Inheritance tax in the United Kingdom is a levy on someone who inherits from a deceased estate. The UK government deducts it from the estate itself before the proceeds can be distributed. If this is not practical, it may be willing to negotiate. A Brief History of … [Read more...]
What Happens Next if Someone Dies on Holiday Abroad?
The Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic has increased the possibility of a UK resident dying abroad while on holiday. Therefore it’s become more important to know what to do if this happens. It’s bad enough having to deal with bereavement, and continue on despite deep … [Read more...]
My Uncle Left Me £150,000 Can I Demand It Right Away?
Unfortunately you can’t walk into the solicitor’s office, and demand what many people mistakenly believe is their right. Your £150,000 will remain in your uncle’s estate until his will is wound up, and this can take a while. As beneficiary, you have a potential right … [Read more...]
Preserve Your Property after Death with a Life Interest Trust
If you are making a will you may wish to preserve your property intact for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you built it with your own hands, or renovated it yourself. Maybe you associate it with so many memories you can’t stand the thought of letting it go. Your spouse … [Read more...]
Tips for Administering Probate in a Potentially Insolvent Estate
There have been several cases recently of large-scale abuse of vulnerable people by famous names. Some of these left large sums of money although post mortem law suits exceeded these amounts. There’s new official guidance from The Law Society on how to … [Read more...]
How to Lay Claim to An Unclaimed Estate
When a person dies without a will in England or Wales – and there are no known blood relatives – the assets pass to the Crown as 'ownerless property'. This ‘bona vacantia’ as it’s quaintly called in Latin (meaning unclaimed goods) could be any possession from a … [Read more...]
What to Know About Declarations of Presumed Death
The probate system kicks in after a person dies. The trigger is a death certificate by a competent person. If there is a will then an executor implements it. If not, close relatives inherit. But what happens if there is no death certificate? The person signing the … [Read more...]
A Touch of Colonial India Surfaces in a Milton Keynes Semi-Detached
We don’t always find exceptional items when carrying out probate valuation in Milton Keynes, and other new towns in Buckinghamshire. However we often find something interesting enough to sell for the executors at auction. Take my visit to Milton Keynes to do an estate … [Read more...]
Late Roman Pearls Turn Up in Southampton Probate
Southampton has an interesting history, being on the Channel coast and open to invasion by the likes of Romans and Vikings. Buried hoards of their jewellery turn up from time to time to the delight of museums. This has spawned a generation of optimists pottering with … [Read more...]
How to Apply for a Grant of Probate on Your Own
Even if a person quite close you passes on, you may still need government permission before you dive in, empty their house, and share out their possessions. That because the administration wants to see fair play. You probably need to get a Grant of Probate, even if … [Read more...]
