15 February 2017
Death in the Digital Age
As much as we may try to fight it, we’re in an increasingly digital age. Social media now extends into every aspect of our lives, from those notorious repetitive baby pictures to ‘in memory of’ pages to remember loved ones. We collect and share moments of our lives in the digital world.
7 February 2017
Why you should appoint a guardian in your Will
In the unfortunate and very unlikely event that both you and your partner pass away leaving children under the age of 18 (“minor children”), you might consider incorporating a “guardianship clause” into your Will. This would give you peace of mind that your children have been left in the care of someone you trust.
2 February 2017
Challenging the Status Quo? Is Rick Parfitt's third wife entitled to a claim after he purportedly changed his will five days before his death?
It has been widely reported in the press this week that British rock star Rick Parfitt, changed his will 5 days before he died on Christmas Eve to the exclusion of his current (third) wife with whom Rick had two young children. Rick also had two children with his first wife (one of whom predeceased him) and one child with his second wife. The Daily Mail reports that Rick’s estate is to be divided equally between his two adult children and his two minor children.
15 November 2016
Next of Kin: No such thing
“Next of kin” is an emotive term; regularly used in the newspapers and a status worn by some as a badge of honour. But what does it actually mean? Nothing; it’s not a legal term.
10 November 2016
Absolute Discretion - the right to be unreasonable?
Many modern trusts are fully discretionary. The trustees might be empowered to apply the trust assets “...for such one or more of the beneficiaries, in such shares, at such ages, and on such trusts as my trustees shall, in their absolute and uncontrolled discretion, decide".