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Currently, wills must be witnessed by two people. However, self-isolation can make this difficult, so the Government has announced that they are urgently look to change the requirements around witnessing wills. However, in the meantime, find out how you...
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2020 Budget on 11 March 2020 and announced that the government will be increasing the Capital Gains Tax allowance for the 2020/2021 tax year. What is Capital Gains Tax? Capital Gains Tax is...
The COVID-19 outbreak is causing an influx of attorneys having to take up their appointment under a Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney due to the donor self-isolating. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA is a legal document which...
We know the importance of having your affairs in order can provide you with peace of mind, especially at a particularly unnerving time. The government has issued guidance on social distancing measures and the country should be taking steps to reduce the...
A Canadian court has recently upheld that instructions written on a McDonald’s napkin was a man’s last will and testament. So, could you do the same? In theory, yes you can, provided that the will is properly signed by you and two...
Despite the avalanche of information that’s readily available about later life planning, it can be a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack when it comes to finding the right solution for your family. In a one-hour, one-off fee...
Recent statistics confirm that 82% of people have not yet made lasting powers of attorney (LPA). An LPA is a legal document that enables you to appoint one or more people as your attorneys. Attorneys are able to assist you in making decisions or can...
At 25 years old, this week I decided it was time to get my life admin in order and write my own will. Having previously worked in a Contested Probate team, and now working in the Wills, Trust and Probate team for over a year, really, I should have had a...
I recently read an intriguing BBC News article outlining the difficulties families have when accessing a deceased’s cryptocurrency. What is cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency is a type of digital currency and does not have a physical form. It is...
Last week, after a devoted Norwich City FC fan sadly passed away, it became clear that he had left a legacy in his will to buy all the players a drink. Did you know there are different types of legacies which could be included in a will, depending on how...
The House of Commons ruled this week (15 January 2020) that the statutory legacy for partners under the intestacy rules will increase to £270,000 as of 6 February 2020. The update, which was due in October 2019, has been welcomed by the Law Society....
The International Longevity Centre (ILC) studies the impact in society of people living longer. According to the ILC, ageism is deterring older people from spending, to the detriment of local economies and, therefore, to the detriment of the economic...
I recently read a report by the Co-op called “ The changing face of UK funerals ”. It was interesting to note that the UK is saying goodbye to traditional funeral services. 36% of the people surveyed stated that they would prefer for their loved...
I have been saying for about 10 months that 53 is barely young middle-aged these days. I am now fortified in that view by the Office for National Statistics. They are asking whether 70 is the new age 65 given that, on average, a man aged 65 can expect to...
So, the first Winter election since 1974 and the first to take place in December since 1923, has returned a Conservative Government. But few would have expected a majority of 80, thanks to the Tories winning so many seats in the traditional Labour heartlands...
With the countdown to Christmas getting closer, many people will have started their Christmas shopping. However, have you thought about giving specific Christmas gifts to your loved ones, to reduce the size of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes? When...
A lot of people may feel concerned about the prospect of having to speak to a solicitor. It may be that you want to discuss a family issue, a dispute you are having with a neighbour or wanting to prepare a will. Solicitors are here to provide the support...
I recently read an article by the National Geographic which outlined the environmental toll on the different types of funeral options – burial, cremation and burial at sea etc. Cremations are on the rise due to baby boomers and the ever-adapting end...
I read an article in the Sunday Telegraph on 13 October 2019 about the real crisis in the care system. It informed readers that vulnerable people who have been paying for their care home but are no longer able to pay, and no longer responsible for their own...
It has been reported by the Financial Times that Lloyds Bank has discovered approximately 9,000 wills in its database that they did not know they had. As a result, many deceaseds’ estates may have been distributed to incorrect beneficiaries! Lloyds...
This week, the Secretary of State, Justice Robert Buckland, announced the controversial proposed increase in probate fees has been dropped. As a result, the statutory instrument which has been awaiting Parliamentary approval will be withdrawn. Theresa May...
The Office of National Statistics has recently released statistics regarding the UK’s population. Did you know that the UK’s population has reached an estimated 66.4 million?! Interestingly, the statistics show that in 2018, there were 12.8...
Power of attorney abuses have reached a new high, according to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) figures. This is quite disturbing, but in our view is not that uncommon and is a salutary lesson to ensure that you choose the right people to help you...
Chancellor Sajid Javid certainly hit the news last week after he speculated that getting rid of Inheritance Tax was on his mind. What is Inheritance Tax? Inheritance Tax is a tax incurred on a deceased’s estate. An estate is made up of all of...
Did you know it is estimated that around 40% of adults die each year without making a will? Did you also know that even for those who do have a will in place, some dying wishes cannot be acted upon if formal rules have not been followed? This is even...
