Care Fees
We receive many queries daily on care fees assessment and how a home can be protected from care fees and whether it counts towards the means test carried out by the local authority, so we thought we would put together some information for you. Say you are a couple and live in a home worth […]
Hotchpot Clauses
A testator may want to make gifts of money to one or more of their children during their lifetime for a number of reasons, for example to loan money to the child or even assist with a house purchase. The monies would either be given as a loan or a gift by the parent. It […]
What Happens if you don’t have a Property and Financial Affairs Power of Attorney in place?
It is a common misconception that a Property and Financial Affairs LPA is only needed for those that are of an older age. The reality is that capacity could be lost at any time due to a serious accident, stroke or even a degenerative condition such as Alzheimer’s. If you should lose capacity and there […]
The Role of a Trustee
What is a trustee? The role of a trustee is someone formally appointed to manage assets of a trust for the benefit of others (in this case the beneficiaries) and to administer the trust in accordance with the terms of the trust. There is an ongoing obligation to act in accordance with the terms of the trust […]
Where will my Pets go if i die?
When you think about making provisions for your estate after your death, what will often come to your mind is who should be your executor, trustee, whether there are any money gifts or specific gifts you want to make to family and friends and for those of you with minor children, the appointment of guardians.[/caption] […]
I have an Enduring Power of Attorney, do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
You may have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) in which you have appointed people you know and trust, or a professional, to act as your attorney. This may be to help you manage your affairs now or limited to allow your attorneys to make decisions for you in future if you lose capacity to […]
What is a Guardian or Guardianship?
Most of us have probably come across the term “guardian” or “guardianship,” but have you ever stopped to think about whether this is something you need to put in place? As a parent, it may be something you think you may never have to consider but the safest option is to make provisions for your […]
What Affect Does Marriage and Divorce Have on Your Will?
Many people don’t realise the affects getting married or divorced can have on your estate whether you die with a Will or intestate (without a Will). This article aims to address the ways in which either a marriage or divorce can affect the terms of your Will. Marriage A common misconception is that getting married […]
Mitigating Inheritance Tax
Inheritance tax (IHT) is payable on death or at certain stages during lifetime. For the purposes of this article we will look at the IHT charge payable on death which relates to the deceased’s estate. On death, the executors will calculate the value of the estate and as well as including the value of any […]
Severance of Joint Tenancy
We come across queries on the subject of Severance of Joint Tenancy on a daily basis so we thought this article might help answer those common questions or misconceptions. If you hold your property as joint tenants with another person, you may decide that you want to now change the ownership so it is held […]