Should We Sign the House Over to The Kids?

It’s a question we’re often asked. Should we sign over our house to the kids? Or put it into a trust? Whatever your circumstances are, your home is probably your biggest asset, so consider the implications of what you do carefully. Signing over your house isn’t risk-free. And there are plenty of misconceptions about the…

Applying The ‘Golden Rule’ Matters When Making Your Will

The Importance of Assessing Testamentary Capacity For solicitors and Will writers, one of the most important parts of drawing up a Will is assessing a client’s ‘testamentary capacity’. If the client is elderly or ill or there are any doubts about their capacity, how a practitioner might determine this, is very important. Since the 70’s…

Avoiding Family Disputes Over Your Will

There’s been a sharp increase in disputes over Wills in recent years. Last year alone saw a 60% increase of claims on estates by disappointed beneficiaries going through the courts. And, considering many cases settle out of court, the reality is that the increase is likely to be much higher. Some may think this rather defeats…

Unfairly Left Out of A Will

Media stories about ordinary families at war over their inheritance are commonplace. It seems it’s no longer just about celebrities and the mega-rich either. Disputes often occur in ordinary families about being unfairly left out of a Will. Many people assume they have an inalienable right to leave their cash and assets to whomever they…

Statutory Legacy Amount to Increase

The amount a surviving spouse or civil partner can inherit (when there isn’t a Will) is set to change. Known as the statutory legacy, the limit, which was set at £250,000 in 2014, will rise to £270,000 on 6 February 2020. Statutory Legacy Limit Increase The increase has broadly been welcomed by most professionals. Nonetheless,…

Challenging Cost of Caring for the Elderly

The cost of care for the elderly isn’t far from the headlines these days. And it’s not without controversy either. Many of us may recognise the benefits of home care, but the cost of a commercial arrangement is beyond the reach of most. So, it’s likely that children or other family members will step into…

Understanding The Process of Buying a House

Understanding the process of buying a house, especially for the first time, is far from easy. The whole process can seem over-lengthy and shrouded in legal jargon. So, if you can get your head around the basics of buying a house, you’re less likely to be taken by surprise. The whole buying process will become…

What are the Benefits of a Personal Injury Trust?

A Personal Injury Trust works pretty much the same way as most trusts, in that the Trust is created to manage assets (money, investments, land or buildings) for people. But there are several tangible benefits to setting up a Personal Injury Trust for those who will need long-term care following a severe injury. The main…

Planning ahead? Be smart about what you leave behind.

When you’re gone, you’ll want all your hard work to fully benefit your family and loved ones. But Inheritance Tax liability can reduce the size of the estate you are able to leave behind. Be smart and plan ahead. If your estate is worth more than the threshold for Inheritance Tax, there are things you…

Being an Executor Carries Responsibility & Risk

Acting as an Executor is not a job to be taken lightly. Whilst it’s very gratifying to be asked, the role does carry a great deal of responsibility and in certain circumstances, significant risk. As Executor, you will have overall responsibility for dealing with the administration of the deceased person’s estate, as stipulated by law.…

OPG Campaign Praises Benefits of Lasting Power of Attorney

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is set to launch a targeted campaign in December aimed at educating the public about the benefits of making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Prompted by recent OPG research and due to launch in December, the new campaign videos will focus on increasing the number of LPA…

Equity Release Still on the Rise

According to a recent study commissioned by LV= equity release is still on the rise. Figures just out report an increase of 77% increase in sales from equity release products. And the overall equity release market in the UK reached an all-time high of £3.9bn for 2018. Could be Mainstream in a Decade Furthermore, LV=’s…

Probate Fee Increase Scrapped by Government

Dubbed the ‘stealth or death tax’ by many commentators, plans to increase probate fees up to a maximum of £6,000, have now been scrapped. Ministry of Justice Announcement Originally announced last November, Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland, has now reversed the decision to change the current flat-fee structure in England and Wales to…

The Importance of Making A Will

Whether for tax purposes or for a real desire to help a cause that matters to you, most of the UK’s population support leaving a legacy to charity in their Will, once their family has been provided for. But a startling 30 million of us have yet to make a Will in the first place.…

The Benefits of Leaving Money to Charity

Making a Will is the only way to decide who benefits from you after your death. Naturally, making sure your family is looked after financially is an important consideration. However, there are benefits to leaving money to charity too. It means you’re not only supporting a worthy cause but your gift or legacy can also…

Clients Pledge Over £3.35 Million for Cancer Research

The clients of Curtis Parkinson have been recognised by Cancer Research UK for supporting their Free Will Service for almost 20 years. Since 1999, the generosity of their clients means that over £3.35 million worth of gifts have been pledged by those choosing to leave a legacy to the charity in their will. Solicitor and…

Inheritance Tax and The Residential Nil Rate Band (RNRB)

Maximising What You Leave Behind Most financial and legal experts will admit that the rules governing UK inheritance tax (IHT) are complex. Back in 2007, in an attempt to simplify the regime and “take the family home out of Inheritance Tax”, George Osborne promised to increase the nil rate band (NRB) from £325,000 to £1…

Daughter Beats Stepsister in £300k Inheritance Dispute

John & Ann Scarle, who died at home from hypothermia in October 2016, have been at the centre of a bitter inheritance dispute which settled recently, in August 2019. The argument ended up in the High Court after their two step-daughters, quibbled over which parent died first. The case revolved around a little used 100-year…

Living Together & Owning a Property

Joint Tenants -vs- Tenants In Common – Which Arrangement is Best? Out of 19.1 million families in the UK in 2018, 3.3 million were co-habiting. That’s an increase of over 25% over the last decade. Yet, from a legal standpoint, it can be confusing what your rights are when you buy a home and live…

Why DIY Wills Can Cost A Fortune

DIY Wills are very tempting. And easy to find. Check online and you’ll be able to download a form and complete a Will in less than an hour. In some cases, for less than £10. But in writing a Will for yourself, you could end up leaving your family in an emotional and financial mess.…

Partnerships