Video-witnessing wills legislation extended to 2024
The legislation for video and remote witnessing of wills has been extended for two more years until the 31st of January 2024, giving vulnerable people peace of mind that their wills will be legally recognised. The initial change had been brought in at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for those who had to isolate either…
Managing legal affairs for someone with dementia
September is Alzheimer’s awareness month, and we would like to join the conversation, spread awareness and give our advice on what we know best: the legal and financial aspects for people with dementia. Firstly, our team is always available to help you and your family. We offer free informal chats and considerate and informed advice. We can…
What should I include in my Will?
Whatever your age, planning and taking some small legal steps now can make an enormous difference in the future to safeguard you and your family, whatever tomorrow brings. Making a Will is important whether you feel you have valuable possessions or not. Yes, part of making a Will is to decide who will inherit your…
Lasting Powers of Attorney: The awkward conversation
We don’t like to think about getting older and what that may mean for our physical or mental health. We certainly don’t like to think that one day we may not have the capacity to be able to deal with our finances and our health needs and having the conversation with our loved ones can…
UK Pension Scheme Bill becomes law
The UK’s Pension Scheme Bill was granted royal assent and became law last week on Thursday the 11th of February 2020, with the government describing it as ‘’the biggest shake-up of UK pensions for decades.’’ The Act will bring in some major changes to pension schemes, including boosting the powers of The Pensions Regulator (TPR) with…
Will the new ‘stealth tax’ probate fee affect you?
As you might have already heard, new probate fees have been approved by the Government and will come into force in April 2019. The controversial increase was classified as a “fee” rather than a tax, which meant the legislation could be passed by a statutory instrument which receives less Parliamentary scrutiny than a bill. However,…
Inheritance Tax: the basics
Inheritance tax is a tax on the estate of someone who’s died, including property, possessions and money. Depending on the value of your total estate, inheritance tax may be payable on any assets you leave to your family or friends when you die. It’s important to understand the basics, which we have outlined below. Don’t…
Can I reclaim care home fees?
Care home fees are a complicated issue, which has led to many people paying care home fees that they were not supposed to. In some cases, families can reclaim those fees, even on behalf of a relative who has passed away. Who pays for care home fees? Typically, if your net assets, including savings, are…
Prince didn’t leave a will: could cause chaos for relatives
The untimely death of singer and musician Prince left the entertainment world stunned, and the sad news was followed by the equally surprising revelation that the performer had not left a will. Prince’s £102m fortune has been left with a bank to manage, and observers are now predicting that it could cause ‘chaos, tax bills and…
Case highlights importance of keeping your will up-to-date
The importance of keeping your will up-to-date – especially if your relationship circumstances change – has been underlined by a recent court case. Norman Martin had failed to keep his will updated, which meant that when he died in 2012, his share of his £320,000 house went to his long-estranged wife, Norma Martin, instead of…