Trusts set up many years ago can sometimes contain provisions which seem out of step with the way people live their lives today. Thankfully, when problems arise, the courts can often help to correct any anomalies. A recent example involved a child who would have been unable to benefit from a trust fund because his
The money that goes to the Treasury from people who don’t make a will has nearly doubled in the space of just a year. The Times newspaper has published research carried out by lawyers which shows that £38.5m flowed into the Treasury coffers last year from the estates of people who died without a will
Two women have successfully challenged their aunt’s will after discovering that they were to inherit nothing from her estate. The court heard that the aunt was very frail and confused in the latter years of her life. Her two nieces kept in touch with her but after the death of her husband, she was also
Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) has become easier and quicker following changes to the registration process. Lasting Powers of Attorney enable you to appoint someone you trust to look after your affairs if you reach a point in the future where you can no longer make decisions for yourself due to ill
Prime Minister David Cameron has become a ‘Dementia Friend’ as part of a campaign to raise awareness of the illness and the traumas it can cause. The initiative is being promoted by the Alzheimer’s Society, the Department of Health and the Office for Civil Society. The number of dementia sufferers in the UK is set
The number of family disputes over wills has increased dramatically, according to research carried out by the Independent newspaper. Its figures show that the number of actions in the High Court challenging provisions made in wills has increased by 700% over the last five years. The number of cases seeking to have entire wills declared
Making a will is not necessarily the first thing you think about on the birth of your child! However, as you waft through a time of little sleep and lots of nappies, it’s certainly something worth thinking about when you get five minutes to spare! The most pressing need is to decide who will act
Do you have an elderly relative living in care or receiving care in the home? Does their main or primary need for care relate to their health? If so, they may be entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare, a package of care funded solely by the NHS. Where a person qualifies for this type of funding,