Power of Attorney...
Below are our articles on the subject of Power of Attorney. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
5 Tips to Cut Your Inheritance Tax Bill
Inheritance tax can negatively impact on your financial legacy. However, some simple planning can reduce or eliminate your exposure....
Alternative Funeral Options
This article looks at some of the options open to those who are interested in alternative funeral arrangements....
Appealing Against a Will
Some of the reasons for appealing against a will, and the ways in which this might take place....
Applying for a Grant of Probate
The process of applying for a Grant of Probate as an executor....
Appointing Guardians in a Will
What you need to know when naming a guardian in your will, and what should happen in the event of your death....
Are Verbal Changes to a Will Valid?
It is vitally important that a will, once written, is kept up to date. However, any alterations should be made in codicil form wherever possible, in order to avoid challenges at a later date....
Avoiding Conflict When Handing Over A Family Business
This article examines some of the ways in which conflict can be avoided during family business succession....
Burial or Cremation
This article looks at the history, and relative merits, of cremation and burial....
Can I Leave Funeral Arrangements In My Will?
This article looks at some of the ways in which arrangements can be left for funerals....
Can I Set up Another Trust?
Trusts can be an excellent means by which individuals can reduce their Inheritance Tax liability. However, you should be sure that the terms of the trust allow you the flexibility that you need....
Choosing The Right Funeral Director
This article looks at some of the main concerns to be addressed when choosing a funeral director....
Codicils & Rewriting Wills
This article looks at the circumstances in which a will might be rewritten, and the ways in which minor alterations can be made to an existing will....
Coping With Sudden Death
This article looks at some of the characteristics of, and ways of coping with, grief after a sudden death....
Critical Illness Insurance
This article looks at the main characteristics of critical illness insurance, and what to look for when buying it....
Cut Your Tax Bill With Charitable Giving
Charitable giving is a great way not just to support your chosen causes - but also to reduce your Inheritance Tax bill....
Dealing With Intestacy
A look at the options for dealing with the affairs of someone who died intestate....
Debt After Death
This article looks at what happens when an individual has outstanding debts when they die....
Divorce and Revoking a Will
This article looks at what will happen to a will if you divorce, and ways in which you can revoke a will....
Employing a Will Writing Company
This article looks at some of the reasons why employing a will-writing expert is a good idea....
Ensuring Your Will is Watertight: A Checklist
Writing a will is a hugely important task. Just as important, however, is ensuring the document will stand up to legal scrutiny....
Family Income Benefit
This article looks at the characteristics, benefits and drawbacks of Family Income Benefit....
Financial Help
This article looks at some of the ways in which individuals can get help to finance the writing of their will....
Finding Help to Cope with Bereavement
Bereavement can be difficult to cope with alone. But there is a wealth of organisations that can help you deal with your loss....
Getting State Help With Funeral Costs
There is a range of help available from the state for funeral costs, and to help you deal with the lasting financial impact of a death....
Helping Children Through Bereavement
This article looks at some of the most common characteristics of children's grieving processes, and ways in which they can be tackled....
How Can I Maintain the Value of My Estate?
Inflation, property prices, tax, incapacity and a range of other factors could potentially damage the value of your estate. You may need to take action to protect your assets....
How Do I Apply for Lasting Power of Attorney?
Applying for (or making) a Legal Power of Attorney (LPA) is a straightforward process. But it is important that you understand what it means for you....
How Do I Find a Will?
Finding a will can be a lengthy process, but there are several important places that you should look first....
How Do I Set up a Trust
This article looks at the ways in which trusts are created, and the legal requirements for doing so....
How Do I Write My Will?
This article looks at the process of writing a will, whether you do it on your own or with the help of a solicitor....
How Does Probate Work?
This article looks at the process of acquiring probate, and the subsequent responsibilities....
How Does Scottish and English Succession Law Differ?
This article looks at some of the fundamental ways in which English and Scottish succession laws differ....
How I Settled a Death Intestate Overseas: A Case Study
Dealing with an intestate death abroad can be a difficult process. Julia shares her experiences of intestacy in a Commonwealth country....
How Legally Binding is a Will?
Wills are legal documents for the disposal of property after death, but there are certain circumstances under which they can be challenged....
How Much Cover do I Need?
This article looks at some of the factors to consider when looking at how much life insurance to take out....
How Much Tax Should I Pay?
This article looks at the basics of Inheritance Tax, and the rate at which it is payable....
How To Go About Destroying a Will
This article looks at how best to destroy a will and also what steps to take to ensure the new will is the one that is recognised as being the genuine article...
