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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nat_B0m
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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nat_B0m
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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nat_B0m
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 […]
Gifting out of excess income to save on Inheritance Tax – are you making the most of your financial position?
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Due to the freeze on inheritance tax thresholds announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the Autumn Statement 2022, a record number of estates are now liable to paying tax, which is charged at the rate of 40% on the sum above any available allowances. As reported in my earlier article when the Autumn Statement […]
Cohabitation and Later Life Planning
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nat_B0m
The number of couples opting to live with one another without entering into a marriage or civil partnership is on the rise. Unfortunately, there are many couples who are unaware of their legal rights as they are under the impression, they have the fallback of being a ‘common law wife/husband’. This is a myth. Currently, […]
Digital LPAs and why, for now, we are not using them
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There was a recent piece on the Radio 4 program ‘Money Box’ about the difficulties many have encountered trying to use the digital certificate given at the end of the digitally drafted ‘Lasting Powers of Attorney form creation process’, presumably for Property and Finance, with various banks and other financial institutions. It is probably fair […]