients and much of our time is spent getting to know people’s wishes so that we can advise how best to put them into effect. However, the truth is that no Will is immune from being …
Where There’s a Will Challenge, Who Gets Their Way? Read More »
Inheritance Tax has many sides; the good, the bad and the downright… confusing. The ugly truth, however, is that all the money, assets, and other property in your estate will be assessed for Inheritance Tax (IHT) when you pass away. Even in your lifetime, certain gifts and transfers can be ‘clawed back’ to count as …
Inheritance Tax: the Reliefs, the Tax, and the Livery Read More »
Planning legal arrangements for the future often involves imagining some upsetting situations. One uncomfortable possibility is the idea of suffering from a long-term, debilitating illness or injury. You might ask yourself: what would be the effect on your family if you were put into a coma or needed ongoing life support? If there was no …
What happens to a Lasting Power of Attorney when someone dies? Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is an excellent way to prepare for later life. If the person who has made one (‘the donor’) becomes unable to make decisions for themselves, an LPA allows the appointed Attorney(s) to step in and take over. …
What happens to a Lasting Power of Attorney when someone dies? Read More »
Human rights are not often an issue when dealing with Wills. There is no such thing as a ‘human right to an inheritance’ in the UK. Even in some European countries, where ‘forced heirship rules’ exist, you couldn’t really say you had a human right to inherit your parents’ property. In France, for example, one …
Adopted Children’s Human Rights Prove Decisive in Will Dispute Read More »
Fraudulent calumny – it sounds like a term which might be flung across a Dickensian courtroom. Or an accusation, possibly followed by a challenge of pistols at dawn… But despite its fusty old name, it is very much a part of the law today. So what is it? And why should you be aware of …
