Understanding the UK tax rules around giving gifts at Christmas can help you reduce the risk of inheritance tax issues and make the most of your allowances. This guide explains what HMRC considers a gift, how inheritance tax works, and the key exemptions you can use — from the annual £3,000 allowance to small gifts and the seven-year rule — so you can gift with confidence this festive season.

Often, when a person dies, the responsibility of administering the deceased’s estate falls to a named person (or persons) know as the Executor(s). The task ahead for the Executor(s) can be daunting and, whilst in the midst of grieving for the loss of someone close, can be overwhelming. In this article we hope to help clarify […]

Does it really matter where someone dies? Yes, it can do. It really depends on what assets they have and where those assets are, as well as where their permanent home was at the time of their death. If someone dies on holiday, but all of their estate is in England and Wales, then the […]

Charities rely heavily on donations from supporters. Many supporters choose to benefit a particular Charity by making donations in their lifetime. You can also benefit a Charity on your death by including a gift in your Will. What is a Charity? A Charity is a non-profit organisation that is established for charitable purposes. For an […]

A member of our team recently attended a Vulnerability Conference and heard Daphne Franks telling her story about her wonderful mother Joan, who sadly passed away in March 2016. In short, Daphne’s mother Joan had severe vascular dementia and only when her mother passed away, did Daphne and her family discover that she was in […]

When a person dies and their property needs to be sold, it’s known as a probate sale. If you’re the executor named in the will, then you’ll be granted the legal right to administer their estate, which may include the sale of any property that the deceased owned. To proceed with the sale of a probate […]

This is a quandary that can come up for many people, including those who are childless or child-free, those who are estranged from their children, those whose children have died before them, or those who have no close family members living. It is hard to decide whom to leave your assets to in these scenarios, and for many the […]

A question we are asked with increasing frequency is what can be done when an original Will cannot be located. Perhaps it’s lost or even been destroyed. When making an application to the Probate Registry after a person has passed away, in order to apply, it is necessary to provide evidence of the deceased‘s original last Will […]

The role of an Executor is to take on the legal responsibility to deal with the administration of the estate of the deceased. This is a wide-reaching role with several legal duties and responsibilities to fulfil, which can continue beyond the administration period. The duties of an Executor include but are not limited to identifying […]