The recent news of Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband trying to make a financial claim against her estate, eight years after her passing, provides a stern reminder about the importance of making a will. In 2011, Amy Winehouse died without making a will....
Recently published newspaper articles have contained details of political parties’ proposals, in respect of overhauling Inheritance Tax . Inheritance Tax is a widely debated subject and one which is not often agreed upon. Inheritance tax is a subject...
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has released updated guidance for attorneys who are appointed under a property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney (LPA). This is for the attorneys who are making investment decisions on behalf of someone...
I was saddened to read last month that there is doubt as to whether George Michael had sufficient capacity to make his last will. He made the will in 2013, and it has been called into question on the basis of his possible consumption of drugs and alcohol....
A will made in a Wetherspoons pub, by a man leaving his estate to his taxi driver, has been declared invalid. Gary Mendez, 57, agreed to leave everything to his taxi driver, Dean Hughes. He made the will in his local Wetherspoons pub, over a pint, months...
Step-sisters, Anna Winter and Deborah Cutler have gone to the High Court to fight over their potential inheritance after elderly parents, John Scarle and Ann Scarle died from hypothermia at their home in Leigh-on-Sea. John and Ann died without leaving a...
In May, Rachel Thompson was victorious in her legal battle with Apple. The process was costly and lasted three years. Mrs Thompson requested access to her late husband’s Apple account that contained 4,500 photos and 900 videos. Apple refused Mrs...
It has been alleged that comic book writer, Stan Lee, was a victim of elder abuse by his former manager, Keya Morgan. Morgan has been charged with five counts of elder abuse, including false imprisonment, forgery and fraud. Unfortunately, financial abuse...
When you are disputing a loved one’s inheritance, emotions will often run high. However, it is rare that someone will take such drastic steps as to murder a sibling. Last week, Richard Martin was convicted of his brother’s murder and was...
My previous blog, “Aretha Franklin dies without making a will ”, concluded that Aretha’s family were left with the uncertainty of not knowing how her estate would be divided, as they believed that the soul singer had not left a will. ...
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has recently released its safeguarding strategy for 2019 to 2025. The OPG’s overall aim is to protect people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves....
We’ve all heard the famous slogan “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” but what happens if your dog’s life is longer than yours? Pets are undeniably considered a member of their owner’s family, with recent reports...
The Ministry of Justice announced that from 4 March 2019 all Grants of Probate issued will be subject to a change in appearance, but what is a Grant of Probate? What is a Grant of Probate? A Grant of Probate is a legal document which is sealed by a Probate...
New probate fees to obtain a Grant of Probate, which were expected to come into effect on 1 April, have now been delayed indefinitely. The delay has been attributed to ‘pressure on Parliamentary time’ resulting from the Brexit debate. The...
In February, I blogged about the new probate application fee structure, which was set to be introduced on 1 April 2019. At that time, there was an increasing amount of speculation as to whether the increase would come into effect on time, due to the ongoing...
One hundred years ago, the Sex Disqualification Act was passed and this allowed women to become solicitors and barristers. The women that fought for this change were pioneers and, because of their determination, I have been able to undertake a job that...
I have to admit that until recently I haven’t considered making a will for another 10 to 15 years, which is why I wasn’t surprised to read that according to Prosperitas Financial Solutions, 87% of under 35s do not have a will in place. When...
Informal and digital ‘do-it-yourself’ wills, which do not satisfy the requirements of a valid will, are allowed to be admitted to probate in Australia and other jurisdictions. In the Australian case of Nichol v Nichol (2017), the deceased left a...
When a person dies, many people assume that their next of kin will deal with administering the deceased’s estate, but often this is not the case. When a person makes a will, they will appoint executors who will be responsible for carrying out the...
Assisted dying is a contentious issue ethically. However, it can also provide problems from a legal point of view. Most will be aware of the possible criminal implications that can arise, but there are also issues regarding who inherits the...
My career in law formally started when I joined Birkett Long in 2016 in the Court of Protection and Inheritance Disputes team. However, if you ask my mum, she would tell you that it started the day I watched the film about Erin Brockovich. Like many young...
Cara O’Donoghue, a trainee solicitor in our Wills, Trusts and Probate team is currently in her second seat in her training contract. Throughout her years of studying, working as a paralegal, and now close to qualifying, she tells us about her journey. ...
A group called AWWOC (Ageing Well without Children) has been formed, with the aim to raise awareness of issues that can arise where vulnerable or elderly people do not have children, or children nearby, to help them with care or financial matters. ...
Research from Direct Line suggests that 1 in 4 people would challenge a will if they did not get what they think is fair. These figures are not surprising given there has been an increasing number of claims in the High Court over a deceased’s estate....
The Secretary of State has announced that the cost of obtaining a death certificate in England and Wales has increased from £4.00 to £11.00 for each certificate required. What is a death certificate? A death certificate is an official...
