Sarah Begley

As we approach the UK government’s upcoming budget, there is a heightened focus on potential tax changes that could impact estate planning, property transactions, and probate. In particular, Inheritance Tax (IHT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), and Stamp...

You have decided to make your will. You’ve met with your solicitor, discussed your needs and received advice. You then receive your will to review, but find it contains words you may not fully understand. Let’s look at some of those terms and...

There are few certainties in life, but as American statesman Benjamin Franklin famously wrote, two things we can be sure about are “death and taxes”. Yet planning for our ultimate demise, or our decline along the way, is something that we...

Blended families have become increasingly common in today's society. As relationships evolve and individuals remarry or enter into new partnerships, estate planning becomes a crucial consideration to ensure the fair and smooth transfer of assets to loved...

It is possible to make a Power of Attorney online, but whether you should is an entirely different matter. The process of making a Power of Attorney seems straightforward, but for those who are unfamiliar with the process, there are many potential pitfalls...

Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone at any time. These accidents can result in individuals losing the ability to make their own decisions. If this should happen, the Court of Protection in the UK steps in to protect the interests of vulnerable...

In 2022, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registered over 770,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and this was an increase of nearly 10% over the number of registrations from 2021. However, the waiting times between making an application for...

Our Wills and Probate team is moving! Currently based in Gravesend offering a wide range of services including wills, probate, powers of attorney, trusts and court of protection, we are excited to announce from Monday 24 July our Wills and Probate team will...

Contentious probate refers to any disputes about an individual's estate when they are no longer here. This process can be difficult for families and lead to many mixed feelings, but understanding when an estate can be contested can help answer many...

A Power of Attorney is a very valuable document to have in place, allowing you to plan for the future when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. In this article, we look at why a Power of Attorney is something you should consider. What...

If you are considering giving Power of Attorney to a loved one, we understand that this may feel overwhelming. There are many considerations, including choosing someone you trust to carry out your wishes and conduct your affairs as you would want. Choosing...

Inheritance disputes may have risen in response to soaring property prices, second marriages and blended families, with relatives more likely to feel they are missing out, but the courts are pushing back on frivolous claims and obstructive family...

An absolutely huge congratulations to Debbie Webster from our Gravesend Private Client team for winning the 'Unsung Hero Award' at last nights UK Probate Research Awards 2022 in London. What a fantastic achievement and so well deserved. Well done...

Professionals working with the elderly and vulnerable are raising concerns over future safeguarding following a dramatic fall in the number of lasting powers of attorneys registered during the coronavirus pandemic. Figures from the Office of the Public...

A more straightforward digital system to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) could come into play, but experts say that it is vital that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect elderly and vulnerable people from abuse. In this article, we look at...

If you intend to leave savings, property or other assets to family or friends after you die, you need to consider inheritance tax (IHT). It could cost your heirs up to 40% of their inheritance. By planning ahead, you can minimise IHT and ensure as much of...

Dementia Action Week runs 17th - 23rd May 2021 and is a national event that sees the public coming together to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. When a person receives a dementia diagnosis, this doesn’t automatically...

Recent research has revealed that one fifth of parents have transferred assets to their children to lessen the amount of inheritance tax payable on their estates. Direct Line’s research revealed this amounted to more than 6.9 million parents and the...

There is no denying that 2020 is a year which will go down in history - for many reasons. The global pandemic, Brexit, and the fallout from these events has had a significant impact on many areas of our lives. These events may have far-reaching implications...

Writing a Will at the moment comes with some extra complications, as the social distancing measures in place could make it harder to get a solicitor or to find someone to witness your Will. Experts are warning against self-directed videos following...

What’s one of the best things you can do for your loved ones, apart from caring for them well in this life? Sort out your paperwork before you die. Yes, that’s right. Imagine if you hold lots of accounts online where you receive payments for...

When to hand over power of attorney – a gentle guide for dementia sufferers and their family For years, the worry of cancer was one of the UK’s biggest health concerns. Now, another devastating disease has taken its place at the top of the...

Every year, thousands of people die intestate or without a will. That means they haven’t left any clear guidelines as to how they want their estate divided up among their beneficiaries. The numbers are incredible too, with around 70% of the UK...

High profile inheritance disputes follow celebrities and the super-rich as surely as night follows day, but such challenges are becoming increasingly common, whatever the values involved. Some of the names to have made headlines include the...

Making will is an important life decision that could save your relatives a great deal of heartache once you’ve gone. You can express your wishes, designate who gets what, and that’s the end of it. Or is it? Law firm Nockolds reported that...

First, what is an unclaimed estate? An unclaimed estate or unclaimed inheritance occurs when someone dies intestate, i.e. without leaving a will. It may also happen when an old will is in place and the person’s intended beneficiaries died. The general...

It’s a worrying thought that due to the rise in value of property in the UK, more people are finding that they may fall into the inheritance tax bracket. When dealing with the death of a loved one the last thing you would expect is an inheritance tax...