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Questions you should ask your children to encourage them to make a will

Parents want the best for their children and, in general, encourage them to plan ahead and think about the future. A part of that which, sadly, is often neglected, is making a will. You may have made a will yourself, but have you encouraged your children to...

Duties of a trustee

A trustee is an individual who acts as a caretaker for assets held within a trust. They are responsible for managing the finances of the trust in accordance with the instructions given when the trust was originally created.  It is important that a...

Blended families - why it's important to have a will

In a recent study, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) found that an increase in what are known as ‘blended families’ is leading to increased complexity in estate planning. Blended families are where there are children from...

Modern families and family law

The excitement and thrill of planning a new baby can - for some couples - turn to heartache as they experience difficulties in conceiving. If you are considering fertility treatment, donor conception or surrogacy, there are certain important legal aspects of...

Family disputes - how can you settle arguments over inheritance?

In recent years the number of people contesting wills has increased dramatically. One reason is that it is common for families today to be structured in a less traditional way. Second marriages are more common than they were in previous generations and it is...

Tax exempt gifts at Christmas

Christmas is a time when friends and family come together and often swap presents between loved ones. Many people this year are still feeling the financial repercussions of COVID-19 and are deciding to gift away cash gifts, rather than physical presents...

The bank of mum and dad: The tax implications

First-time house buyers are reported to be increasingly turning to the bank of mum and dad to help them supplement their house deposits. If you are a parent considering giving your children money for their house deposit, below are a few things that you...

Where there's a will, there's a way!

Santa may be bringing your child their favourite toys this Christmas, but what would the law be bringing them if you passed away without making a will?  If you are, what has been dubbed in modern times as, a “blended family”, you may well...

We've come a long way, but inheritance tax still exists!

In 2003, Essex Pride was established, and how far the law has come even since then! It is now illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in the workplace under the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations. Same-sex couples undergoing fertility...

What happens if you don't make a will?

The law does not require you to make a will but if you die without having made one, your estate, which includes all your property, money and other personal possessions, will be distributed in accordance with the law and your wishes will not be taken into...

The use of trusts in wills

We are all well aware of the need to have a professional will in place to make things easier for loved ones, but a well written will can also protect your estate from forces that may otherwise be beyond your control. Trusts have been used for a number of...

Second marriages - an inheritance dilemma?

The number of people marrying for the second time or even third time is high than ever, but can bring difficult decisions. Second marriages often leave spouses torn between the need to provide for their present partner and ensure that children from their...

Funding Litigation

There are now many ways of paying for your dispute. We set out below the options available and some of the pros and cons of each option. Alternatively, if you would like to discuss your case and your options please contact a member of the team on...

Registration of land

The Land Registry started the registration of property in 1925 and gradually since then an increasing amount of land has been registered. Compulsory registration, initially restricted to sales and long leases, was phased in on a regional basis and in recent...

Planning for the inevitable

"I'm not afraid to die; I just don't want to be there when it happens!"  We may laugh at Woody Allen’s witty observation but the fact is that we don’t like to talk about what will happen after we die.  As a firm of...

Lifes inevitabilities

The fact that you will need a funeral is one of life’s inevitabilities.  However, the cost of even the most basic funeral is out of reach for many people.  Funeral costs have risen, on average, by 7.32% per annum over the last five years...

Secret Trusts

Secret Trusts have been used to conceal gifts on death from public scrutiny. When someone dies, a Grant of Probate (if obtained) makes that person’s will a public document, available for public scrutiny. Originally, Secret Trusts were used for...