Blog
Keeping your Will Up To Date Every year, Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) hold 'Update Your Will Week'. Recent research from the organisation reveals that 47% of people haven’t updated their Will in more than...
When a person dies without leaving a valid will they are said to have died intestate. Dealing with their estate can be very complicated. When someone dies intestate If this happens to one of your relatives, it is best to...
You need values of any money, property and possessions (known as their estate) of someone who’s died, on the date of their death, before you are able to get a ‘grant of representation’. This is the legal right to deal with their estate . ...
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows someone to make decisions for you, or act on your behalf, if you’re no longer able to or if you no longer want to make your own decisions or deal with your own affairs. Heather Varley...
If there comes a time when you don’t have the mental capacity to make a particular decision, and you haven’t created a lasting power of attorney (LPA), it is likely that your relatives will need to apply to the Court of Protection to appoint a...
There is no need to be nervous about seeing a Lawyer about a will. Wills & Tax Associate Heather Varley , has put together a small glossary of terms that may be mentioned to help: Administrator - personal representative of a...
The whole world now knows how Cilla Black left a huge inheritance in excess of £15million to her three sons. They are also due to inherit her £2million Spanish mansion and £1.5million Barbados penthouse which are in addition to her UK...
UK charities rely heavily on gifts left to them in someone’s will – this amounts to 13% of all charitable donations and can amount to £2billion a year. It shows why charities in the Dorset area, amongst others are becoming ever more...
New measures were announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement concerning the inheritance of Individual Savings Accounts (ISA’s). This could save married couples (or civil partners) thousands of pounds but it may be necessary to update your...
Much of the current law relating to Wills dates back to the time of Queen Victoria – the Wills Act 1837. The Law Commission, which is a non-political body, was set up by Parliament in 1965 to keep all the law of England and Wales under review, and to...
Even if you have a valid will you should consider keeping it updated, especially after any major changes in your life. It’s very easy to forget to change it after marrying, re-marrying, moving house, the death of your partner or a significant change in...
It is estimated that only 10% of newly married couples update their Will after marriage . Any major life event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child or change in your financial situation have an impact both on your wishes and the distribution of your...
It is estimated that one in five men and one in three women will need to enter a care home at some time in the future and many others will need help with everyday living in their own homes. Local authorities are responsible for assessing your care needs and...
It is entirely possible to apply for probate and deal with an estate without seeing a lawyer, but it’s not without risks. Heather Varley is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly and an Associate in Frettens’s Wills & Tax Team. She...
If you are considering buying a property with someone else and are a co-habiting couple, co-habiting friends or relatives or maybe business partners, you may consider having a Declaration of Trust drawn up. A Declaration of Trust is a legally binding...
An executor is someone nominated by you in your will to distribute the assets of the deceased person to the beneficiaries. Your executor can be a family member or trusted friend or a legal professional. Above all they should be trustworthy and knowledgeable...
On Friday (14 th January 2011), the BBC aired the first of an interesting series called “Can’t take it with you”. The series looks at a variety of issues surrounding writing a will; the first episode debated leaving money to...
When a person dies without leaving a valid will they are said to have died intestate. Dealing with their estate can be very complicated. If this happens to one of your relatives, it is advisable to seek legal advice as soon as possible, as the law...
Planning for the future is very important. It is estimated that over 70% of the UK population does not have a current Will that accurately reflects their financial circumstances and the personal choices at the time of their death. Making a Will creates...
