Probate (Estate Administration)

Testamentary freedom is a right in England to a person to divide their assets in their Will as they wish. Here are some of the most whacky and wonderful Wills we could find, which demonstrates how every circumstance is unique.

When it comes to considering funeral wishes in a Will, the majority of people have not ever thought about what they would want to happen when they pass away.

Over the last few years, the Trust Registration Service (TRS) has brought about a significant change in how Trusts are registered and managed. In this article, we will look at the TRS in more detail and explore some of its key features.

Losing a loved one is a painful and confusing time for all of us, and if your loved one was a close relative and they did not leave a Will, or you are an executor under their Will, you may be wondering what you need to do and who you need to speak to.

It is increasingly common that people write their Wills and when they come to us for a review, they know they have a Will in place but they have no idea who wrote it, where it is, or whether they retained the original themselves.

In order to save money, especially when the cost of living is so high, lots of people may consider writing their own Wills.

Enduring Powers of Attorney

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A Lasting Power of Attorney (“LPA”) is essential for anyone at any age. LPAs are legal documents that allow you to appoint someone to make decisions for you (called your “attorneys”). When it comes to finances; attorneys can be appointed either because you would like assistance (for convenience), or because you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself because you have had an accident, an illness, or not become fully conscious again after a surgery. Regarding health decisions, an attorney can only act if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. Do I need one or two LPAs? A property and financial affairs LPA gives power to make decisions about things like managing your bank account, paying bills and selling your home. A health and welfare LPA gives your attorney powers for decisions regarding your daily routine and medical care. You can choose to create an LPA for each of these or for both. It is also possible to restrict a financial LPA to deal with your business decisions only. See Business LPAs for more information. What happens without an LPA? While none of us like to think about the worst happening to us, it is vital to put these documents in place to protect ourselves as well as our loved ones. Without these documents in place, an application could be made to the Court of Protection to appoint a Deputy. This can be a lengthy and expensive process, and results in a loss of control over who makes decisions on your behalf. In the short term, having nothing in place could be catastrophic. Bank accounts can be frozen (including joint accounts), bills may remain unpaid for many months, and businesses may fail. Health and care decisions could also be made which do not meet with your wishes. Who can I appoint as my Attorney? You can specify who you wish to appoint as your attorney. This could be a relative, friend or a professional. You may choose to appoint the same attorney, to cover both your financial and health decisions. You may also decide to have a different person or people acting under each type of LPA.  Contact us today to book a free no obligation initial consultation to discuss Lasting Powers of Attorney.

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