After the death of a loved one, you will understandably be grieving, feeling many different emotions and adjusting to this new chapter in your life. You may also be faced with the administration of their estate, however if you aren’t able to locate the Will this could raise more questions and delay matters at an already difficult time. Naomi Walton, Paralegal in our Private Client department, explains more here about how you can proceed if you’re not able to find the Will and what rules apply in this situation.
The phrase ‘common law marriage’ has been a widespread misconception for many years, with cohabiting couples under the impression that should one of them pass away, the other would have the same rights as a spouse or civil partner with their estate passing automatically to them. This is not the case however, and with the number of cohabiting couples on the rise each year, it has never been more important to understand your position. Naomi Walton, Paralegal, in our Private Client department, explains more about why you should write your Will if you are an unmarried couple and the considerations you should make.
The last 12 months of the Covid-19 pandemic have seen more people than ever begin to put their affairs in order through writing their Wills and arranging Lasting Powers of Attorney. While the world continues to turn to more digital tools as we work and live remotely, this has also seen the rise in so-called “DIY Wills”. For some, these can be a useful, time saving tool, however for the majority of people this can leave stones unturned regarding concerns around the validity of the will, Inheritance Tax, Trusts, the consequences of multiple marriages, potential disputes between beneficiaries and understanding the varying types of Will that could protect your loved ones in the future.
Naomi Walton, Paralegal in our Private Client department, discusses more here about the rise of DIY Wills, the pitfalls that people can face and why seeking legal advice will always be the beneficial route to follow.
Having an up to date Will is one of the most important legal documents you will make during your lifetime, particularly if you are an unmarried couple living in a property you own, or if you are divorced and have children from previous marriages. We...
Under current Will writing legislation, the document must be signed by two witnesses, however with the coronavirus outbreak and the enforced social distancing rules this is proving challenging at a time when more people are looking to get their affairs in...
Research conducted last year by organisation Remember a Charity shows that currently two thirds of UK adults do not have a Will, meaning they run the risk of dying intestate and having their estate distributed according to intestacy rules. The statutory legacy sum is due to rise on 6th February which will entitle surviving spouses and civil partners to a larger sum of the estate when their partner dies intestate. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, urges people to use this news as an incentive to find out more about getting a Will written and what the consequences are of not having one in plac
Probate and administration of the estate ordinarily takes between nine to 12 months, but as there are so many factors that can delay or impact the length of time, it is hard to give a definitive answer. Jane Cox, Partner in our Private Client department, explains the steps involved in probate and estate administration and provides more information on those factors that can impact the timescales.
This week is Dementia Action Week; a week dedicated to uniting people, workplaces, schools and communities to take action and improve the lives of people living with dementia. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, became a Dementia Friends Champion in June 2018 and explains here how becoming a Dementia Friend can help those living with dementia feel less lonely and more included in their community.
Owning a property comes with many considerations; one of them being whether you own your property as tenants in common or as joint tenants. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, explains here the difference between the two statuses, and why they are...
Our Private Client team are always keen to support the local community as well as our clients in their journey towards protecting their future, and as such have recently become a Friend of Age Concern. To celebrate the collaboration, Jane Cox and...
All parents hope that one day their children will own their own home but with rising house prices and inflation, parents are being called upon to either house their children while they save for the deposit or gift the deposit themselves. Jane Cox,...
After a number of Warner Goodman staff recently became ‘Dementia Friends’, Jane Cox has taken this one step further and has become a ‘Dementia Champion’. This means she can now deliver Information Sessions to businesses and...
The Private Client and Financial Services team of Warner Goodman LLP recently renewed their Dementia Friends training, with more members of the teams also taking part. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, explains here why they decided to expand their...
It was announced yesterday that the Ministry of Justice have launched a £69million refund scheme for those people who paid a fee to register a power of attorney between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2017. While some details are yet to be confirmed, Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, explains here how people can apply and who to contact should they have questions.
As we enter a New Year, most people turn their New Year’s resolutions to thoughts of exercising more, eating healthily or learning a new skill. This New Year however Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, is also urging people to maximise their opportunities for inheritance tax reliefs, specifically when referring to gifting to family, friends or charity. Jane explains here the difference between a large and small gift in inheritance tax terms, as well as offering some practical advice when it comes to planning for your future.
Last month, the Financial Conduct Authority announced their proposals to move the Lasting Power of Attorney process even further online. This would move away from the current position where the documents can be registered online but must have a physical signature.
Hampshire-based law firm Warner Goodman LLP is holding a free event on Saturday 23 September 2017 to support people who are looking at moving into a care home. Local people are invited to come and find out more about the financial requirements of such a move, as well as legal considerations such as Lasting Power of Attorney, Life Interest Trust Wills and Wills.
A consultation has been launched by the Law Commission in a bid to draw public opinion on whether the laws on writing a Will are outdated. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner here reviews the reasons behind the launch of the consultation and what the future could hold in terms of probate and estate planning.
