If you have been left a legacy in someone’s Will, you may be wondering how soon it will be distributed to you. We take a look at the probate process and why executors may wait a while before making payments to beneficiaries. After someone’s death, their executor or administrator will deal with the winding up
How long can an executor wait after probate before distributing an estate? Read More »
New research by Aviva has looked at the attitude to spending, saving and retirement in the over-45s, to include the length of time homeowners are staying in one property before moving on. There has been a reduction in levels of property ownership compared to the figures from six years ago, both among those with mortgages
Increasing proportion of retirement wealth held in property Read More »
People are increasingly leaving a digital legacy after their death, as well as digital assets. We take a look at how to deal with the digital aspects of an estate. Dealing with someone’s online presence and digital matters after they have gone can be daunting. It is often difficult to identify exactly what they had
Dealing with digital issues after a death Read More »
When you make your Will, you are entitled to leave your estate to your choice of beneficiary. While this means that you can choose to cut your spouse out of your Will, there is a chance that they may still be able to make a claim. In England and Wales, everyone aged 18 or over
Can I cut my spouse out of my Will? Read More »
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics have revealed that the older population in England and Wales is continuing to grow, with 11.1 million people in 2021 aged 65 or older, equivalent to 18.6%. This is up considerably from 9.2 million or 16.4% in 2011. The number of over-65s now exceeds the number of
Census reveals that ageing population has reached a record high Read More »
With the current Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) system over thirty years old, the government’s consultation on reforming the process has been welcomed by many who are concerned about protecting those who may lose the capacity to manage their own affairs. A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document which allows an individual to
Government urged modernise the Lasting Power of Attorney system Read More »
If you are named as an executor to the estate of someone who has died and they have left a gift to charity, there is a particular process you should follow in dealing with the legacy. Charities rely on money left to them in Wills and where your loved one has included a charity bequest,
How to deal with a charity legacy as a personal representative Read More »
The BBC drama series The Split has recently mentioned the use of an advance directive in the case of an individual with motor neurone disease. An advance directive, also sometimes referred to as a living Will or an advance decision, sets out your wishes for the healthcare you would like in the future, in the
BBC1’s The Split highlights use of Advance Directives Read More »
When you write your Will, you can leave your estate to your choice of beneficiaries, however if someone is persuaded or pressured into leaving their money to a certain individual, a Will could be challenged in the courts. There are a number of grounds on which a Will can be contested, including where undue influence
Wills and undue influence explained Read More »
A Will is crucial in making sure that an estate passes to the right people after someone dies. But sometimes it can be hard to locate a Will. We take a look at what to do when a Will can’t easily be found. After a death, those who believe that they are the deceased’s executors
How do I find a lost Will? Read More »