In a recent inheritance claim case, a disabled adult won £195,000 from his late mother’s estate after being left out of her Will. The estate’s executor and beneficiary subsequently lost an appeal, with the appeal court upholding the original decision. Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, certain individuals are entitled to
Inheritance claim win for adult child against parent’s estate Read More »
There are a wide range of situations in which a Will can be invalid. By being aware of what these are, you can make sure that your own Will is sound and that your estate can be passed on to your choice of beneficiaries as you wish when the time comes. If a Will is
What can make a Will invalid? Read More »
After someone’s death, their personal representative will have the task of disposing of their possessions. For some assets, such as a house, it is necessary to obtain a Grant of Probate or, if the person who died did not leave a Will, a Grant of Letters of Administration. We take a look at whether a
Can I sell a car before I have a Grant of Probate? Read More »
When a person dies, probate is the process of administering their estate by organising their assets, money and possessions and then distributing them as per the terms of a will or in line with the rules of intestacy. To be able to start probate, an executor (the person who takes legal responsibility for carrying out
What happens when I apply for probate? Read More »
Research carried out by Barclays Wealth has found that nearly a third of millennials would prefer that their parents spend money on their retirement rather than saving it to pass down by way of inheritance. The study found that 32% of older millennials would rather that cash was spent on a comfortable life in retirement
Millennials will give up inheritance to enable parents to live comfortably Read More »
Older people can be particularly susceptible to financial abuse. We take a look at the forms it can take and some of the steps that can be taken to safeguard vulnerable individuals. Financial abuse of the elderly can take many forms, from petty theft to defrauding someone of large sums of money. Older people can
What types of financial abuse affect older people? Read More »
It is often the case that more than one executor is named in a Will. We take a look at how to deal with the administration of an estate where there are multiple executors. You can appoint up to four executors when you make your Will and it is can be advisable to appoint at
Dealing with probate when there is more than one executor Read More »
The chancellor’s autumn statement confirmed that the current Inheritance Tax threshold will be frozen until at least April 2028. This follows a previous announcement freezing it until April 2026. The two-year extension to the lower limit means that more families will be required to pay Inheritance Tax as more estates exceed the nil rate band
Inheritance Tax threshold frozen until 2028 Read More »
A letter of wishes is a document that can be put in place alongside your Will to give guidance to your executors, your loved ones and your trustees, if you appoint any. It is not legally binding, but it can be very useful to let people know what you would like to happen in certain
What is a Letter of Wishes? Read More »
If you are dealing with the affairs of someone who has died, you are likely to have many questions. We answer some of the ones that are most frequently asked. Winding up an estate after a death can be complicated. Understanding the process before you start is important, so that you can decide whether you
Frequently Asked Questions: Probate Read More »