With the rise in dementia sufferers across the UK, research and investment is critical towards finding a cure, prevention or developing palliative care schemes for this life shattering disease. That’s why Hampshire law firm Warner Goodman LLP are participating in National Cupcake Day, organised by The Alzheimer’s Society.
With the number of people suffering from dementia on the rise, the theme for this year’s Dementia Awareness Week could not be more appropriate. Running from the 14th to 20th May, this year the Alzheimer’s Society who organise the event, are asking people to open up about dementia.
The planned increase in probate fees, that was due to be introduced next week, has now been scrapped by the government ahead of the election. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, reviews here why this has happened and what it means for estate planning in the future.
The Ministry of Justice have recently announced that probate fees will increase from May 2017, even though only 1.6% of respondents agreed with the proposals during the consultation process. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, reviews the new charges that will be coming in and advises how people can act now to protect their assets.
We may be forgiven for overlooking a significant change due to be implemented in April 2017, seeing as the plans were announced in the Summer budget of 2015. However, now is a good time to make sure you’re maximising your opportunities for inheritance tax reliefs. This year, as well as taking advantage of exempt lifetime gifts and transfers, property owners should also look at how the new transferable residence nil rate band can be beneficial to their estate.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month; a time to raise awareness of the impact this illness has on those diagnosed as well as their family and friends. None of us know what is around the corner and unfortunately cases of Alzheimer’s, dementia and other incapacitating diseases are rising.
The death of a loved one is always a traumatic time for everyone concerned, and those closest to them will be keen to ensure that their last act performed for their family member, plan their funeral, is how they would have wanted it. For some families though, this is getting harder to achieve as less of us are making Wills or making our wishes known, and the cost of planning a funeral and all that entails is rising.
A new scheme allowing media access to Court of Protection hearings across England and Wales has been piloted, applying to new proceedings issued from now onwards. Hearings already scheduled under the old rules will not be changed but some urgent hearings will be fed through to courts.
On 17th August, the EU Regulation on Succession came into force in an attempt to simplify the law around succession of assets if a person passes away having owned property in more than one country in the European Union. Jane Cox, Private Client Lawyer, here explains exactly what this means for citizens living in the UK, and what steps you need to take with reference to your Will.
The Summer Budget was full of headline statements and here Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, takes a detailed look at how the rise of the Inheritance Tax threshold will work in practice.
When a loved one goes missing our first thoughts are of finding them safe and well and returning them home. Over time, if they are not found, while that feeling never leaves, other concerns come to the front, such as financial and legal responsibilities. The Presumption of Death Act came into force on 1st October 2014.
The rise in DIY Will services has led to a sharp increase in the amount of claims for mishandling a deceased’s estate, with the High Court releasing figures showing that these claims have tripled in the last year. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, explains the importance of seeking professional advice when preparing your Will and appointing executors, ensuring your wishes are respected without your loved ones facing a hefty bill.
From October, different rules come into force on how assets should be distributed when someone dies without making a Will, but it is still likely to cause a shock to families, particularly where couples were not married or in a civil partnership. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, here explains the changes that will impact families in the future.
Research conducted by the Dying Matters Coalition shows how people are still not talking about their wishes for after their death, and also introduces a new area of consideration in terms of digital legacies.
Globalisation is leading more young professionals into international work and they look set to be the winners in changes in inheritance tax rules in the UK. Jane Cox, Private Client Partner at Hampshire based law firm Warner Goodman LLP reviews the new rules, designed to reflect the lifestyle changes of the rising tide of overseas workers who are increasingly likely to marry someone from a different country.
On 15th September, a team of solicitors from Hampshire based law firm Warner Goodman LLP will take part in the Rose Road Triathlon, an event raising money for local charity The Rose Road Association. Here Jane Cox, Private Client Partner, explains why the team have chosen this event in particular to support.
On the hottest day of the year so far, many of us probably spent Saturday on the beach, in the local park or trying to find a shady spot to cool down …but not the staff of Warner Goodman LLP!
This weekend a team from Hampshire based law firm Warner Goodman LLP will swap their computers, mobile phones and business cards for walking boots, compasses and maps as they take on a challenge outside the world of law.
Hampshire based law firm Warner Goodman LLP are delighted to announce that Private Client Lawyer, Jane Cox, has become a Partner in the firm as of 1st April 2013.
After their huge success in the Great South Run in October 2012, the Warner Goodman LLP team were delighted to be able to meet with the staff at Ocean Ward, and discuss Familes of Ocean Ward, the charity the team were running to support, raising £1919.10 in donations.
A team of nine staff from Hampshire law firm Warner Goodman LLP will be taking part in the Great South Run on 28th October, raising much needed funds forSouthampton based charity, Families of Ocean Ward.
Following on from the news that 97% of our clients were happy with our services and would use us again, we can now also confirm that our clients are so satisifed with our work, they’ll tell us so in poetry!
