Guardianships – are they really worth it?

Most of us have probably come across the term “guardian” or “guardianship,” but have you ever stopped to think about whether this is something you need to put in place? As a parent, it may be something you think you may never have to consider but the safest option is to make provisions for your …

What considerations should be made when choosing a guardian?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor to the world on Monday 6th May 2019. Like any new parents, now is definitely a time that they should look to reconsider their estate plans to make sure planning is up to date and no new family members will be disadvantaged. One of the …

Excluding someone from your Will

Relationships change, people and families fall out or drift apart. Maybe one of your children is well-off enough in their own right and you’d rather your other children or grandchildren inherited from you instead. Whatever your reasons, you’ve decided that there is someone you would just rather not make provision for in your Will. This post will guide …

The importance of a Lasting Power of All Attorney

The recent news announced yet another person this time famous actress Barbara Windsor named as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.j Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, which is a collective term for symptoms including problems with language and thinking, and commonly memory loss. If you lose mental capacity you may need a trusted person …

Mental Capacity or Not ?

Mental capacity or not? Mental Capacity Act 2005 The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) sets out what happens when people are unable to make decisions i.e. when they lack the capacity to make decisions. The MCA came into full force on 1 October 2007 in England & Wales. The MCA is supported by a Code …

Football, Dementia and Me Alan Shearer.

I’m confident many of you would have seen Alan Shearer’s documentary ‘Football, Dementia and Me’ on the BBC over the weekend. Dementia is seemingly rife in ex-retired footballers, so much so that studies are being conducted into the possible link between heading the football and later life dementia. Alan Shearer, who over the course of …

Cohabiting couples warned of ‘common law marriage’ myths.

Cohabiting couples warned of ‘common law marriage’ myths Millions of unmarried couples who live together could be unaware of their rights if the relationship breaks down. Resolution carried out a survey which found two-thirds of cohabiting couples wrongly believe “common-law marriage” laws exist when dividing up finances. The number of unmarried couples living together has …

Dying without a Will

The number of enquiries about people who have died without making a will has more than doubled over the past five years, Citizens Advice says. The charity recorded 1,522 such queries in 2011, rising to 3,747 in 2015, along with a rise in queries about problems executing wills. According to a YouGov survey, nearly two-thirds …

Could Cohabitees Soon Get Recognised on Pensions ?

Denise Brewster lost her long-term partner, Lenny McMullan whom she had been cohabiting with for over 10 years, they had brought their home together and were planning on getting married.Mr. McMullan had worked for over 15 years for Translink, who provided him as one of his benefits an occupational pension, two days after getting engaged, at the age of 43, Mr. McMullan died suddenly.

Top ten reasons to make a Will

Our top ten reasons to make a will Writing a Will isn’t just a nice to have. It can often arguably be one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only can a will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, it can also spell out exactly how …

Blog