Should I include a pet in my will?
Many people omit one of their most prized possessions from their wills: their beloved pets! This is possibly because we don’t think of them as property as much as ‘part of the family’, but the law views pets as possessions and it is therefore important to make sure that they will continue to be looked…
Top five reasons why you need to make a will
Karen Killick, wills and life planning solicitor at DMA Law, looks at why it is absolutely essential to make a will. People find all sorts of reasons to avoid making a will, but it is one of the most important things you can do and can help to avoid a huge amount of stress and…
Digital wills: how will you pass on your online and social media accounts?
Have you ever stopped to think about how many of your possessions, photos, and memories are stored digitally? Whether it’s on social media such as Facebook or Twitter, or via digital music and video services, such as Apple, Sony, Amazon or Google, large parts of our lives are stored and accessed online. That’s before you…
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…
Key inheritance ruling could have big impact on making a will
A major ruling at the Court of Appeal could have a major impact on the way in which people write their will, in cases where the parents wish to disinherit their children. Heather Ilott, from Hertfordshire, was left out of her mother Melita Jackson’s will when she died in 2004, with £486,000 being left instead…
Facebook legacy access could help bring will-making to the masses
It has been revealed that Facebook is adding a new feature that means you can grant ‘legacy access’ to your account, so that when you die, loved ones can take control of your online profile. Once Facebook has been informed of your death, it will allow the chosen contact to perform certain actions, such as…