The appointment of an Attorney can help you deal with your affairs once you are no longer able. But they are not allowed to write a Will on your behalf. By appointing an Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), you can have someone you trust to deal with both your financial affairs and
Who can write my Will for me if I am not able? Read More »
If a Grant of Probate is obtained, then a Will becomes a public document and anyone can apply to the Probate Registry for a copy. In some cases, where an estate is small, a Grant of Probate is not needed. It is part of the job of the Executor to work out whether Probate is
Can anyone view a Will after someone dies? Read More »
If you own a property jointly with someone else, you may automatically become the sole owner when they die, depending upon the way in which the property is held. If you live in a home which you own jointly with someone else, it is important to understand the type of ownership you have. This is
When the joint owner of a property dies, does the property pass to the survivor? Read More »
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can be an incredibly helpful way of allowing a person you trust to manage your affairs once you are no longer capable. Ideally, an LPA should be executed well in advance of any incapacity. But so long as the person signing the document still understands its full meaning and
How to show mental capacity to make a Lasting Power of Attorney Read More »
Normally when someone dies, their executor or administrator needs to apply for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. If the estate is small, however, it may not be necessary. After a death, an executor or administrator is responsible for collecting in the deceased’s assets, valuing them, arranging for sale, preparing estate accounts, to
Dealing with a small estate where a Grant of Probate is not required Read More »
Inheritance Tax (IHT) can be a nasty surprise during the administration of a Will. New Year is the ideal time to check that you’ve done all you can to minimise the burden. Increasing property prices has had the effect of increasing the amount of Inheritance Tax many people are paying. There are ways of reducing
Review your Inheritance Tax situation in the New Year Read More »
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is an official legal document appointing someone to act on your behalf should you one day become incapable of managing your affairs. There are two types of LPA, one for financial matters and one for health and welfare. You can have one or both in place. They do not
Preparing for the future with a Lasting Power of Attorney Read More »
When someone dies, often loved ones would like to see the document that they have left outlining their wishes and stating who is to benefit from their estate. We look at who is entitled to see the contents of a Will. Immediately following a death, the only people initially entitled to read the Will are
Can anyone see the contents of a Will? Read More »
When someone dies, they may leave debts that their personal representative is not aware of. By advertising in the press, creditors have the chance to claim the money they are owed. After a death, an estate is administered by a personal representative of the deceased. This is either an executor or, where there is no
Why a Section 27 Notice should be published following someone’s death Read More »
After someone dies, everything in their estate needs to be valued. We take a look at why and how this is done. For most people, their estate will need to be wound up by either an executor or, if they have not left a Will, an administrator. Part of this person’s job is to value
Valuing an estate for probate Read More »