Avery Associates

House Clearance & Probate Valuation Services


  • HOME
  • HOUSE CLEARANCE
    • Probate House Clearance
    • House Clearance
    • FAQ
    • Hoarder House Clearance
    • Garden Clearance
    • Charity Donations
    • Recycling
    • House Clearance Gallery
    • Our Locations
  • PROBATE VALUATIONS
    • PROBATE HELP
      • Probate Valuation Guide Fees & Advice
      • Probate House Clearance
      • Executor Assistance
      • Solicitor Assistance
      • Our Locations
    • Probate Valuation Explained
    • RICS Property Valuation
    • Classic Cars
    • Jewellery
    • Coins
    • Books
    • Stamps
    • Vintage Toys
    • Records
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
    • BOOK A PROBATE VALUATION NOW

Claudia’s Law Brings Some Relief to Heartbroken Relatives

August 19, 2019 By Richard Farrell

After a loved one goes missing, their financial affairs roll on. Utilities must still be paid or there is a chance they might lose their home. After a storm breaks a windowpane, someone must to repair it. However the missing person’s bank cannot compensate them because the law froze their estate.

There is a way out, of course. Their loved ones could ask a court to declare them dead, where after the probate process kicks in to wind up their estate. This can be too painful for their grieving relatives to bear. That’s because it represents accepting that a knock on the door will never come.

Opening a Window on the Real Claudia

Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence vanished on March 18, 2009 aged 35. She was chef at the University of York, and has still not been found after 10 years. A series of murder investigations followed. Police arrested various suspects and questioned them. All later went free.

Nobody knows what happened to Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence despite determined attempts. She left her passport and bank cards at home after a bar worker messaged her at 9:12 pm in the evening. Claudia’s father never accepted she was dead.

However, he did campaign for the right for a guardian to manage his daughter’s affairs, so someone could, for example stop a direct debit order on her accounts. Two years later, in June, 2019 his hopes came true when ‘Claudia’s Law’ came into force.

How Claudia’s Law Works in Practice

In a nut shell, the new law helps people close to missing persons manage their affairs as guardians. Thus they no longer have to ask for a declaration of death. A court may appoint one of them as guardian, if their loved one has been missing for over ninety days.

The Guardianship (Missing Person’s) Act also applies to people kidnapped, held hostage, or in prison abroad. Their permission is no longer necessary – if indeed this were possible. A competent court listens to the evidence before them, and decides.

Families in these situations are dealing with high levels of emotional stress – and a sense of helplessness, Tasoula Addison of a leading firm of solicitors says. This is not only regarding the safety of their loved ones.  It is also not being in a position to manage their financial affairs.

Claudia’s Law Releases the Legal Log Jam

There is no need to go through the expensive, traumatic experience of declaring a loved one dead. Moreover, the up-to-seven-year delay waiting for probate falls away, Families can now manage a missing person’s assets as they believe they would wish, within three months that can fly by fast.

Peter  Lawrence OBE, Claudia’s father told The Money “This will make such a difference to the lives of the hundreds of families who have been waiting so long for it, enabling them to deal with their missing loved one’s financial and property affairs in the same way as everyone else is able to on a daily basis.

“One less burden at a time when families are at their emotional lowest ebb will help enormously.” He knows, because he has experienced the anguish first hand. He richly deserves the OBE Prince William awarded him for taking the lead.

Related

Filed Under: Probate Valuation Tagged With: chef at the University of York goes missing, Claudia Elizabeth Lawrence missing for ten years, claudias law, probate valuation guide, The Guardianship (Missing Person’s) Act

Our House Clearance Services

We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

More info

About Richard Farrell

What We Do

Get A Quick Quote

Client Reviews

Imogen
Aug 3, 2022
 by Imogen on Avery Associates
Professiuonal House Clearance

Dear Jeffrey I want to extend a heartfelt thank to you and your team for the hero’s work that you all did yesterday at the house in Highbury. You... Read More

Anne Wenham
Jul 26, 2022
 by Anne Wenham on Avery Associates
Fantastic service

So pleased to have found Avery Associates when we had to clear a three floor town house. The probate valuations for house and contents were swiftly ... Read More

Margaret Campbell
Jun 24, 2022
 by Margaret Campbell on Avery Associates
Amazing Service and Support

Hello Pam / Jeffrey, As requested, sorry it is late …. I forgot☹️ I used Avery Associates for probate content valuation, clearance... Read More

Page 1 of 45:
«
 
‹
 
1
2
3
›
 
»
 

Share, Email or Print

Looking For Something?

Our Latest News & Advice

  • Why Must I Place a Deceased Estate Notice?
  • If We Must Vape Let’s Recycle E-Cigarettes
  • UK Government Fly Tipping Statistics 2020 to 2021


Avery Associates
291 Mitcham Rd
Tooting SW179JQ

Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

Services provided throughout London and the Home Counties. View our clearance case studies.


Website Terms | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Copyright © 2005-2018 Avery Associates
Website Development by Avara Web Media