A FLIT based Fairy Story
If you are on your second marriage with children from a previous relationship then I have a story for you… Once Upon a Time in a Land Far Far Away Cinderella and Snow White waited with trepidation as they watched their father marry the wicked step mother (I mean deep down she was a lovely […]
Funeral costs are on the up…
Talking to our families about death and funerals is always emotional. But as money expert Martyn Lewis says – this is just because they love us. There are 2 reasons why we should all plan our funerals in advance: With funeral costs rising far in excess of the annual rate of inflation and almost 10 […]
Can You Disinherit Your Children?
You might have heard about the case of Heather Ilot, who was awarded £164,000 from her mother’s estate after a decade of court battles even though the mother had written her out of her Will. There was much debate about this case in the news in July 2015 when the final decision was made that […]
Getting Married? What Happens to Your Will? – The “In Contemplation of Marriage” Clause
You have made your Will and have decided how much each of your children will receive in the event of your death and have also favourably considered a few friends and some charitable causes. And then you decide to get remarried. What happens to your Will? The general rule is, that when you get married […]
Planning on Setting Up Lasting Powers of Attorney? There are New Forms
In a previous article we have discussed why someone would want to set up Lasting Powers of Attorney as well as a few basic types of LPAs. (What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and why do I need one). We have also discussed the importance of LPAs for Business in the article Business Lasting […]
Flexible Life Interest Trust – An Ideal Solution for Blended Families
A Flexible Life Interest Trust is very useful for blended families, where the testator is concerned about their partner leaving assets to future children or step-children after their death. It can also be used to potentially reduce inheritance tax. As it is New Year and we all need cheering up – here is a fairy […]
Charles Dickens’ Will and Funeral Plan – His Final Plot
Death is said to be the great leveller – even when it comes to the paperwork. The private life of Charles Dickens would have made the perfect plot for one of his own stories. His novels made him famous around the world, and he created some of the greatest characters of all time – including […]
What happens to your business when you’re gone? – Business Succession Planning
At the beginning of 2015 there were an estimated 5.3 million small or medium sized businesses in the UK. It is therefore very important that business owners create an effective Business Succession Plan to protect their business and decide what happens to their business in the event of their death or should they no longer […]
What Happens When You Die Without a Will
Dying without a Will, also known as intestacy, can be a difficult and costly process. Your Will is a legally binding document and making a Will ensures that you control where your assets go when you die. Without a Will, the courts have to be involved and this is lengthy as well as costly. The […]
The Protective Property Trust – Protect your assets for your children
Imagine the following family situation: Fred and Wilma, a happily married couple, one daughter, Pebbles. They want to make mirror Wills leaving all to their daughter Pebbles when they die. However, I point out to them that, if Fred dies young, Wilma could fall in love with (say) Barney, who has a son Bam Bam. She could […]
Bizarre Requests from Beyond the Grave
Most of us want to leave our assets to our children and other loved ones and in most cases these consist of a house (with contents), some money, maybe some jewellery, pictures or works of art. But there are some people who take “leaving things to your loved ones” to a whole new level. Here […]
Business Lasting Powers of Attorney – could your business run without you?
Are you a freelancer, sole trader or small business owner? If yes, have you thought about what would happen if you were suddenly not able to make decisions for the day-to-day running of your business, say through accident or severe illness? Many small business owners believe that their spouse or employees could simply take over […]
Who will raise your children if you die before they are 18?
Have you ever considered who will look after your children if you die while they’re still under age? Who will make sure they are raised the way you would wish and only has their best interests at heart? Many people don’t want to think about these issues as they are considered morbid and negative thinking. […]
What is a Trust and do I need one?
A Trust is a legal arrangement in which a person (the Settlor) transfers the ownership of some of his or her assets to one or more Trustees, who manage the assets on behalf of one or more Beneficiaries (who will receive the assets or income). There are many reasons why this would be done: The […]
Have you considered a Funeral Plan?
All through human history people have been planning what to do with their remains once they have died. From following ancient traditions to unusual and quirky funeral ideas, the list is endless. Going back thousands of years, Egyptians built large burial chambers to prepare for their afterlife, whereas Vikings prepared their traditional longboats for a […]
