Everyone’s Will should be a true reflection of their wishes. However, sometimes situations arise where it is thought that this has not been the case. Tegan Pownall explores the subject of how to deal with inheritance disputes, contesting a Will and what is referred to in legal terms as contentious probate. In simple terms, if…
In this blog which we published a while back, we discussed the part pensions play in divorce settlements. Rachel Reeves’ announced in her autumn budget that from 6 April 2027, “Most unused pension funds and death benefits will be included within the value of a person’s estate for Inheritance Tax purposes”. This will obviously have…
The most magical time of the year – for children especially – is approaching fast. A time that should be no less magical for the children of divorced or separated parents. Tegan Pownall, Family Law specialist at Penderlaw Solicitors, outlines some ways to have a happier Christmas when you are going through divorce or separation with…
Jason Crocker, Solicitor in Penderlaw’s Wills, Trusts and Probate team discusses the options available to farmers to mitigate the impact of Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget and to try to preserve their assets for future generations. Farmers were undeniably in the firing line of Rachel Reeve’s autumn budget. Her plans to change inheritance tax rules in…
Taking out life insurance is something many of us do to protect our families in the event of our death. However, doing so can unwittingly tip your Estate over the inheritance tax threshold, and mean that your beneficiaries will have to pay HMRC a chunk of the money you had intended them to receive. Solicitor…
We have seen a recent surge in enquiries from first time buyers, perhaps due to the recent cut in interest rates, the first drop in rates since March 2020 when the UK first entered lockdown. So, we thought some top tips for first time buyers would be useful. Samantha Bellamy, Chartered Legal Executive at Penderlaw…
An estimated 1 in 3 families in the UK now fall into the category of being described as a blended family (or step-family, i.e. one in which a couple lives together with children from their previous relationships). Whilst often having many positive benefits, such families are increasingly involved in bitter inheritance disputes that could have…
Lucy Wilton, a solicitor in our Wills, Trusts and Probate team talks about Flexible Wills – What they are, why you might choose one, and how they work. A Simple Will You wouldn’t believe the number of people who contact us saying they would like to make a ‘Simple Will’. The reason most people make…
The law around boundaries is not especially clear, so it’s unsurprising that this area can result in many lengthy, costly, and acrimonious legal battles in which people feel their neighbours have unjustly treated them. In this blog, Rachel Macwilliam, solicitor in our Disputes Team, outlines common causes of disputes, clarifies some misconceptions and outlines your…
Our friendly and knowledgeable team at Penderlaw Solicitors are at the heart of our firm, what we do and the service we provide. In the third of our Meet the Team series of blog posts we introduce Demelza Dunstan, a solicitor in our Property team. Demelza joined Penderlaw in September 2016, prior to which she had…
