Featured Articles

Adult Children and Management of their Finances
From: Society of Will Writers When your child is a minor, as the parent, you are able to manage their finances for them. However, what happens when they reach the age of 18 and considered to be an adult? This article will focus on adult children who may suffer from a...

Arranging and paying for a funeral: The things you need to know
From: Kings Court Trust Arranging a funeral is a task that needs to be completed upon a death, but it can make an already difficult time even more stressful for those dealing with a bereavement. We appreciate that there is a lot to think about, so we have created...

Executor Responsibilities in Regard to Debts
From: Assured Probate Services An executor’s role is to identify estate assets, settle liabilities and distribute remaining property/money in accordance with the will or rules of intestacy. A person’s debts become the responsibility of the estate upon death and do...

Number of Wills & IHT Paid
Latest HMRC data reveals that IHT receipts for the period April 2021 to February 2022 now stand at £5.5bn; £0.7bn higher than the same period last year. Also, almost half (47%) of Brits who have a Will haven’t updated it for more than five years, meaning nearly half...

Part 5 | What are the risks involved in being an Executor?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on the role of an Executor. What does an Executor do? Part 5 | What are the risks involved in being an Executor? Welcome to Part 5 of 5 in our 'What does an Executor do?' series. In...

Deceased’s nominees can now be given access to Apple iCloud
ESTATE ADMINISTRATION: Deceased's nominees can now be given access to Apple iCloud Apple has released a digital legacy feature allowing account holders to nominate up to five family members or friends who will be able to access their account after they die. These...

Part 4 | Do I get paid for being an Executor?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on the role of an Executor. What does an Executor do? Part 4 | Do I get paid for being an Executor? Welcome to Part 4 of 5 in our 'What does an Executor do?' series. In this video,...

Part 3 | What if I don’t want to be an Executor?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on the role of an Executor. What does an Executor do? Part 3 | What if I don't want to be an Executor? Welcome to Part 3 of 5 in our 'What does an Executor do?' series. In this...

Part 2 | What are the duties of an Executor?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on the role of an Executor. What does an Executor do? Part 2 | What are the duties of an Executor? Welcome to Part 2 of 5 in our 'What does an Executor do?' series. In this video,...

Part 1 | What is an Executor?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on the role of an Executor. What does an Executor do? Part 1 | What is an Executor? Welcome to Part 1 of 5 in our 'What does an Executor do?' series. In this video, Steve Worsfold...

What is the difference between probate and estate administration?
From Kings Court Trust When someone close to you dies, it is easy to get overwhelmed when considering the upcoming tasks and the unfamiliar language associated with them. Firstly, it is important to understand the basics; this blog post aims to answer some of the...

What Are Protective Property Trusts?
From The Will Company What are Protective Property Trusts? Protective Property Trusts (PPTs) are one of the most widely used Trusts in Wills today. The Trust will usually take the deceased’s share in their main residence and give another person known as the life...

8 life events that should trigger a Will update
From Kings Court Trust Life isn’t predictable nor does it happen in any specific order. Some people may get married at 21 or others at 60. Some may get divorced while others may have an opportunity to move to a new continent every few years. Whatever path we are led...

Changes to the Funding of Care
From The Will Company On 17 November 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care published an updated policy paper. This paper contains the government’s plans for funding adult social care and reforms to funding in England. The changes are currently proposed to...

Part 4 | What are the costs for a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Funeral Plans What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Part 4 | What are the costs for a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Welcome to Part 4 of 8 in our 'What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?' series....

Part 3 | Who should consider buying a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Funeral Plans What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Part 3 | Who should consider buying a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Welcome to Part 3 of 8 in our ‘What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?’...

Part 2 | What are the advantages of buying a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Funeral Plans What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Part 2 | What are the advantages of buying a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Welcome to Part 2 of 8 in our ‘What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?’...

Don’t Lose Out on Tax Relief
from The Will Company Property wealth hits new high. Residential Nil Rate Band Allowance Potential Loss. The overall value of UK housing stock has risen from £5.67trn to £6.42trn over the last year, with private property wealth reaching a new high of £4.87trn,...

Part 1 | What are the different types of Funeral Plans?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Funeral Plans What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan? Part 1 | What are the different types of Funeral Plans? Welcome to Part 1 of 8 in our 'What is a Pre-Paid Funeral Plan?' series. To...

Lasting Powers of Attorney: Can the Donor’s Will be Disclosed to Attorneys?
from The Will Company Since 1st March 2017, it has been accepted that a donor’s Will can be disclosed to the attorneys of their Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Before this date, it was believed that the Will could only be disclosed if...

Rules of intestacy: What happens when you die without a Will
from Kings Court Trust The rules of intestacy Under the rules of intestacy in England and Wales (as an example), if the Deceased has a living husband, wife or civil partner and the estate (in the sole name of the Deceased) is not worth more than £270,000, the spouse...

