It may not matter at all to the deceased - unless they are able to look down ‘from above’ and tut-tut about what happens ‘below’. However, it could cause chaos to those left behind as they struggle to make sense of what to do next. The burden of deciding usually … [Read more...]
Solicitor Who Jumped the Probate Gun Pays £15,000 Fine
One needs to be extra careful when handling funds in the estate of an ultra-high net-worth foreign national, as a London solicitor discovered. He sent £1.575 million to the widow while a dispute was raging according to Legal Futures. For his trouble, the Solicitors … [Read more...]
Reclaim the PPI That a Deceased Person Paid
Payment protection insurance (PPI) was a neat little upsell lenders used to have in the UK. It wasn’t always clear you were buying PPI, and some lenders were making as much money as the insurers. Whatever the case - fair or not - the UK government decided you can … [Read more...]
What to Do After a Loved One Dies (Part 1)
This is the first article in a three-part series of how the handle the immediate aftermath of someone who died, and entrusted the sad task to you. Perhaps you never discussed it. However as their partner you have decided to run with the ball. In this, the first … [Read more...]
A Short Introduction to the Legal History of British Wills
During the dawn of human history we can safely assume when someone wealthy died the next most powerful person grabbed the loot. We have Ancient Greece to thank for many of the foundations of the British system as passed on to us by our Roman and French … [Read more...]
Wife’s Alleged Killer May Use Insurance Proceeds to Pay Defence in U.S.
The long arm of the law moves slowly in Denver, Colorado, or so it seems. Robert Feldman allegedly killed his wife three years ago and then helped himself to a $751,910 pay out as the sole beneficiary of his wife's insurance policy. It took all that time for the … [Read more...]
What Is the Difference Between a Trustee and an Executor?
A will describes the full and final distribution of the assets of an estate of a deceased person. Once an inheritor receives their portion they can do anything they want with the proceeds. That’s because a person who leaves a will cannot ‘dictate beyond the grave’. … [Read more...]
When Probate Fraud Arises What You Should Do
Tradition has it death and income taxes have the highest probability of striking. Unfortunately, due to human greed probate fraud also scores quite highly. That’s the possibility someone will find a way to circumvent a person’s will, and grab at least a portion for … [Read more...]
How the UK Probate Disaster Muddles On
If the UK probate system were our employee, we would have dismissed it three months ago. If it were a company, its customers would have closed it down. However, it is still stumbling on despite the mess it finds itself in. Government departments seem to soldier on … [Read more...]
Why You May Not Need a Solicitor to Apply for Probate
Having a friend suddenly die on you can put your mind in a spin. You have a horde of things to do ranging from calling the family doctor and arranging a death certificate, to contacting a funeral director to make arrangements. Moreover, you may find yourself in … [Read more...]
