Are traditional Wills dying out?
Historically, traditional Wills prepared by Solicitors were the most popular method for people to document their wishes for how their assets would be distributed following their death. However, there are alternative options available now to the public, ranging from professional Will writers, Charities, Banks, online Wills, Will template kits from stationers and increasingly DIY Wills. […]
What are the financial benefits of getting married? From inheritance tax to pensions and bereavement support
It’s not the most romantic reason for a proposal, but there are many financial and practical reasons why it can make sense to be joined together by law Thousands of weddings and civil partnerships were delayed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, as the various lockdowns placed severe restrictions on ceremonies. Meanwhile people’s plans for […]
Man mistakenly throws away digital assets worth over £200m
A story which highlights the importance of recording digital assets sees a man mistakenly throw away his hard drive in 2013 with Bitcoin now worth more than £210 million. In a bid to recover the fortune, James Howells from Newport has appealed to the council for permission to search the city’s landfill site. The 35-year-old […]
Baby boomer remarriages – is your will up to date?
STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning, today urges remarried couples with complex family arrangements to ensure their Wills are up to date, as analysis shows that couples from the remarriage boom of the 1990s and early 2000s are now likely […]
7% of respondents made or updated their Will during the first COVID-19 lockdown
New research unveiled today by the Law Society shows 7% of respondents made or updated their Will during the first UK-wide COVID-19 lockdown but many have yet to put their affairs in order. “The coronavirus pandemic has made people reflect on how vital it is to make sure their loved ones are taken care of […]
Festive monetary gifts
Many parents and grandparents want to help younger members of the family financially – whether to help fund an education, a wedding or a deposit for a first home. Christmas is a time for giving so what better gift to make to your children or grandchildren than a gift that has the potential to grow […]
Why power of attorney is all-important during the Covid-19 pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic and its impact on health means it is more important than ever for financial advisers to make clients aware of the benefits of having a lasting power of attorney (LPA). Getting an LPA can save families undue stress and expense if they are worried about the health or mental capacity of a […]
Why you should set up a business Lasting Power of Attorney
Most people understand the benefits of a lasting power of attorney, which allows an individual to nominate someone to take decisions on their behalf, if they become incapacitated in some way. Less well known is the ability to put an LPA in place for a business, which makes a lot of sense in the current […]
Remotely witnessed wills officially declared valid in England and Wales
The law of wills in England and Wales is to be amended to allow the remote electronic witnessing of wills under certain conditions. The change is to be backdated to 31 January 2020, in order to reassure the public regarding any wills that may have been remotely attested during the coronavirus epidemic. The existing law […]
Solicitors braced for contentious probate spike caused by lockdown wills
Lockdown wills could prompt a wave of contentious probate claims, solicitors have warned, as video conferencing sows confusion about the witnessing of documents. The Wills Act 1837 requires wills to be signed in the presence of two or more witnesses. In guidance published in April, the Law Society of England and Wales – unlike that […]
