Many people like to leave a gift to charity in their Will by way of a legacy which not only benefits the charity but also has tax benefits for the donor. When an estate is valued at greater at £325,000 or more it becomes liable for Inheritance Tax, which is charged at 40%. By leaving … Read more

There are many traps that people can fall into that could potentially make their Will invalid. Without employing a professional to help construct your Will, you run the risk of making these mistakes. An invalid Will could potentially cause chaos for your loved ones at a time when they really don’t need the additional upset, … Read more

The short answer is YES: if all beneficiaries are in agreement, it is possible to amend an Estate Plan (or the standard division of assets, if your loved one died intestate) within two years of death. Sometimes families can be surprised by the contents of a loved one’s Will – and the surprise is not … Read more

Many believe that if they live together long enough, they become married in common law. This is not the case. So what happens if you are not married or in a civil partnership, and your other half dies? Although discussing future inheritance can be uncomfortable, a sudden bereavement can turn your life upside down in … Read more

Sideways dis-inheritance is the phrase used to describe when children, often unintentionally, end up losing out on their share of their parents estate due to remarriage. If you pass away, and either have no will or a standard mirror will, your property generally passes straight to your spouse, so they now own all the assets. Should the … Read more

What is probate? Probate is not a topic of conversation that many wish to have, but most people will have to deal with probate at some point in their life, so it best to know what the process is and what is involved. What is needed to distribute a person’s estate? When a person passes … Read more

Although associated mainly with those who are either ill or elderly, a Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, can be useful for any person at any stage in their life. With the current pandemic, it has brought to light the importance of loved ones or those you trust, to be able to manage your affairs … Read more

The person appointed an executor in a will has been entrusted, by the deceased, to arrange the payment of the estate’s debts and expenses as well as the distribution of the deceased’s property. The role of an executor is not an easy one, or one to be taken lightly. They will have a legal responsibility … Read more

When a person passes away, the people named as beneficiaries have various rights when it comes to the administration of how the deceased’s estate is distributed and how any trusts are being administered. As a beneficiary under a will, you only have a legal right over the share of the inheritance only when it has … Read more

When a person passes away without a will or had a will that was considered invalid, they are considered to die ‘intestate’, If you pass away without a will, what happens to your estate will depend on the intestacy rules depending on where you live in the UK.  The rules follow an order of succession … Read more