Our team often get asked about the impact of divorce on existing legal arrangements such as Wills. Rachel Macwilliam, Solicitor in our family law team, explores the topic of Wills and Divorce. Should I wait until after my divorce to update my Will? When you’ve made the momentous decision to get divorced, making a new…
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…
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…
We’re proud of our team at Penderlaw Solicitors. Both knowledgeable and friendly, they are at the heart of our firm, what we do and the service we provide. In the second of our Meet the Team series of blog posts, we introduce Lucy Wilton (nee Duffin), from our Private Client team who deal with matters…
You may think that once you have made a Will that your affairs are in order, and you can forget about it. To some extent that is true, for a period of time, but as your life changes, your Will should be updated to reflect these changes. Below, Jason Crocker, Solicitor in our Private Client…
Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) may not be on your list of priorities if you are fit and healthy, even if you are not necessarily what could be described as a spring chicken! However, leaving it until you actually need it could mean you leave it until it’s too late. In the article…
Dealing with Probate when you have recently lost a loved one can be emotionally draining as well as time consuming at a time when you are least able to deal with it. There’s a fair amount of legal jargon associated with it, which can be confusing, and the tax regulations can be daunting too. So,…
The pandemic has presented endless challenges to our daily lives. One challenge now being addressed by the government is new temporary legislation making video witnessing of Wills temporarily legal. Under the current law, a Will must be made in the physical presence of at least two witnesses who have had to be in each other’s…
Will Inheritance tax apply to me? Many people do not consider themselves to be wealthy enough to be affected by inheritance tax and unfortunately get caught out by life’s final taxation. With over 28,000 Estates liable for inheritance tax in 2016-17, it’s worth looking at ways to legally minimise the amount of inheritance tax your…
