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Leaving a gift to a charity in your Will
With so many of us supporting charities, clients often ask us if they can leave a gift to a charity within their Will. Of course, leaving a charitable gift in your Will is a nice thing to do, however it is important to seek appropriate advice as leaving such a gift is not as straightforward as you may think.
Are there tax implications for making gifts?
When making a gift to another person of money, property, or an item of value, it is especially important to be aware of the tax implications and the rules that govern how that gift is treated.
What happens if a person dies without making a Will?
If someone dies without leaving a Will, their estate will be dealt with under the intestacy rules. The intestacy rules determine who will inherit your estate. This could mean that the person you wish to inherit your estate is not the person who will inherit your estate.
Why is it important for blended families to make a Will?
A number of families are now part of a blended family unit, which is why it is especially important to put a Will in place to protect your loved ones.
Will I pay inheritance tax?
One of the most important matters to consider when making your Will, is if there is any opportunity to mitigate inheritance tax, and quite often with inheritance tax planning, the earlier you seek the advice, the more options will be available to you.
What happens to my existing Will after marriage, entering into a civil partnership, or divorce?
In this blog we explain what happens to your Will when you get married or divorced and why it is important to think about updating your Will if you become separated.
Increase in Probate Court fees and changes to the “excepted estate” rules
This month sees an increase in Probate Court fees and changes to the “excepted estate” rules. In this blog Kanesia Bicar explains what these changes mean for you.
Are all legal service providers regulated?
There are many companies both on the high street and online who provide legal services. However, not all legal service providers or even firms claiming to be legal practices are regulated.
Handwritten Wills Explained
We often get asked if a handwritten Statement of Wishes would be sufficient to pass as a valid Will.
Handwritten Wills, also known as Holographic Wills, are Wills where the person to whom the document relates, writes the Will themselves and signs it
Why it is important for all business owners to make a will
When thinking about making a Will, we tend to consider our properties, personal effects, and savings, however it is surprising how many of us do not consider what would happen with our business in the event of our death.
What if I do not wish to receive my inheritance?
Although many of us are grateful to be left a gift within a Will, for some of us this gift can be unwelcome, or it may be one that the gift could be more useful if given elsewhere.
What happens to my debt when I die?
Our debts do not die with us, they are carried over into our estate. It is reported that Michael Jackson died with approximately £500 million worth of total debt; so what happens to these debts after we die?
Lasting Power of Attorney: is it time you thought about making one?
In the Winter of 2015, I received the shocking news that a dear friend had suffered a stroke. This was a huge shock as she was in her late 30s and healthy and having a stroke was not something that I had associated with younger people before.
#FreeBritney – why has Britney Spears’ father taken control of her finances?
On Tuesday 16th February, the documentary ‘Framing Britney Spears’ was aired in the UK. The documentary has sparked much debate about why Britney Spears’ father has control over her finances and there is currently a #FreeBritney movement started by members of the public who are concerned for Britney’s welfare and are questioning why she has no control over her own spending and financial affairs.
Law Society urges people to include digital assets in their Wills
A survey commissioned by the Law Society has found that 93% of those who have made a Will, have not included any digital assets within it. They have further quoted that just a quarter of the 1,000 people asked, knew what would happen to their digital assets after they die – with only 7% saying that they fully understand.
Increase in Will writing during the global pandemic
The Law Society has reported a ‘striking shift’ in the number of people making or updating wills since the beginning of the pandemic – although the ‘overwhelming majority’ of people are yet to put their legal affairs in order.
Making a Will checklist
To assist you with making your Will, we have put together a checklist which will help you understand the kind of decisions you will need to make and what information you should start preparing.
Can anyone make a Will?
We explain the rules around who can make a will and what makes one legally binding.
Witnessing of Wills moves into the digital age
With society becoming more and more reliant on digital services to get things done and keep safe at home, the legal services industry has had to adapt to cope with these changes.
Do I need a Power of Attorney?
Many people ask us if they really need to create a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This document is often associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s
What to do when a loved one dies
The following guide has been written to help you prioritise the next steps that need to be taken when a loved one dies, including recent changes in procedure during the Coronavirus Pandemic and will answer some of the questions that we are being asked by our clients most often.
COVID-19: Making a Will and taking care of your financial affairs
We have put together this guide which we hope will answer some of your questions about putting your legal affairs in order during this difficult time.
5 reasons why all parents should make a Will
There are many reasons why all parents should make a Will. Here we explain our top 5.
Why should I use a lawyer to draft my Will?
There comes a point in all our lives when we think about making a Will. The harsh reality is that one day we will all
How can I protect my pet when I die?
We all love our pets yet many of us do not consider what would happen to them when we die. It is possible to make
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