Lasting powers of attorney (LPA) are a tried and trusted way of enabling a person to nominate someone to look after their affairs if they ever lose the capacity to do so themselves at some point in the future. They have helped millions of families achieve peace of mind over many years. While the vast
There are many reasons why someone may require assistance in administering their financial affairs. The appointment of a legal representative to conduct your affairs is most usually achieved by creating a Power of Attorney. However, for those whose finances are very simple this is not always necessary; the Department for Work & Pensions has an
A married couple have been allowed to remove a clause from a trust document that could have cost their family £650,000 in tax liability. The issue arose after the husband set up a trust for which both he and his wife were among the trustees. When drawing up the trust, he decided to appoint certain
The Court of Protection exists to safeguard the interests of people who may be unable to look after themselves fully or make decisions on their own behalf. Sometimes the court may defend them against individuals seeking to exploit them, but it can also protect them against the heavy handed actions of official bodies, as illustrated
A woman has won a legal dispute with a charity over the meaning of her mother’s will. It means she will inherit an extra £325,000. The case involved a woman who made a will leaving her daughter all the tax-free money from her estate. The remainder was to go to the Woodland Trust charity. When
Two sisters have been appointed to manage the estate of their mother who is suffering from dementia. The appointments were made by the Court of Protection despite an objection from a brother of the two sisters. The case involved a woman who had not drawn up a lasting power of attorney stating who she wanted
Two sisters have been appointed to manage the estate of their mother who is suffering from dementia. The appointments were made by the Court of Protection despite an objection from a brother of the two sisters. The case involved a woman who had not drawn up a lasting power of attorney stating who she wanted
The taxman could take some of the money you want to go to loved ones after you die if you fail to make a will and keep it up to date. Some may also go to an estranged husband or wife. That’s the warning from the Law Society, which has just conducted a survey revealing
More than one million people are running the risk of leaving their partners with nothing when they die, because they haven’t made a will stating what should happen to their estate. As the law stands, if somebody dies intestate – without a will – then their assets will be inherited by their spouse or civil
The inheritance tax threshold could rise significantly before the general election in May 2015. Prime Minister David Cameron believes that families should not be made to pay large amounts of tax on homes where they have lived for several years. He hopes to increase the inheritance tax threshold in the coalition’s final budget before the