News Category: Wills
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Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017: draft code of practice published
The disappearance of a loved one is a deeply traumatic experience for their family and friends. As well as coping with the shock and anxiety of the situation itself, as time passes more practical problems emerge – such as paying bills on behalf of the missing person. The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 is intended…
The Residence Nil Rate Band
The Residence nil rate band The ‘Residence Nil Rate Band’ (RNRB) aims to remove more family homes from the inheritance tax (IHT) regime. The RNRB is now available for individuals who leave their main residence to direct descendants such as children or grandchildren (and this can include step-children). Where available, the RNRB will serve as a…
Powers of Attorney: Public Guardian fee refund scheme
The Office of the Public Guardian’s (“OPG”) is offering a partial refund of fees to those who paid their registration fees when applying to register lasting or enduring powers of attorney between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2017. During this period, the OPG’s operating costs came down as more people applied to register a…
A simple Will?
When meeting a Will client for the first time, the phrase “I just want a simple Will” is often deployed early in the conversation. Over the years I’ve come to accept that this defensive opening gambit is borne of the assumption that solicitors complicate everything because complexity means a higher fee. Searching questions are assumed…
Probate fees to increase by up to 12,900%
The Government has published the results of its recent consultation on probate fee reform. Full details of the consultation can be found at http://bit.ly/2lApYvW. The following sets out a brief overview of the proposals and our view of the implications. Grants of Representation A Grant of Representation (‘Grant’) is the generic name for the formal…
5 common mistakes on entering care
There are approximately 430,000 people living in care homes in the UK but for anyone speaking to the relevant statutory bodies at the time of entering care, you could be forgiven for thinking you are the only one. The fragmented nature of the care system and the benefits system mean that you are rarely provided with…