To understand what intestacy is, it is useful firstly to understand when it occurs. The situations in which an intestacy can occur are when the deceased: (a) did not make a will, (b) revoked a will, without making a new one or (c) made a will which was invalid. The most common result of (a)…
In our December 2019 article we discussed the possibilities of beneficiaries bringing a claim against an invalid Will. Although this is possible, it can be incredibly difficult for a person to prove that a Will is invalid. Therefore, to save time and costs, a potential beneficiary can choose to accept the final Will of the…
Rebecca has been working within our Private Client department as a Legal Support Assistant and has now progressed to Trainee Solicitor where she will assist Hilary Buckle, Jane Whitfield, Charlotte Fox and Vanessa Ruparel in a variety of different matters including Wills, Powers of Attorney and the administration of estates. Prior to starting her training…
The new decade has ushered in a plethora of proposed new law that could have huge implications for couples and families. A total of 84 private members’ bills are currently making their way through parliament. This article highlights those that are likely to have the largest impact in relation to Private Client matters. Increase in…
The old saying goes that there are only two guarantees in life: death and taxes. Therefore, with this in mind, it makes sense why so many of us want to ensure that after we die, our hard-earned assets are passed to the people who mean the most to us. Wills are one of the most…
The growth in claims after death Over the next few months, Barrett & Co will be publishing a series of articles highlighting the extensive work that we do in what is known as Contentious Probate. This specific type of civil litigation is primarily linked to issues and disputes caused when family members pass away, perhaps…
In November 2018 the UK Government proposed a substantial increase in Probate Court fees which were to be charged on a sliding scale in accordance with the value of the Estate. My colleague, Jane Whitfield, wrote an article at the time explaining the increases which can be found here. These increases would have seen our…
You may be eligible for a refund if you were overcharged deputyship fees by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) for England and Wales. Due to the difficulty in predicting costs, as the number of deputyships rose faster than the OPG expected, the fees charged did not match how much it cost the OPG…
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as the ‘attorney’) to act on your behalf should you ever be unable to deal with your affairs. Such inability may arise as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but equally if you suffered…
When making a Will many people focus on protecting and passing on their financial assets, and some consider that they do not need a Will if they do not have any assets. But what about protecting your family? As a parent you need to consider who would look after your children if something happened to…