Dementia costs are set to triple by 2040 if our current care and support arrangements go unchanged. What can we do to make provision for ourselves? We need to ensure that whatever the financial situation of the country, we do our best to protect ourselves...
Following his passing on Tuesday last week, the BBC reported that the fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, has passed a portion of his estate of around £150 million to his cat, Choupette. Though they have not specified how much Choupette stands to...
Following Karl Lagerfeld’s death, his cat Choupette is reportedly set to inherit a chunk of the fashion designer’s £150 million fortune. Chanel icon Lagerfeld’s multi million pound fortune could end up in the feline’s paws, if...
Why do I need a will? A will enables you to leave a clear instruction as to how you wish your estate to be distributed, and can ensure provision for family and friends. If you die without a valid will in place, then the law decides who inherits everything...
With the country celebrating Valentine’s day this week, love is in the air for many couples across England and Wales. For those planning to get down on one knee and pop the all-important question, have they thought about how their marriage will affect...
As you will have read in many recent articles and blogs, it is highly likely that the probate fee will increase substantially very soon. You may recall a couple of years ago that the proposed fees to deal with a person’s estate (to obtain a grant of...
In 2016, the government announced a probate fee hike of exponential proportions, with the fee of estates worth over £2m being fixed at £20,000. With the snap general election and Brexit looming, this plan was scrapped, and was seemingly dead in...
I saw in the news today that a study by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that half of UK adults cannot identify any of the key risk factors for dementia. This is a worrying statistic. With more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK,...
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, Lucy Frazer, has recently announced an increase in probate fees. Currently, where an estate is worth over £5,000, fixed fees apply of £215 for probate applications made by individuals and...
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has recently released plans to become almost entirely digital, with paper being a rare exception by 2025. This includes how they interact and offer their services and the creation and registration of lasting powers of...
A recent study by the Wills and Probate Consumer Research Report 2018 found that clients are often being misled with regards to fees by providers in the unregulated sector. 80% of those who made a will using a will writer or other provider in the unregulated...
A recent survey has stated that the British public is not ready for artificial intelligence (AI) to draft their wills. 90% of those who participated in the survey stated they would not want a will drafted using AI alone, without any human input. In England...
I often get asked about the process of making or updating a will, so thought I would share the regular questions I get asked, as it is so important to protect your loved ones and assets by obtaining specialist advice. When should I think about making or...
From 1 February, we are taking part in “Make a Will month 2019” with Colchester and Ipswich Hospital Charity. As part of our scheme, the usual cost of a will is waived and a donation to the Cancer Centre in Colchester Hospital will be paid...
I have previously reported on the on-going criminal investigation into Mr Steven Long and his Suffolk-based business brand, Universal Wealth Preservation. With that investigation unlikely to conclude swiftly, there is concurrently progress in the civil...
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Santander £32.8 million for its flawed probate and bereavement services. Santander was found to have stalled or failed to complete the probate process despite being informed of the death of customers...
Avicii, the Swedish international DJ, died in April 2018 after taking his own life. Legal documents have now been made public by the Swedish Tax Agency, which state his parents, Klas Bergling and Anki Liden, are set to inherit his estate worth an estimated...
The overwhelming demands of an executor were recently highlighted and they did not make pleasant reading for those handling an estate without legal advice. At the end of November, the Office of Tax Simplification published their review on inheritance tax....
It was announced recently that the government plans to reintroduce a hike in probate fees. Plans were dropped back in 2017 ahead of the general election after a furious backlash, as it was felt that the increase in price with regards to the application for a...
Royal London has released new statistics stating that 59% of parents either do not have a will or have one that is out of date. When someone dies without a valid will, the intestacy rules are followed, which sets out who will inherit your estate. However,...
Thinking of making a gift to someone this Christmas…Have you thought about Inheritance Tax? Gifts are classified as anything which has value, for example, property, possessions and money, or anything which causes loss in value when transferred, for...
At the end of last month, I highlighted the difficulties that a number of individuals were having with Universal Wealth Preservation and Mr Steven Long – including the number of aliases through which they acted. The issues surrounding Universal Wealth...
Comedian Ricky Gervais told a US show that he won’t be leaving a will in respect of his assets, which are estimated to be around £60million. The star of The Office and Extras confessed that he has told his individual family members that he will...
We have recently received enquiries relating to Universal Wealth Preservation, who are trust and estate planners. Over the past decade, they or their directors have become trustees for many individuals’ estates. They had offered to handle...
BBC news recently reported that Guildford has been named the “Inheritance ‘Capital’ of the UK”. During the 2015/16 tax year, as many as 658 families in the Surrey town were subject to inheritance tax costing them, on average, a...
