The word ‘chattel’ comes down to us from the harsh economics of everyday life in mediaeval England, many hundreds of years ago. The truth about chattels in England in those days, was that most wealth did not sit in bank accounts or property portfolios. Instead, it … [Read more...]
Personal Chattels In Intestate Estates
Most people who die nowadays leave a will, dictating what happens to their possessions when they die. It’s a simple matter to draw up a final testament nowadays, what with all the free templates available on the internet. All should go well if they follow the procedure … [Read more...]
Capital Gains Tax and Chattels Refresher
Chattels were once a term the landed gentry may have used to refer to the private property of the peasantry. These possessions were restricted to highly mobile items like livestock, as the latter weren’t allowed to own their land, or houses in dark mediaeval days, These … [Read more...]
Chattels Valuation For Probate – A Complicated Process
Chattels Valuation For Probate - A Complicated Process Chattels valuation refers to the process of determining the value of movable personal property, or "chattels." These can include items such as furniture, jewelry, antiques, art, vehicles, machinery, and similar … [Read more...]
A Lay Persons Guide to Hoarding Disorder: How Does It Work?
What is hoarding in your mind? Is it something people accuse you of because your hobby is spreading itself? That’s harmless enough. However, if an elderly relative leaves their estate in your hands you could face a compulsive hoarding situation. And that's a more … [Read more...]
What is the Difference Between Probate Value and Market Value?
Amending Probate Valuation Probate is a legal process that has to be carried out at what can be a very distressing time. It can be tempting to simply “get it done” as quickly as possible. This offer the best chance to close the chapter and carry on with life. But it … [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 administer … [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...]
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...]
How Much Can I Expect my Estate to Pay for Probate?
The government funds the national administration, and all its services from the tax it collects. There never seems to be enough money to go around. Therefore it takes a final bite out of most estates in the form of probate fees, and inheritance taxes. INHERITANCE … [Read more...]
