By Type :
By Subject :
Wills Articles
Will Beneficiaries, Claimants and Disputes
This article is NOT intended as information/ a guide as to how to bring nor and defend an action under the Inheritance Provision for Family & Dependants Act 1975 (‘IPFDA’75). What it is, however, is some thoughts on how to give instructions for the drafting of a Will by a professional, and indeed, the importance […]Read More >
Inheritance Tax Planning: Is Inheritance Tax in the near future likely to remain a threat to the goal of passing your estate on as intact as possible to your heirs?
Francis Fukuyama in his 1992 book “The end of history…” postulated that Western liberal democracy as a statement for government, underpinned by capitalism, represented the final perfection of government and social economic systems. This is the afterglow of their seeming victory, when viewed against the collapse of the alternative Soviet bloc style of government and […]Read More >
Wills and Business Property Relief – Inheritance Tax danger for owner managers of SMEs
Many owner managers of small to medium sized businesses are aware that on death, their shareholding or partnership interest or sole trader business’ value will qualify for the specialist Inheritance Tax treatment in the form of 100% Business Property relief, which reduced to zero the Inheritance Tax burden that would otherwise arise on any non-exempt […]Read More >
New Year’s Resolutions
As we come to the end of 2023, many take the opportunity to reflect on the past year and look at setting resolutions for the new year. A brief history lesson Setting resolutions in a new year dates back to Babylonian times (around 4000 years ago) where promises would be made to repay debts. Years […]Read More >
The importance of updating your Will
Your Will is one of the most important legal documents that you will create during your lifetime. However, it is a common oversight to not review and update your Will consistently, whether this be by an entirely new Will or a Codicil. It is important that you update your Will as certain changes occur in […]Read More >
I have been notified that I am an Executor under the Will of a relative or friend, who has recently passed away. What do I do?
An Executor is a person named in the Will of the deceased who is responsible for carrying out the deceased’s instructions, administering the estate properly and ultimately ensuring that the estate is divided in accordance with the Will’s provisions. Being an Executor is an onerous task in light of the duties and responsibilities afforded to […]Read More >
Changes to intestacy rules
On Fifth of July 2023, the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (fixed net sum) Order 2023 became law and is applicable. Previously, if a person passed away without a Will in place or valid Will in place leaving a spouse or civil partner together with children who survived them, then that widowed spouse or civil […]Read More >
The Probate Procedure Explained…
Have you been named as executor in a Will and you’re not sure where to begin? Or would you just like some clarity on the probate procedure? Our Lucy Head has answered some commonly asked questions below… Do I need a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration? When someone dies with a will, a […]Read More >
Illustration of ‘unexpected Capital Gains Tax issues’ arising…
Once, a divorced mother made a Will leaving her estate to her children. The house was her main asset. She died some years back and her Will was probated. The house was registered in the names of the adult children at the Land Registry. One of them moved in, with the other’s agreement. Years later, […]Read More >
The Dangers of DIY & Online Wills
The dangers of the unregulated sector and the desperate dangers of online Will construction packages Making a Will can be essential to ensure that on your death certain assets are distributed according to your wishes. If you do not create a Will, then you risk assets passing by intestacy rules to people you may not […]Read More >