7 April 2015
Robin Williams' brand protection – tax efficient way to protect publicity rights in the afterlife
Robin Williams was an outstanding actor and comedian who broke new ground with his characters and films. News of his suicide in August 2014 shocked the world and, eight months after his death, he is still making headlines as detail of the Robin Williams Trust emerges.
30 September 2014
Intestacy rules – changes to be introduced on how estates are settled without a Will
Two-thirds of adults in England and Wales pass away each year without having made a valid Will. Some people simply don't get round to making one; others don't realise that significant events in life, for example marriage, can revoke a previously made Will. Whatever the precise reason for not leaving one, such individuals are said to die 'intestate' and their estates are governed by the ‘intestacy rules’. These determine the distribution of a deceased’s estate after any debts and liabilities, funeral expenses and costs of the administration of the estate have been paid.
26 September 2014
Will you or won't you? - Passing down wealth to your children
The average Briton now delays making a Will until they are 72 years old according to a recent survey by Remember a Charity. Only three in 10 people in the UK actually have a Will and many of us simply don’t write a Will at all in spite of this being an age of increasingly complicated financial affairs, complex family dynamics and people moving between countries. The lack of engagement or willingness to arrange our affairs is somewhat surprising given the difficulties that can arise if matters are not dealt with and how these may affect the passing down of wealth to your children and through generations.
31 July 2014
Protecting children's wealth on divorce and remarriage
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sleepless in Seattle, Miracle on 34th Street – all heart-warming tales of single parents who find love again. But all are alarmingly silent about whether the parent in question took steps to protect their wealth for their children’s future.
6 May 2014
Recent disputed Will cases on the grounds of lacking capacity
A Will made by someone who lacks mental capacity is not valid. Just because someone is elderly or suffering from a mental illness does not automatically mean that they lack capacity to make a Will.