Probate articles
March 2024 The process of winding up an estate can become particularly complicated if it encompasses assets in more than one country. This might be the case if the person who has died resided, owned property or had business interests overseas. If you’re acting as a personal representative (either as an executor or administrator) for …
Administering Cross-Border Estates: The Importance of Protecting Yourself Read More »
The question of debts owed to an estate can be made even more complicated when the debt is owed by someone who has been named as a beneficiary of the estate, an executor, or even both.
A Will is only valid if it has been properly signed in the presence of witnesses. Who the witnesses were is also important. If someone who is named as a beneficiary in the Will has acted as a witness, they will no longer be able to inherit from the estate.
Winding up the estate of someone who has died is always a big responsibility. However, there are certain factors that can make this task even more complex. One of those factors is whether or not the person who has died was a business owner.
There have been a number of changes in private client law this year that might affect you if you have legal plans in place for the future or if you’re currently administering an estate.
There are many different factors you’ll need to consider if you’re responsible for administering an estate. Some of these will be things you’re already aware of, others may not. Many people don’t realise that tax can come due on an estate during the administration process.
If you’re responsible for administering an estate, your task may be made more complicated depending on the employment status of the person who has died. In many cases, the individual will have been retired at the time of their death, but if they were still working, there are likely to be some loose ends to be tied up in this respect.
If you’re currently responsible for administering an estate and you think there is a need to apply for double probate, you might be unsure about how to navigate this. It may be helpful to speak to a specialist probate solicitor who can help you to untangle the situation and advise on the next steps.
Family relationships are not always straightforward. This can be because of a huge range of reasons, from blended families to personality clashes to perceived injustices. Whatever the individual circumstances, sometimes, even small tensions can become magnified when it comes to the issue of what will happen to an estate after a death.
There has recently been an update to the amount that can be passed on in a statutory legacy. This is the amount an individual can receive from their spouse’s estate if their spouse dies without leaving a Will. Find out how this could affect you on our blog.
