Following the conviction of funeral director Robert Bush, the government has proposed developing a statutory regulatory scheme to govern the funeral industry. Bush was jailed for 20 years after admitting 67 offences, including 30 charges of preventing a lawful and decent burial and theft from 12 charities. Hundreds of families were affected, and in sentencing
Regulation proposed for funeral sector after Hull scandal Read More »
The government’s recent consultation, ‘A fairer end to relationships,’ proposes changing inheritance rules to make provision for unmarried couples in the event that one of them dies. At present, if someone fails to make a Will, a cohabiting partner has no automatic right to inherit anything. This means they may have to move out of
Cohabitation inheritance reform proposals Read More »
The government has launched a consultation with a view to giving unmarried couples the right to inherit if one of them dies without a Will. The proposed changes aim to give cohabiting partners similar rights to spouses or civil partners, who are able to inherit under the Rules of Intestacy. What are the current rules
Proposed legal changes to give unmarried couples intestacy rights Read More »
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that gives a trusted relative or friend the authority to manage your affairs for you, should you ever lose mental capacity. We look at what happens if someone cannot make their own decisions but does not have an LPA. There are two main types of
What happens to your finances if you don’t have an LPA? Read More »
Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a crucial part of planning for the future, but people often put it off. We look at why it is always recommended to have an LPA in place, and the problems you could face if you delay. An LPA is a legal document giving your attorney the
Why it’s important to make an LPA now and not leave it to the future Read More »
If you have a blended family, it is important to make a Will that accurately reflects what you want to happen in the future. Recent research carried out by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) has found that inheritance disputes are increasing within blended step families. Of those questioned, 71% agreed that the
How to deal with a blended family when making your Will Read More »
On 6 April 2026, the government’s changes to the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) took effect. Initial plans were altered in favour of beneficiaries, with the Inheritance Tax (IHT)-free allowance increased from an initially planned £1 million to £2.5 million. Any unused IHT-free allowance is also now capable of transfer between
The new Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief rules Read More »
After a death, the personal representatives of the deceased have the job of winding up the estate. If they don’t want to take on the role, they need to avoid intermeddling. Intermeddling is taking action to deal with the estate as if someone has the right to do so, and as if they will be
What is intermeddling in estate administration? Read More »
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint a trusted friend or relative to manage your affairs for you, in case you ever become unable to do this for yourself. We look at whether you need a solicitor to draft your LPA, and what you need to be aware of. There are two
Do you need a solicitor for a Lasting Power of Attorney? Read More »
If the executors or administrators of an estate cannot find a beneficiary, it can complicate matters. We look at how to handle missing beneficiaries, and the precautions that need to be taken to avoid future legal claims. Following a death, beneficiaries will either be named in the deceased’s Will or, if there is no valid
What happens if there is a missing beneficiary after somebody dies? Read More »