Caroline Johnstone

None of us knows what the future holds and it is practical to make plans that can protect you in any eventuality. Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place can do this for a variety of situations, for example if you develop dementia, sustain...

Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place is one of the most sensible decisions you can make in your lifetime. This legal document allows you to choose people to manage your affairs for you in should you not be able to and, while you can...

Adapting to a new way of life over the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for us all, but for those with dementia or those with a loved one with the disease, this has taken on a whole new meaning. This Dementia Awareness...

A loved one losing the capacity to manage their property and affairs is a distressing time when you will not only have to adapt to a new way of living, but also perhaps step in to assist in the running of their lives. If they don’t have a ...

No-one knows what the future holds, which is why it is vital that you make plans while you can. Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one of the most important legal documents you can write to make these plans and without one your loved ones would need to go down the long and costly route of applying to be your Deputy. Caroline Johnstone, Associate Solicitor in our Private Client department, explains here how an LPA can help you to protect your future, and what could happen if you don’t have one in place.

A Deputyship Order would be issued when a person can no longer make decisions for themselves concerning their health, welfare, financial or property arrangements and they have no Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place. Caroline Johnstone, Associate Solicitor in our Private Client team, explains here who can apply to be a Deputy, the responsibilities and how we can support you in your duties.

Being granted a Deputyship Order can take several months. If you find yourself having to apply to become a Deputy you may also be considering the responsibilities you now face. Caroline Johnstone, Associate Solicitor in our Private Client team, explains more about when you may need to make an application of this nature and the steps involve

Becoming a Deputy means that you have usually been appointed to manage the property and financial affairs of a loved one if they are no longer mentally able to do it themselves, and they did not have a Lasting Power of Attorney. Applying for a Deputyship Order to the Court of Protection can be a complicated process at a time when everyone will need to adjust to a new way of living. Caroline Johnstone, Associate Solicitor in our Private Client department, explains more about a Deputyship and how writing a Lasting Power of Attorney when you still can will avoid this last case scenario.

Many people consider transferring their property to their children during their lifetime, with one of the main reasons being that it is perceived as a way to avoid care home fees in the future. It is very rarely this straightforward, and there are many...

A new report from Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and independent think tank, Centre for Future Studies, has revealed the UK is in danger of an incapacity crisis. With the ever increasing number of those living with dementia combined with a high...

There are many reasons why it is important to have a Will; one reason being so your estate passes to the people or organisations you wish it to, but also for planning the future for your children. If they are under the age of 18 in the event that both you and their other parent pass away, you need to ensure there are arrangements in place for their welfare.

Writing a Will is one of the most important documents anyone will make during their lifetime, and yet according to research conducted by Prudential last year, 59% of adults have not written a Will. Dying without a Will leads to complications, but when there are no known family members it can become an even more tricky process.

Many people do not realise but a marriage automatically revokes any existing Will, meaning that a person could die intestate without realising it. Caroline Johnstone, Private Client Lawyer, here explains the implications that marriage and divorce have on a Will, and what steps you need to take to avoid any issues for your family’s future.

Having a Will is probably one of the most important things you can do to secure your family’s future, but many people are not aware that they can also leave a legacy to charity in their Will. Around £2.5billion is raised for charities each year through legacies and while 35% of people say they want to leave a legacy, only about 6% of people actually do.

When choosing a law firm to assist you in safeguarding your family’s future through a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney, it can be hard to decide. That’s why being a member of ‘Solicitors for the Elderly’ (SFE) is part of a unique offering that Warner Goodman LLP can give to those unsure of how best to protect their family assets and security. Caroline Johnstone, Private Client Lawyer, here explains why having this qualification means we’re well suited for you to put your affairs in order.

This week will see The Alzheimer’s Society annual Dementia Awareness Week, and with 800,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK and that number growing each year, it’s never been more important to prepare for what the future could bring.

Dementia sufferers wanting to remain in their own home have been given hope thanks to a lifelong political campaigner. Caroline Johnstone, Private Client Lawyer, reviews how a challenge to Westminster Council over residential care that has successfully been fought on behalf of dementia campaigner and former politician, Manuela Sykes, highlights the importance of making one’s wishes known before illness strikes.