Weird Wills and their legacies…
The purpose of a Will is to distribute your estate after your death according to your wishes so it’s an important thing to do to protect your loved ones. How you do this is entirely up to you and there are very few restrictions on what you can and cannot leave to friends or family. […]
Addressing misconceptions about LPAs
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is only in force during your lifetime, it is a document which gives powers to your attorney(s) to make decisions for you if you are unable to make them yourself. There are two types of LPA although there is no obligation to create both: One that governs your property […]
The effect of Coronavirus on Will Signings
We have written blogs before about the importance of the Will writing process and the legalities involved. The process and the documents themselves are tied up in some pretty ancient legislation as they’re still based on the Wills Act of 1837, written in Queen Victoria’s reign and many of the elements were designed to protect […]
Why a Will? Easing the way for your loved ones after you’ve gone
Despite the fact that having a Will has a number of very clear benefits – not least of which is that you can choose what happens to your estate after you die – statistics still show that over half the UK population die without making a valid Will and approximately 5 million people don’t even […]
During Covid-19 – an update
I think it’s safe to say that these are unprecedented times, we are seeing something we have never seen across the whole world with the Covid-19 virus and in response we see businesses, schools and our countries infrastructure have to change as well. I have already received a lot of calls from people concerned about […]
What happened last year…
This month I thought I’d share with you a round up of all the pieces of legislation, news and developments related to estate planning from last year. Small changes happen all the time which is why it’s important to employ a Will Writer who understands legal implications and is committed to continuous professional development. As […]
The alh legal journey
#shecan365 is an amazing website that showcases female entrepreneurs and everything they can achieve. Beginning on International Women’s Day 2019, SheCan365 will bring you a daily interview with an inspirational woman in business. Told in exactly 365 words, each story will celebrate a female entrepreneur whose superpower is showing up every day – making the […]
What if my executor has lost mental capacity?
When you name executors in your Will, you hope that they will be fit to carry out their duties when the time comes. But what if your executor is unable to carry out their duties due to illness? Recently, the court has considered whether an executor’s attorney (appointed under a Lasting Power of Attorney) can […]
DIY VERSUS CALLING IN THE EXPERTS
One thing I have learned in my 8 years as a Will Writer is that everybody’s circumstances are different. Any Will is valid as long as it is written and signed in accordance with the criteria in section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, but this does not necessarily mean that the Will meets the […]
Common Lasting Power of Attorney Errors
Lasting Powers of Attorney are complex legal documents and care must be taken when drafting them to ensure that are completed correctly. The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) will reject any forms that are incorrect and don’t meet their standards. These are the most common mistakes that people make when completing the forms: To […]
Invest in Trust
Fraud is a word we hear a lot these days and it’s a frightening reality that with the digital age fraud, including identity theft, is becoming more common. In the UK the unauthorised financial fraud losses totalled over £700 million in 2017. When it comes to estate management there are numerous scams for cheap Wills […]
Dealing with Personal Chattels
There are many legal terms that can make it difficult to understand your Will. These words and phrases are often there to ensure that the Will goes through probate smoothly. One common term used in Will writing is ‘Personal Chattels’. There is a legal definition of these, but the common usage definition works just as […]
Celeb Wills and their odd requests!
Appointing Trustees or Executors
For your Will to be valid, it must name executors. These are the people or organisations who carry out your wishes when you die. It is important that you choose the right executors for you. If there is a possibility of a trust being created in the Will, then you will also need to appoint […]
Resolve to make this Resolution in 2019…
I don’t know if you’re the type of person who makes New Year’s Resolutions (or if you’ve already broken them by now!) but even if you’re not there is one you should consider making for 2019 – getting your estate in order. If you don’t have a Will or if yours is out of date […]