I Challenged a Will: A Case Study
If you are not provided for in the will of an individual on whom you were financially dependent, you may be able to challenge it in court....
I Protected My Estate With a Trust: Case Study
Inheritance Tax is a major financial conundrum. A trust can help you to protect your assets from the prying eyes of the taxman....
Income Protection
This article looks at the main characteristics of Income Protection insurance....
Informing the Inland Revenue of a Death
This article looks at registering a death, and some of the parties who must be informed....
Inheritance Planning
This article looks at some of the ways in which effective inheritance planning can make financial sense....
Intestacy: Law Changes & the Importance of Having a Will
What happens if you die without a Will? We explain the new Inheritance and Trustees Powers Act 2014 ["ITPA"] which makes provisions for where your assets go if you have not left a Will....
Is Family Succession a Good Idea?
This article looks at some of the positives and negatives associated with handing down a business to a family member....
Keeping Your Will Up-to-Date
This article looks at the reasons for keeping a will up to date, and some of the ways in which this can be done....
Leaving Assets to Family and Non-Family
This article looks at some of the factors to consider when leaving assets in your will to family, non-family members and organisations....
Leaving Your Assets to Charity
This article looks at the benefits and methods of making a charitable donation in a will....
Level Protection Plan
This article looks at some of the features and characteristics of Level Protection life insurance....
Life Estates
This article outlines the principles behind life estates, and illustrates how they may be used....
Living Will
This article explains the concept of a living will, and how you would go about writing one....
Losing A Child
This article looks at the specific effects and problems arising from the loss of a child....
Mental Health Act
A look at how the Mental Health Act works and how it can sometimes be called upon whilst contesting a Will....
Minimising Funeral Costs
This article looks at some of the ways in which funeral costs can be minimised....
Mortgage Protection Plan
This article looks at some of the characteristics of Mortgage Protection Plan life insurance....
Moving to Canada, Would My Will Cover the UK Law?
Inheritance and intestacy are complex legal areas. These issues are further clouded when issues of domicile and dual citizenship are introduced....
My Father's Will Was Declared Invalid: Case Study
Wills are open to legal challenge on a number of grounds. You should make sure that your will is valid, and that it fulfils your obligations....
Naming Children's Guardians in Your Will
Naming the guarding of your child in a will is a daunting task; here we offer practical advice on how to address this issue and ensure that all legalities are dealt with....
No Will and High Debts: How to Decide Who to Pay?
Debt after death is a confusing and sometimes upsetting topic. It is further complicated when the individual in question has died intestate....
Off Shore Accounts
This article looks at Off Shore Accounts and why they are beneficial and what changes need to be done in relation to your Will if you have one...
Off The Shelf DIY Will Packs
Do It Yourself Will Packs; what are the advantages and disadvantages? What is the best way to complete them?...
Organ Donation
This article looks at some of the ways of becoming an organ donor....
Organising Obituaries
This article looks at the writing of an obituary, and some of its benefits and risks....
Overseas Probate: The Process
Obtaining a Grant of Probate can be complex enough when all parties are based in the UK. Dealing with claims regarding those domiciled abroad can be particularly difficult....
Personal Accident Insurance
This article looks at Personal Accident Insurance and how it can be of benefit if you are injured and out of work for extended periods of time...
Planning for Family Succession
This article looks at some of the ways in which plans can be made for a successful business succession....
Planning The Ceremony
This article looks at some of the options available to those who are trying to plan a funeral....
Power of Attorney
This article looks at the basic characteristics of the two types of power of attorney....
Pre-Paid Funerals
This article looks at some of the benefits and draw-backs of pre-paid funeral plans....
Preparing Your Will in Scotland
This article looks at the process of writing a will for use in Scotland....
Private Pension Schemes and Your Will
This article looks at the treatment of pensions by inheritance laws, and investigates the options open to those who wish to leave part of their pension to their dependants....
Probate for Those Living Abroad
This article looks at the process for gaining probate over the estate of someone who lived outside the UK....
Probate Valuation
This article looks at the process of estate valuation, and its purposes with regard to inheritance tax....
Protecting Your Estate from Rising Inflation
Inflation can gradually eat away at the value of your estate. You should therefore consider ways that you can protect your assets from inflation....
Questionnaire: Should I Alter or Rewrite My Will?
Ensuring that your will is up to date is as important as its initial writing. Sometimes a codicil will suffice, but on other occasions you may be required to rewrite the document altogether....
Scottish Rights of Succession
This article examines the rights of succession in Scotland if intestacy occurs....
Searching for a Will
This article looks at some of the ways in which individuals can search for wills....
Should Deceased Person's Estate Pay Bank Loan?
