Brexit – The Legal Considerations
While it is still too soon for any certainty and teething problems are likely to persist, it is possible to speculate and draw some current conclusions on the effect of Brexit on some areas of UK legal practice.
Wills, Trusts & Probate
Make sure to update your will to include digital assets
People are being urged to update their wills to include their digital assets as a way of preventing problems for their family after they die. Research by the Law Society shows that just over a quarter of those surveyed know what happens to their digital assets when they die. An overwhelming 93% had not included
Woman written out of father’s will wins right to inherit his estate
A woman has won the right to inherit her father’s estate after a “DIY will” supposedly signed on his deathbed was ruled invalid. Terri Tibbles had been the sole beneficiary of a will her father William wrote a year before he died. In a letter of wishes attached to that will, Mr Tibbles said that
A New Year Resolution to protect yourself for years to come
The New Year isn’t only a time to make resolutions about losing weight or getting fitter…it’s also an opportunity to assess your future, especially in these times of Covid-19. There are many ways to do this and the law can certainly play its part. One good option is to set up a lasting power of
Covid-19 prompting more people to make or update a will
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the number of people making or updating a will, but many have yet to put their affairs in order. Research by the Law Society shows that 7% of all respondents and 6% of those who identified as keyworkers made or updated their will during the first
Zero-carbon homes on tree lined streets ‘should be built as standard’
The government says it’s committed to building a million new homes over the next five years with a greater emphasis being placed on quality and beauty. It wants tree-lined streets and zero-carbon ratings to become the norm as quickly as possible. Many of the ideas are contained in the report, Living in Beauty, by the
Government issues advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney
The government has provided brief but useful advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and how they can be used to help people who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. An LPA is a legal document that you can draw up when you’re fit and healthy authorising someone you choose to make
New online service ‘to streamline grant of probate applications’
All non-contentious probate applications where there is a will in place must now be made online. The service, known as MyHMCTS, was set up by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to streamline applications, enabling probate professionals to issue, pay for and manage applications within civil and family courts and tribunals. It went live on 2
Siblings overturn their mother’s will after family dispute
Four siblings have succeeded in overturing their mother’s will after the court agreed that she had not fully understood its consequences when she signed it. The case pitted the mother’s first four children against her youngest child, the defendant. In 2004, the mother and her husband had executed mirror wills, which meant that if the
Judge freezes estate assets in dispute over inheritance
An administrator of a deceased person’s estate was granted a freezing injunction for a property that had been transferred into a family member’s name to avoid tax liability. The deceased had died without making a will. The administrator of his estate contended that a few years before his death, the deceased had put a property