Millions of people in the UK look after both younger and older family members, sandwiched between aging parents who need care and their own children. The extra demands made of these adults in their 30s and 40s, dubbed the ‘sandwich generation’, can leave their futures financially uncertain. We look at some ways those with double […]
Surge in both Lasting Powers of Attorney and family feuds
According to OPG figures published in the Times, the number of people applying for Lasting Powers of Attorney in the year to April was 759,976 – a significant jump from the 52,492 applications made 10 years ago. The climbing numbers is thought to be a result of a population that is living longer and therefore […]
Brexit News overshadows key property reforms
With the papers focusing on Brexit, it’s easy to see how big changes to housing policy could slip under the radar. Unsurprisingly two key reforms have gone largely unnoticed as our impending exit from the EU continues to dominate the press. The first change announced by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire is the introduction of a […]
Care home managers to be involved in liberty decisions of vulnerable patients
A controversial proposed amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 could see Care Home Managers playing a greater role in the decision to detain vulnerable people for years. The length of time that the person could be made subject to the restrictions without a review being carried out would also increase under the proposals from […]
Simple blood test can spot Alzheimer’s a decade early
A simple blood test has been utilised to spot a particular type of Alzheimer’s over a decade before any symptoms appear. The test may potentially be used to spot other neurodegenerative conditions such as MS. Bryan Gordon, co-author of the study which was published in ‘Nature Medicine’, believes the test could be used in just […]
Probate and the burden of paperwork – what to keep and what to throw
When taking care of an elderly relative, one question that occurs to many people is what correspondence they should retain. Paperwork can mount up quickly and can make dealing with the person’s estate when they die a long and arduous process. On the other hand, binning letters and statements carries the risk of identity theft. […]
Should I extend my lease or wait for reform?
If you own a flat, you’ll probably be aware that the value of your property is affected by the term left on the lease. In addition you’ll find that mortgage companies are reluctant to lend on flats with less than 70 years to run, so the saleability of your property reduces as the term runs […]
Conveyancing Southport – Saving for a House Deposit
With the average price of a UK home now at £297,527 according to Rightmove and many lenders looking for a 10% deposit to secure the best mortgage deals, getting a foot on the property ladder has never been more difficult. But hope is not lost for Generation Y – by choosing the right account and […]
Can A Person with Dementia Make a Power of Attorney?
You can make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) if you have dementia, but only if you still have mental capacity. Once mental capacity is lost, an LPA cannot be made. If you have been recently diagnosed with dementia, or your loved one has, you need to put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place […]
A Guide to Buying a Retirement Home
Buying a retirement home is generally something you only want to do once. This means you need to get it right first time. But as you probably know, buying a property is not easy – and retirement homes come with additional considerations, making the process all the more overwhelming. So if you are thinking about […]
Preparing Your Home for Sale in the New Year
Are you thinking of selling your home in the New Year? There is good reason to! Potential buyers tend to have a renewed enthusiasm following the Christmas break, making it a profitable time of year to put your property on the market. But before you start welcoming people into your home, you need to prepare […]
Can a Local Authority remove the free parking outside my house?
One of the benefits that may influence your decision to purchase a property is the fact that it has free parking on the street outside. If the property has no driveway, it would be extremely inconvenient not to be able to park outside, and lack of such amenities would make the property less desirable from […]
How do I help my child buy a home with their partner and keep my money safe?
With property prices soaring, it’s no wonder that the bank of Mum and Dad is frequently called upon to subsidise the first step onto the housing ladder. But where their grown-up child is buying jointly with their partner and a substantial sum is involved, naturally there are questions over what happens if the couple should […]
House of Lords Committee brand probate fee hike a ‘misuse of power’
Government plans to increase probate fees have been branded by the House of Lords Committee as a ‘misuse of power’. The fee increases have been proposed to address the £1.2 billion annual deficit for running the courts. The cost of applying for probate is currently £215 (or £155 if a solicitor is used) regardless of […]
Health and Mental Capacity and Lasting Power of Attorney
You can create a Lasting Power of Attorney at any point in your life, so long as you have mental capacity. Lasting Powers of Attorney A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which gives someone, or a group of people, the authority to act and make decisions on your behalf. The people […]
Using Your Inheritance Gift Allowance at Christmas
Giving gifts to your loved ones can be an excellent way of reducing the size of your estate, and therefore your Inheritance Tax liabilities. But what about Christmas gifts? Are these tax exempt, or should you tread carefully when it comes to treating your loved ones this holiday season? Tax exempt gifts Unfortunately, there is […]
Appointing Guardians for Your Children
When you make a Will, you have the opportunity to appoint legal guardians for your children. It is highly recommended that you put such plans in place, or it could result in the wrong people caring for your children, should you die before their eighteenth birthday. Planning for the future Planning for the future is […]
Son disinherited in favour of younger lover
An Oxford don who has been left out of his mother’s estate in favour of her younger lover has embarked on a court battle against a firm of solicitors. Distinguished physician Jean Weddell left the majority of her estate to her civil partner Wendy Cook, excluding her son Christopher Gosden altogether. Mr Gosden who is […]
Architect’s friends fight over her £67m fortune
When Dame Zaha Hadid died in March 2016, she left generous financial gifts to her friends, family and even her employees – but her benevolence has been overshadowed by a fierce squabble between the executors. Dame Zaha was one of Britain’s best known architects with her prestigious portfolio including the Riverside Museum in Glasgow and […]
April 2019: Controversial probate fee rises
Bereaved families will face soaring probate fees from April 2019 under new plans revealed by the Ministry of Justice. Reforms to probate fees have been the subject of consultation since 2016 and a year later the first proposals, which included a charge of £20,000 for estates worth £2 million or more, were met with outcry. […]
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