Pensions on Divorce
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With the economy as it is and rising costs generally, understandably, more and more couples are choosing to sort things out between themselves when they separate, rather than taking legal advice. However, although the divorce process itself is now much simpler than it used to be, meaning that couples can usually deal with it without […]
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?
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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 […]
A Tale of Two Deeds of Variations – Part 2
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Last time in my previous article, I demonstrated how a variation could be used, whether in an intestacy situation, or, with a pre-existing will, to ensure that the person inheriting had use of the assets for the remainder of their lifetime, but without the inheritance tax implications on their death of those being in their […]
A Tale of Two Deeds of Variations
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Suffering the death of a family member or any other loved one is a difficult time which can be made even worse if there is no Will or ‘an inappropriate Will’ which does not fit changed circumstance. I use the term ‘an Inappropriate Will’ as an umbrella term to cover circumstances were the Will has […]
When might a trust be useful?
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HMRC reported a staggering 198,000 trusts have been registered with their Trust Registration Service as at 31 March 2022. This figure does not take into account trusts yet to be registered or which do not need to be due to HMRC’s requirements. Trusts are given a bad name because of their often-complex nature and the […]
What are the cost changes to civil litigation from October 2023?
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The fixed recoverable costs regime is due to extend to most civil cases from 1 October 2023. This is following the recommendations from Sir Rupert Jackson in 2017 and a Ministry of Justice consultation on the report in 2019. Currently, fixed costs only apply in a limited amount of scenarios, however this is to be […]
Changes to intestacy rules
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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 […]
Residential Property FAQs
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Are you looking to buy or sell your first property? Do you have some questions about the conveyancing procedure? Our legal experts answer your most frequently asked questions… Do I need to sort out any paperwork when selling my property? As the seller’s solicitor, we will apply for a copy of the title for […]
What can possibly go wrong with a standard life insurance policy, and what can be done about it?
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Perhaps the first generation of people who engaged with financial advisors, ‘en masse’, are now starting to reach the end of their lives, and either pass away or lose mental capacity. Frequently, whole of life insurance policies, often put into trust many decades ago are coming back into view as a result of those changes. […]
The Probate Procedure Explained…
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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 […]