A new system of Probate Charges to be introduced in May will see them rocket upwards. The fee payable to Government by Executors of a Will for permission to administer the estate of a deceased person will now be based on a sliding scale. For estates valued between £50000 and £300000 the fee will be […]
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Something to Harp about
Out of a £1.3m estate the deceased’s son is only to inherit an antique Harp with an estimated value of approx. £3000, according to a story in a daily newspaper today. The bulk of the estate is bequeathed to his sister and five grandchildren. The son is now challenging the Will in London’s High Court […]
Life in Ruins
‘Life in Ruins’ is how Danae Brooks describes her life after the death of her second husband who died suddenly without signing his Will. In an article in the magazine YOU this week she implores people to make a Will and sign it or face the emotional and practical turmoil she has suffered for the […]
Care home Fees-forever upwards
A new report by the healthcare agency ‘Prestige Nursing and Care’ states that the average cost of a single room in a care home has soared by 5.2% in the past year to £30926pa.This is an average throughout the country. In London for example the costs have rocketed by 19.1% to £38896pa whilst in the […]
Baby Boomers- Selfish or not?
People born between 1947 and 1964 often referred to as Baby Boomers have come in for criticism under a recent study by law firm Stephensons according to a recent report in the Daily Mail. It has shown that the children of the Baby Boomers are facing poverty in their old age unless they make better […]
Without a Will—–Then where?
Dying without a will is dying intestate and statutory rules apply to the distribution of your assets. If at death you were married or in a civil partnership your spouse/partner inherits the first £250k If there are any children(incl. adopted /illegitimate) and the assets exceed £250k then the surplus is divided one half to the […]
What is wrong with a gift?
David Cameron appears to have received a swathe of criticism over a gift received from his mother soon after his fathers death. Without knowing the full facts it can only be assumed that his mum is trying to take advantage of the 7 year rule whereby her estate is reduced before she dies. If she […]
The Cost of Probate
Whilst Inheritance Tax has been subjected to additional relief from 2017 there are plans afoot to increase the cost of obtaining probate. Executors of Wills need a grant of probate before dealing with the property, money and possessions of a deceased person. The current flat rate cost of £215 is set to increase in varying […]
How to lose your home
An article in the latest Mail on Sunday illustrates how you can lose your home by not updating your Will to cover current circumstances. A couple had lived together unmarried for 18 years and owned the house in which they lived as ‘Tenants in Common’. The male partner had never divorced his previous wife and […]
Prevent a Challenge
A recent statement made by a member of the Law Society’s Wills and Equity Committee said that ‘There are several ways to challenge the validity of a Will, though it is a complex area and shouldn’t be undertaken lightly’ To prevent such challenges from being contemplated there are several measures that can be taken to […]