Will Writing

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

If someone exerts undue influence over another person so that they amend or make a Will in their favour, it can be legally challenged in court. We take a look at what undue influence is and how you can avoid your Will being challenged in this way. What is undue influence? In respect of a

Over time, changes in circumstances can mean that a Will becomes out of date and doesn’t accurately reflect your wishes. We look at how to ensure your Will can cope with changes. It is a good idea to make a Will, even if you are young. It helps keep your financial affairs organised and if

When someone who has a mortgage dies, it is important to notify the lender as soon as possible. If the property has been left to you in a Will, you should ask them about the options for taking on some or all of the mortgage if it cannot be repaid. After a death, notifications need to

Pensions are notoriously complex and different rules can apply to different pensions held by different companies. After someone’s death, the benefit of their pension may be payable to the person they nominated when the scheme was set up. Workplace and private pensions Sometimes a workplace or private pension scheme will provide a lump sum and/or

Leaving a gift to charity in your Will can reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax payable by your estate, as well as benefit your favourite good cause. In 2018, £3 billion was left to over 10,000 different charities in Wills. Smaller charities are increasingly popular, possibly following some high profile failures by bigger organisations. An

If you own a property jointly with someone else and you want to leave it in your Will, you need to understand the different types of joint ownership. When you buy a home with someone else, you will either own it as joint tenants or as tenants in common. This affects who the property will

If you don’t own a property, it is easy to assume that you don’t need a Will. In fact there are several good reasons why you should still make one. Leaving a Will can be of great comfort to loved ones, as you can set out your wishes with regard to what you would like

It is a mistake to think that Inheritance Tax (IHT) can be avoided by giving away assets during your lifetime. While it may often be the case that it is beneficial to pass on gifts during your life, you need to be aware that there could still be an IHT liability. The tax rules on