We have all heard the news that there will be another royal baby next spring and, whilst the seventh in line to the throne is unlikely to be our future king or queen, there is no doubt that they will be adequately financially provided for in the future....
Psychiatrist forged patient’s will to inherit her £1.3 Million estate A NHS psychiatrist, Dr Alemi, has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 5 years in prison after exploiting her 84 year old patient, Mrs Belham. Mrs Belham was...
Wow, skydiving is on the Mirror’s over 55’s dream bucket list. I can really recommend this, it is amazing and you feel like you are flying rather than falling. Now, not to put a dampener on the adrenaline rush, but if you are thinking of...
The Mirror listed an over 55’s dream bucket list and quite a lot of the list involves either finding love, lust or divorce. These are very personal things that can have a huge impact on one’s life and needs careful planning all round to ensure...
I was shocked to read a news article recently which said that there is a website that promises to write a will in just nine minutes for £20! Sounds like a great deal! However, hidden in the website’s terms and conditions is a clause...
As Campaign Supporters of “Remember a Charity in Your Will”, the team here at Birkett Long was pleased to find out that charity giving within wills was at an all-time high. The figures released to coincide with Remember a Charity in Your Will...
Judge rules Hawaiian “princess” cannot manage her finances and protects her from financial abuse 92 year old, Abigail Kawananakoa, who native Hawaiians consider to be a “princess”, has been found to lack mental capacity to make...
Soul singer, Aretha Franklin, died last month aged 76 without making a will, despite being worth millions. As her family move on from her funeral, they are left with the uncertainty of not knowing how her estate will be divided. Aretha’s attorney,...
A recent case highlights the importance of keeping your will up to date after two minor children had to make a claim against their father’s estate for financial provision. However, despite the estate being worth £3.5 million, the court only...
Many of the Wills, Trusts and Probate team at Birkett Long are members of STEP, which is the professional association for practitioners specialising in inheritance and succession planning. STEP has recently issued a blog about Universal Asset...
Losing capacity and end of life care are not things we like to think about, but planning ahead can help family, friends and medical professionals understand your wishes and feelings if you become unable to convey them. There are two documents we are often...
You can appoint attorneys to manage your property and financial affairs if you lose capacity, or to assist you whilst you have capacity. When making a Lasting Power of Attorney you are referred to as the donor and, typically, it would be family member or...
There have been many high profile cases in recent years in which executors have endeavoured to claim Business Property Relief (BPR) on let holiday cottages, in a bid to save on Inheritance Tax – all of which have failed. Until now, let cottages have...
To make a will or not make a will: that is the question. There are a lot of reasons why people think that they do not need a will, however, for the majority of us there are a number of important reasons why we should. If you do not make a...
A power of attorney is a document that enables you to appoint someone to act on your behalf in respect of a transaction. This is a general power of attorney. If you have a GPA, it is very important to be aware that if you would like it to continue to be in...
In a recent report , 35% of those surveyed disagreed that their home should be used to fund care in the future. However, in a 5 year period the percentage of people who thought that the state would pay for future care dropped from 51% to...
Many of us will be familiar with the above refrain and recall the music hall tones in which it was sung by Paul McCartney. Many of the generation that first heard that song, 50 years ago, are now likely to be well over 64 themselves, some in their 70s and...
According to George RR Martin “not today" – A Game of Thrones It is perhaps not surprising that generally, as a nation, we do not like to discuss the issue of death. Probably because it is a sad time. Although, as sad as it may be, if we...
Only a few weeks ago, the Law Gazette highlighted the importance of seeking professional legal advice when drafting a will, to ensure that a person’s wishes are truly reflected and the correct procedures are carried out. With today’s online...
As it’s Essex Pride week, it is important to reflect on the laws that have provided equal legal footing for LGBT families. The introduction of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and the Gender Recognition Act 2004...
This scenario may sound familiar… Ross and Carol were married and had one son, Ben. After 8 years of marriage Carol met Susan for whom she started to have feelings. Subsequently, Ross and Carol divorced with a clean break, and Carol and Susan later...
I was watching the news last night and saw that one family is still awaiting accommodation a year on from the Grenfell tower disaster. The report stated that the process had been slowed because unfortunately the leaseholder had Alzheimer’s and did...
It’s so important as an LGBT+ couple to make sure your partner is provided for adequately in all circumstances. Here is an example of how a cohabitation can go wrong without an appropriate will: Mr Smith and Mr Jones have been in a relationship for...
Cohabitees do not have the same rights as married couples in life or on death, and this is a concept that is largely overlooked when people live together as ‘husband and wife’ but do not enter into a legal arrangement. There have been two...
Dying Matters is an important week and there are many serious articles and things that everyone should consider. However, I thought I would share some interesting funeral wishes and sayings. Some familiar sayings: To kick the bucket: There...
