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…

Persistent Probate Registry Delays Cost Dear

An Update Huge delays in submitting probate applications persist. A process that should take 2-3 weeks, in our experience, is still taking up to 12 weeks to turn around. According to a recent media report, as staff at the probate registry master the intricacies of their new software and battle with the backlog of applications,…

Squabbling Over Wills …

Were Relatives of Amy Winehouse & Aretha Franklin Destined to Argue? The importance of keeping your Will up-to-date and legally sound cannot be overstated. Do this and you’re covered. No squabbling among family members and no inheritance disputes. Nothing to affect your wishes after your gone. Most people think that. Yet every year there are…

Is Your Care Home Contract Fair?

UK care home providers face direct fines if they mislead ‘customers’ Care homes are much the same as any other business. They are obliged to provide their ‘customers’ with a contract. And that contract should comply with consumer law. However, according to research by consumer association Which? in 2018, many care homes they looked at…

Will the EU Succession Regulations (Brussels IV) Affect Your Estate if You Own Property Abroad?

The principal aim of the EU Succession Regulations (EU 650/2012) – known as Brussels IV – was to unify succession laws across EU members states. Brussels IV has been in place since 17 August 2015. Whilst the UK (and Ireland and Denmark) opted out of this legislation, it’s still relevant to any UK resident individuals…

Continued Delays in Probate Applications

Despite announcing that they issued 960 grants in a single day in May, the new online probate application process, introduced by the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in March 2019, continues to wreak havoc. Historically, the application process took between two to six weeks. But teething problems with the new software have meant the…

Implications of Serious Probate Registry Delays

At the start of 2019, a new £1bn online service was unveiled by the government. This was aimed at streamlining the probate application process and reducing stress on families. But not everything has gone to plan. Bereaved families have suffered lengthy delays, leaving them in financial limbo. Reports of up to six weeks at HMRC…

Brexit delays implementation of so-called ‘stealth tax’

Back in December 2018 we wrote a short short article about the Government’s controversial plans to increase probate fees this year. The reforms, expected to raise over £155million for the Treasury, were due to come into effect on 1 April 2019. Now it seems, they’ve been put on hold due to lack of parliamentary time.…

Can I bring an Inheritance Act claim out of time?

Dealing with Wills and inheritance, especially knowing how and when to bring a claim against an estate, can be complicated. Circumstances and relationships change over time. Legal documentation may not reflect the situation as it really is when a person you are close to dies. Pursuing claims against someone’s estate The Inheritance (Provision for Family…

Choosing the right person be your Power of Attorney

Granting Power of Attorney to the right person is the best way to protect your legacy and assets. But this is an important appointment which gives authority to another person to act on your behalf. So choosing the right person to become your Attorney or agent, is crucial. Naturally, making the decision can play on…

WARNING – 14 Year Inheritance Tax Trap

Can gifts still be subject to Inheritance Tax 14 years later? Many will be familiar with the seven-year rule relating to gifts for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. And, assuming you survive for seven years from the date of making the gift, this gift can be excluded from your estate after you die. However, there is…

What is the difference between a Lasting Power of Attorney and a Deputy?

So this can be confusing. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and a Deputy are both legal appointments which allow a person (or persons) to handle the affairs of a person who lacks mental capacity. It’s a fact of life these days, we’re all living longer. So the chance of losing mental capacity and the…

A New Year. Time to make a new Will.

A new will? Maybe, you might say. Most of us think about making changes at the beginning of a new year, better still making plans for a brighter future. Yet, so few people have taken the most vital step in protecting themselves (and their family) by making a Will. Be Prepared More than half the…

Probate fee hike unlawful?

From April 2019, the government is planning rises in probate fees according to the value of the estate left by an individual in their will. Whilst the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) confirmed their controversial plans in November to press on with their planned changes, they have done so amid widespread criticism. Both the Institute of…

Statutory Wills – what are they for?

Statutory Wills offer robust protection for vulnerable people, protecting them from potential contentious claims after they die. When someone who has not made a Will loses mental capacity, it is possible to apply to the Court to make a Statutory Will. Establishing what will happen to their home and valuables, including money, when they haven’t…

Free wills. Read the small print – it can cost thousands if you don’t!

Free wills. Too good to be true? Offering to prepare wills for free, or for a small fee. It’s common practice. The deals sound harmless enough. Until you look at the small print. Take High Street banks as a case in point. According to latest news reports, it’s estimated over 1.5m wills have been written…

My father left a will – do I need to apply for probate?

It’s a misnomer that Probate is not needed when someone has left a will. If the Estate is valued above the Probate threshold and the assets were held in the deceased person’s sole name, then Probate will be needed. Where do I start? 1. By finding the will. There is no legal obligation to register…

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