News / 13.06.2019 R.E.S.P.E.C.T my Will NINE months after soul singer Aretha Franklin died, three Wills have been located at her home. After her family thought that she had died intestate (with no Will) this should have been a welcome disco... Read More

News / 01.05.2019 Probate Court Fee Rise Back in the summer of 2017 I was warning of the turmoil which would be brought in by the proposed extortionate rise in probate court fees. Thankfully this rise did not happen and the fees remained at... Read More

News / 17.04.2019 The Problem WITH “Next of Kin” – Lasting Powers of Attorney and Advance Decisions We are all familiar with the phrase “next of kin”. Indeed hospitals in the past have asked “who is next of kin?”  and they have then sought to ascribe to this person a p... Read More

News / 01.03.2019 Who to Choose? If I had to pin point what causes more problems than anything else when administering an estate, I would probably say disagreements between the Executors. Executors have the legal duty to administer... Read More

News / 22.10.2018 When Should You Review Your Will? Congratulations, you have prepared your Will! However, the buck does not stop there. It is very important that you keep your Will at the back of your mind and review it on a regular basis to see if it... Read More

News / 03.09.2018 John McCain’s Funeral Raises Two Big Questions For us All At the end of August, the funeral service was held in Washington of the veteran US Senator John McCain. He certainly excited strong passions on both sides of Congress. He should, however, give us all... Read More

News / 06.08.2018 Cohabitee whose partner left her nothing in his Will is awarded a cottage and £204,000 by the Court in inheritance claim Earlier this year, the High Court in Cardiff made a substantial award to a woman who had made a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The case of Thompson v. Ragg... Read More

News / 03.08.2018 Lasting Powers of Attorney and Letters Containing Advance Decisions Now Much More Important Following Supreme Court Decision At the end of July 2018, the Supreme Court gave its judgment in a case concerning whether doctors need to obtain a Court order before withdrawing food and water from a patient who is in a persistent v... Read More

News / 17.07.2018 Act Now, Lasting Powers of Attorney The lawyers organisation Solicitors for the Elderly has recently published a report warning that the UK is heading for an incapacity crisis, with a widening gap between the rising number of people l... Read More

News / 13.06.2018 Can Anyone Successfully Challenge Your Will After You Die? If you sensibly go to the time and trouble of making a Will, do you need to worry that someone may challenge it after you die?   English Law values the freedom of individuals to dispose of their... Read More

News / 12.06.2018 Putting your House in Order with Wills and Powers of Attorney Ensuring you have up to date Wills and powers of attorney is essential for all farmers. The key to succession planning is working with your professional advisors to make sure that you can achieve your... Read More

News / 08.03.2018 Baby Boomers and Inheritance Tax Planning A recent report by the Resolution Foundation assessed the role that inter-generational family transfers, ie gifts and inheritances, will play in addressing the living standards challenge that Britain... Read More