Why people don’t make a Will – and why they should While most of us know that it’s probably a good idea to make a Will, an estimated three-fifths of adults in the UK have so far failed to put one in place. We take a look at the reasons behind this and why it
Why people don’t make a Will – and why they should Read More »
Inheritance Tax discussions after Ricky Gervais says the rules could force him to marry Actor Ricky Gervais has prompted discussion of the current Inheritance Tax rules after telling Saga magazine that he would marry his partner of 44 years, Jane Fallon, to manage his Inheritance Tax situation. The comment comes at a time when the
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How to choose the right executor for your estate The role of executor is an important one. This is the individual who will be in charge of finalising your estate, dealing with the beneficiaries and distributing bequests. It is essential to choose someone who will be able to take on the role at some potentially
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 »