Deputies and attorneys must maintain duties during coronavirus isolation, says OPG
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has advised deputies and attorneys in England and Wales that they cannot temporarily give up or delegate their role if they cannot visit the protected person during the coronavirus crisis, even if they themselves are in isolation or shielding because of government guidelines. ‘During the coronavirus outbreak, your […]
Emergency changes to UK IHT payments and returns processes
HMRC is scrapping cheques for the payment and repayment of inheritance tax (IHT), as a result of the coronavirus crisis. It will no longer accept payment of IHT by cheque, and will not issue cheques or payable orders for the repayment of IHT. In future, the tax must be paid by any of the other […]
Coronavirus: Wills ‘being signed on car bonnets’ amid lockdown
Documents have been held in place by windscreen wipers and signed on a car bonnet in a novel way for Wills to be witnessed during social distancing. Signatures are also being watched through windows and patio doors as current restrictions make 200-year-old Will writing laws difficult to uphold. Ministers say there are no plans to […]
The difference between attorneys and executors
The difference between executors and attorneys is often misunderstood and I find clients can be confused about the difference between each role. The role of attorney and executor are similar to some extent but also very different. Both roles involve attending to somebody else’s financial affairs but in very different contexts and they involve appointment […]
Time to make a Will?
In these strange and uncertain times we are all considering how we can protect ourselves and keep our families safe. Some of us have been self-isolating, and we should all be exercising social distancing. But what else could we be doing to safeguard our families? Is it time to make a Will? Only one in […]
TRUSTEES- What are they and what do they do?
Trustees are appointed in Trusts created during lifetime or those created following a death. The Trust and Trustees are the legal owners of the trust property but hold it for the beneficiaries of the Trust. Trustees are needed if a beneficiary is under the age of 18. In these circumstances the Trustee will be responsible […]
Incapacitated Trustees
Significant problems can arise in relation to the management and administration of trusts when a trustee becomes mentally incapable. The trust will be paralysed until the trustee has been removed and nothing can be done on the trust during this time. Trustee incapacity causes problems for the trust administration, the switching of investments, distributions to […]
Great news – the proposed probate fee increase has been scrapped
The government has announced that the proposed increase in probate fees has been scrapped. The increase proposed under the government of former Prime Minister Theresa May, would have charged probate applicants up to £6,000 in Court fees and was to be based on the value of each estate. This would have been an enormous increase […]