24 March 2020
Coronavirus and the perils of signing your Will
The news is dominated at the moment with the dreaded C word – COVID-19. Our TV screens, phones and newspapers are filled with the death count, panic buying and now “lockdown”. For many, being isolated or maintaining social distancing means that you may well be thinking about your future.
28 January 2020
Intestacy: The statutory legacy increases – what does this mean?
The UK government has confirmed that the amount a surviving spouse or civil partner is entitled to receive in England and Wales where a person dies intestate (without a valid will) leaving children will be increased. The statutory legacy will be increased by £20,000 from £250,000 to £270,000. The changes will come into force on 6 February 2020.
5 December 2019
Funeral fall-outs and body battles – Who is in charge?
In most cases, after the death of a loved one, family members and those close to the deceased come together to agree a fitting and respectful ‘send-off’ for the deceased, whether that involves a funeral, burial, cremation, memorial service or any other way of saying ‘goodbye’.
6 November 2019
Wobbly will wording – common drafting errors and failure to update your will
In kitchen drawers, banks and (to a much lesser extent) solicitors’ strong-rooms across the land, rest thousands of invalid and out-of-date wills, just waiting to disappoint the family and run up legal costs when we die.
22 October 2019
Probate: I’ve been appointed as an executor under a Will – what are the responsibilities?
If you've been named as executor in a Will there are various considerations to bear in mind. Acting as an executor can be complex and time-consuming as well as entailing significant responsibility. We look at the key responsibilities of executors.