Online will writers cost families their fortunes
Martin Lewis talks about the risks involved in using cheap and simple online Will Writing services - many people imagine their finances are simple and straightforward, only to find that the laws that govern what happens to your money and assets after you die are more...

Life insurance: is it subject to probate?
From: The Kings Court Trust Our friends at Kings Court Trust have put together an excellent article about Life Insurance Policies and Probate. When a loved one dies and they have a life insurance or assurance policy, that policy may pay out a very significant...

Applying to become a deputy – Office of the Public Guardian UK GOV
Applying to become a deputy Helpful advice from The Office of the Public Guardian It can be a tough time when applying for a deputyship. If you’re having to deal with the application process you’ll also be trying to manage certain aspects of life for someone who no...

Acting as a deputy for a loved one – Office of the Public Guardian UK GOV
Acting as a deputy for a loved one Helpful advice from The Office of the Public Guardian Acting on behalf of a loved one after being appointed as their deputy can seem a bit daunting. We’ve got some hints and tips here to help you on your way to being the best...

Defendants must pay full costs after dropping estate dispute case mid-trial, says EWHC
Thursday, 16 September 2021 The England and Wales High Court (EWHC) has clarified the costs principles engaged where a Will challenge is abandoned mid-trial. The testator in the case was Tom Goodwin, a businessman and farmer who died in November 2018 with an estimated...

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Will
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Will is to remain secret for at least 90 years to protect the “dignity and standing” of the Queen, the High Court has ruled. It has been convention for over a century that, after the death of a senior member of the Royal Family, the courts are...

Lasting Power of Attorney for Business Owners
As a business owner, you will know how much time, money, and effort you invest in your business. Protection and Peace of Mind Having a business continuity plan is essential to enable your business to function and protect those who depend on it if disaster strikes. A...

Estate Planning for Business Owners
Understanding what will happen to your business when you die is essential for you and the people who depend on it. Your business may be one of your most valuable assets. What happens to my business if I die? Sole Trader – Your business is not separatefrom you as an...

Lasting Power of Attorney Frequently Asked Questions
The Office of the Public Guardian's FAQ's on Lasting Power of Attorney There are some very helpful FAQ's about Lasting Power of Attorney on their blog with useful links too. https://publicguardian.blog.gov.uk/2021/08/26/creating-an-lpa-frequently-asked-questions/ OPG...

Protective Property Trusts
Protecting Your Children's Inheritance Do you have a Protective Property Trust in place to ensure your children receive their inheritance? Find out how you can protect your children's inheritance from care costs, family disputes, re-marriage, bankruptcy and debts...

HMRC IHT Income
from The Will Company The link at the end of this of this post is a wonderful commentary on the income from IHT to HMRC. Very worthwhile reading. The keys points from this year’s publication are: In the tax year 2018 to 2019, 3.7% of UK deaths resulted in an...

Adult Children and Management of their Finances
from The Society of Will Writers When your child is a minor, as the parent, you are able to manage their finances for them. However, what happens when they reach the age of 18 and considered to be an adult? This article will focus on adult children who may suffer from...

Wills – a delve behind the stats
By Ann-Marie Shine-Newton, Will Writer, Stanford Legal Services Wills - a delve behind the stats We recently had Census day, which takes place every 10 years. According to the Government it gives them the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in...

Information Sharing of a Registered Lasting Power of Attorney is now Digital
from The Will Company In recent years, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have modernized their Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) processes. Last summer, the OPG introduced their ‘Using a Lasting Power of Attorney Service’ – an online service letting donors and...

Revoking an LPA or EPA
from The Will Company A donor may occasionally review their Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and realise that their circumstances have changed since the documents were signed. There are unfortunately no steps in place to amend an...

What can go wrong with the DIY probate approach?
from Kings Court Trust The tasks that need to be considered following the death of a loved one are not something you will face on a regular basis. Therefore, knowing where to start can often be daunting and it can be a difficult process to get the ball rolling....

What is a Protective Property Trust?
From The Will Company Protective Property Trusts (PPTs) are one of the most used Trusts in Wills today. These Trusts are very helpful for clients who wish to allow a person (usually a spouse or partner) to live in their property whilst also offering protection over...

Providing for Your Pets
From The Society of Will Writers When you think about making provisions for your estate after your death, what will often come to your mind is who should be your executor, trustee, whether there are any money gifts or specific gifts you want to make to family and...

What Happens to Your Loyalty Points When You Die?
From The Kings Court Trust As we shop, many of us collect loyalty points from multiple companies and throughout a lifetime this can amount to a substantial value. So what happens to unclaimed loyalty points when we die? This blog post explores how different retailers...