Many people die with outstanding loans. Dealing with creditors can be difficult in these circumstances, and it is important that you know your legal position....
Should I Seek Counselling?
This article looks at the circumstances in which counselling may be useful, and some of the options available....
Should I Use a Professional Executor?
Your choice of executor is amongst the most important elements of writing a will. Professional executors can present significant benefits....
Solicitor Contact: Executors Who Are Also Beneficiaries?
The successful execution of a will relies on the delegation of duties between appointed executors, and all executors should have access to all pertinent information contained in the will....
Starting Succession in Anticipation
This article looks at some of the ways in which family business succession can be begun in advance....
Structure of a Will
This article looks at the structure of a valid last will and testament....
Tax Implications
This article looks at the major tax implications for those who are intending on transferring their business to a family successor....
Tax Issues
This article looks at some of the nuances of Scottish inheritance law, with particular regard to Inheritance Tax....
Tax Issues for Co-habitees
This article looks at the problems facing co-habiting couples with regard to Inheritance Tax....
Terminal Illness Benefits
This article looks at the two major benefits available to those with a terminal illness....
The Effects of Bereavement
This article looks at some of the most common effects of bereavement, and some ways to counter them....
The Great Payment Protection Scam
The mis-selling of PPI has been a major financial scandal. Many consumers are entitled to refunds and compensation....
The Importance of a Will: A Sample Case
Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever sign. These case studies explain the legal and tax implications of intestacy....
The Probate Process
This article looks at the process of acquiring probate, and the subsequent responsibilities....
Top 10 Tips for a Successful Business Succession
Business succession can seem like a daunting process. Read some top tips to help ensure that you can hand over the reigns in as efficient a way as possible....
Trusts
This article investigates legal trusts, and looks at some of the different types of trust available....
Types of Cover
This article looks at the two major types of life insurance, and some of the benefits and drawbacks of each....
Understanding Legal Jargon in Scottish Wills
This article looks at some of the jargon specific to Scottish wills, and some of the variations in definition between English and Scottish terms....
What Are the Responsibilities of a Children's Guardian?
When choosing a legal guardian for your children it is important that you understand the significant responsibilities entailed in this role....
What Does Being an Executor of a Will Entail?
This article examines what is entailed for the executor of a will....
What Happens if There is no Will?
This article examines the order of preference for inheritance if no will has been left....
What if a Witness to Will Dies Before You?
The witnessing of a will is one of the most important safeguards required by the probate process. While the death of a witness does not invalidate a will, it is advisable for the testator to take step...
What is a DIY Funeral
This article looks at DIY funerals, including their potential benefits and drawbacks and some practical concerns....
What is an Executor?
This article outlines some of the basic characteristics of the legal post of executor....
What is Bereavement?
This article examines bereavement, and the process of grieving which follows it....
What is Discretionary Will Tax?
This article outlines the main characteristics of a Discretionary Will and Trust, and looks at the ways in which it can help individuals to avoid Inheritance Tax....
What is Inheritance Tax?
This article looks at some basic information regarding inheritance tax in the UK....
What is Lasting Power of Attorney?
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to nominate an attorney who will have the power to make a range of decisions about your affairs....
What is Probate?
This article examines probate as a legal term, and investigates some of the details of the process....
What Should I List in my Will
This article looks at what should be listed in an individual’s will, and the ways in which this can be done....
What the Civil Partnerships Act Does
This article looks at the effects of the Civil Partnership Act on inheritance and tax rules....
What You Need To Know About Bereavement Payments And Bereavement Benefits
This article looks at some of the financial assistance available to widows and widowers....
When Should I Make a Will?
This article investigates when the best time to make a will is, and some of the reasons for this....
When's the Best Time to Take Out Life Insurance?
This article investigates when the best time is to take out life insurance, and how much cover is necessary....
Where Can I Find a Revoked Will?
It is important to ensure that previous wills are destroyed, in order to avoid potential confusion. As such, previously revoked wills should not be kept....
Where Should I Keep My Will Safe?
This article looks at some of the places in which it is possible to store your will....
Who do I Name as an Executor of My Will?
This article looks at the role of an executor, and who should be nominated to perform the role....
Why do I Need Life Insurance?
This article looks at some of the main reasons why taking out life insurance is a good idea....
Why Make a Will?
This article looks at some of the main reasons why making a will is a good idea....
Why Would I Set Up a Trust
We discuss some of the reasons why your might consider setting up a trust....
Will-Writing Software
This article looks at some of the positive and negative elements of will-writing software....
Witnesses of a Will
This article investigates the role of witnesses when writing a will....