Lasting Powers of Attorney - what are they and do I need one?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which enables you to decide who you trust to make decisions about your finances,...
Executors – Why getting it right is so important.
When we mention preparing a Will, many individuals assume the only significant point to consider is who is going to receive what under...
Homemade Wills – Are they easier to challenge?
The simple answer is yes they are. Homemade wills are, generally, easier to challenge. There are a number of things which a Court will be...
Are trusts a “tax loophole” exploited by the wealthy?
The Times newspaper last week carried the headline “Duke of Westminster’s £8bn fortune escapes death duties”. In the article, it was...
Avoid paying care home fees – The Truth behind these ‘Trusts’ & giving away your property.
With the average nursing home fees now costing around £1,000 a week the question of paying for care in old age has become an increasingly...
Home made Wills - are they worth the risk?
Some of you may have seen the article in the papers yesterday about how a group of animal charities are taking grieving man to court over...
Inheritance Tax paid exceeds £5billion
I recently wrote a blog about the new Residence Nil rate band allowance that was introduced by the government back in April this year and...
The residence nil rate band – what is it, do I qualify and should I change my Will?
Prior to the election earlier this year, a key promise in the Conservative Party’s manifesto was an increase in a married couples’ “nil...
Are you heading abroad this summer with your child? Don’t get caught at Passport Control
Its a well known fact that lots of parents do not share the same surname as their child and travel without their child’s other parent. I...
Are changes to the Intestacy Rules coming?
I read this week that there is another new initiative to try and reform the laws of intestacy to include cohabitees. The law of intestacy...