‘Power of attorney more important than will’, says widow
by BBC News 'Power of attorney more important than will', says widow The wife of a man who died in an electric skateboard crash has spoken of the importance of a legal document that let him "die with dignity". This BBC News article shows the importance of having a...

Why you should have a Health and Welfare LPA
Lasting Power of Attorney Why you should have a Health and Welfare LPA Here, the BBC demonstrate why it's so important to have a Health and Welfare LPA in place. If you would like to talk to us about setting up your LPA's, give us a call or book up for one of Steve's...

Why a financial LPA is so important
Lasting Power of Attorney Why a financial LPA is so important In this BBC Programme, the One Show explore why a financial LPA is so important. If you would like to talk to us about setting up your LPA's, give us a call or book up for one of Steve's free weekly slots...

Part 1 | What is Probate?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Use a Probate Service? Part 1 | What is Probate? Welcome to Part 1 of our 'Why should I use a Probate Service?' series. In this...

Part 7 | What are the rules about writing a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Part 7 | What are the rules about writing a Lasting Power of Attorney? Welcome to Part 7 of our...

Part 6 | Who can write a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Part 6 | Who can write a Lasting Power of Attorney? Welcome to part 6 of our 'Why Should I Have a...

Risk of inheritance battles grows after surge in people dying without wills
Risk of inheritance battles grows after surge in people dying without wills Exclusive figures show 60p jump in people dying during the pandemic without setting out their last wishesfacebooktwitterlinkedinWhy Should I Write a Will? In this video, Steve Worsfold and...

Part 5 | What is included in a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Part 5 | What is included in a Lasting Power of Attorney? | Sussex Will Writers Welcome to Part 5...

Getting started as an attorney or deputy
Getting started as an attorney or deputy Helpful advice from The Office of the Public Guardian https://publicguardian.blog.gov.uk/2021/03/09/getting-started-as-an-attorney-or-deputy/ facebooktwitterlinkedinCould you do with some FREE, sound advice on: Writing a...

How much does it cost to have a Lasting Power of Attorney written?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Part 4 - How much does it cost to have a Lasting Power of Attorney written? Welcome to Part...

Don’t Sleepwalk into Intestacy
From: Steve Worsfold at Sussex Will Writers Office: 01903 533681Email: info@sussexwillwriters.co.uk Intestacy is dying without a Will. Intestacy means the state dictates the distribution of your estate. The laws of intestacy have little regard to your family...

Is there anyone who doesn’t need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Video Series - Featuring Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins Welcome to our Video Series on Will Writing and Estate Planning. Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Part 3 - Is there anyone who doesn't need a Lasting Power of Attorney? In our third video...

Lasting Powers of Attorney and Discretionary Managed Funds
From: Steve Worsfold at Sussex Will Writers What are ‘Discretionary Managed Funds’? ‘Discretionary Managed Funds’ refer to when an investment professional known as a Discretionary Fund Manager, commonly known as a stockbroker or wealth manager, builds and manages a...

Probate Registry Timescales
From: Steve Worsfold at Sussex Will Writers PROBATE REGISTRY TIMESCALES FEBRUARY 2021 Timescales at the Probate Registry and for the Probate service overall have been fluctuating ever since the controversial announcement was made back in 2018 to increase the Probate...

What Could Happen If You Don’t Have a Property and Financial Affairs LPA in Place?
From: The Society of Will Writers In this article, we’ll take a look at the Property and Financial Affairs LPA, and what the consequences of not having one of those are. What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which...

The Dangers of a DIY Will
From: The Society of Will Writers In our first article of the year, we looked at the reasons why you should make a Will (if you have not already of course) and what a Will enables you to do i.e. appoint guardians and specify how your estate should be distributed and...

Lasting Power of Attorney and the COVID Vaccine
A new post, “Lasting Power of Attorney and the COVID Vaccine” has just been published on the Office of the Public Guardian blog. This update from the OPG addresses some of the questions people may have about what happens if someone does not have mental capacity and is...

What Happens if I Don’t Have a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney - Part 2 What Happens if I Don't Have a Lasting Power of Attorney? Welcome to Part 2 of our 'Why Should I Have a Lasting Power of Attorney?' series. In this video Steve Worsfold and Mike Jenkins will be discussing the...

Weird Wills – Having the Last Laugh
Shakespeare's Will Crown Copyright courtesy of The National Archivesby Steve Worsfold of Sussex Will Writers Writing a will is an important task and one that shouldn’t be neglected. A Will is there to distribute your estate to the people you want to inherit and to...

The Protection of Powers of Attorney
by Steve Worsfold of Sussex Will Writers People who make Wills know that, unfortunately, they will always come into effect eventually – after all death is one of the few certainties. We all hope however, that we will retain our physical and mental abilities throughout...