The Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants Act (1975) allows UK courts to vary the distribution of the estate of a deceased person. Additional benefits may apply to any spouse, former spouse, child, child of the family, or dependant of that person. However … [Read more...]
Probate Dilemma Who Actually Owns the Land?
Picture this. An aged relative has died and left you their entire estate in their will. However, there’s not much to it except a large tract of land in the south of England. Developers would break a leg to get their hands on it. But there’s only one problem. The HM Land … [Read more...]
Stranger Things in Probate: The Rules of Intestacy You May Not Like
If you are living woman to man, man to woman, woman to woman or man to man or whatever else takes your fancy, watch your step in so far as probate goes. For if you are not formally married - or have a registered civil partnership - and one of you dies without a will the … [Read more...]
Could a Sole Executor Close Out an Estate?
People in the UK are generally more prepared for the death that overcomes us all eventually. At least that’s according to Will Aid as posted in Today’s Wills and Probate e-magazine. The number of people ‘with their affairs is order’ now stands at 50%. That’s up from 47% … [Read more...]
Autonomy over Financial Affairs is a Widow’s Reasonable Right
The UK Court of Appeals upheld a widow’s right to autonomy over her financial affairs. Their July 2019 judgment follows a year of wrangling between the widow and her late husband’s trust. An inactive charitable charity added another twist to the tale. The Essence of … [Read more...]
Conflicts between Next of Kin and Executors
Misunderstandings are a feature of UK probate when next of kin and executors don’t understand how the legalities work. The former may rightly believe they own the deceased’s entire estate. However, the executor must first obtain the necessary clearances to hand it … [Read more...]
UK Inheritance Tax – What You May Need to Know
Inheritance tax is due on the value of the estate of a person who has died. It’s best not to try to avoid this step. That’s because the probate office will not agree to the distribution account without seeing an inheritance tax receipt. However, there may be a … [Read more...]
Reasons Why You Might Need to Know Who Died First
This may seem a strange question but then probate has lots of unusual twists and turns. Let’s imagine a case - just for example - where two oldies became an item in a retirement home. While this may seem somewhat strange to youngsters, the fire of love often burns … [Read more...]
I am Next of Kin, But What Are My Rights?
There is no legal definition of what a next of kin is in Britain. Hence we generally believe what people say which is not always accurate. Moreover, being a next of kin does not guarantee your right to manage your late partner’s estate. If this sounds confusing as it … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Contesting a Will in Probate Court
The probate court is a special division managing the estates of deceased persons. In most cases it approves an executor and checks they are following the wishes of the departed. From time to time somebody disagrees with what the will says, or how the executor … [Read more...]
