A will is an important part of everybody’s legal planning no matter your circumstances, but for anyone who is in business a well written will is vital to ensure the minimum disruption after your death. ‘Whether you are a sole practitioner, a...
Probate is a term which is loosely used to cover the administration of an estate, and it has a reputation for being a lengthy process. The administration includes a number of key stages, including obtaining the grant of probate, paying out to beneficiaries,...
On top of the heartbreak and worry that a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness can cause, there will be a raft of concerns and uncertainties about your care and financial affairs, and it can be difficult to know exactly how to prepare from a legal...
Deciding who should inherit from you in your will, how much they will get and in what shares, are big decisions to make. This can be made more difficult if you have particular concerns about a beneficiary and whether the inheritance could be at risk. ...
When applying for probate in regard to an estate which is subject to inheritance tax, the Probate Registry requires tax to be paid before the grant of probate application. This can prove difficult as most financial institutions will not pay out sums to...
While celebrities often have many professional advisors who look after their business affairs, like many ordinary people they sometimes do not get around to making a will and setting out their particular wishes. ‘When you die without a will,...
While the specific terms of any will are up to the individual who makes it, after they have died there may be circumstances where those left behind wish to pass their gift to someone else. ‘Beneficiaries are not obligated to accept their inheritance,...
The rising popularity of online Will writing has the potential to increase the risk of future disputes over the validity of those Wills and the risk of other contested probate cases. Between 2019 and 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people...
3,574 inheritance tax investigations were launched from 2020 to 2021 because of the rise of house prices across the country. Since launching the probes, HMRC has gained an additional £254 million in revenue, with the average investigation securing an...
Making a lasting power of attorney for your finances is an important part of lifetime legal planning, especially if you have built up a portfolio of assets and investments which require regular management. While this legal authority needs to be set up well...
Next of kin is a commonly used term in everyday language, yet despite its frequent use ‘next of kin’ only provides legal rights where children are concerned and, even then, only in certain circumstances. The general rule is that the parent or...
Making a will or giving a gift on your deathbed Living through a global pandemic has meant seeing loved ones taken from us at an alarming rate, and it has been distressing for many to see someone taken into hospital and not know if you might be able to...
In 2006, the American multi-billionaire Warren Buffet astounded the media by making a pledge to give away 99 per cent of his wealth to charities. He plans to do most of this in his lifetime and intends the remainder to be given away within 10 years after his...
Like many government organisations, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) has been increasing its digital services over the past few years as it aims to provide a more streamlined system for probate registries. While the online service...
Everyone should have lasting power of attorney, along with a will, and in setting this up you will need to appoint people to act as your attorney to look after your affairs if you become unable to. You need to consider very carefully who you will...
It can be flattering to be asked by a relative or close friend to be a trustee of their estate, but this is a role with important legal obligations and disputes can arise when beneficiaries do not agree with the actions of trustees. One such area of...
The short answer to this is no. So why, do you ask, should you instruct a probate solicitor at Hatten Wyatt? At Hatten Wyatt our experienced private client department can provide their knowledge in order to deal with the legal process of applying for...
After 6 years as a Civil Litigation Paralegal in Yorkshire, I moved to Kent, the Garden of England, almost 3 years ago. I was fortunate enough to secure a training contract with Hatten Wyatt. I put my heart and soul into the application process...
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