Imagine your property is like this red apple: If you own your property as joint tenants, then you both hold this red apple together as a whole. If one of you dies, then the apple passes in its entirety to the survivor automatically, so the survivor ends up owning the whole apple on their own….
It is often the case that when a person dies the biggest asset they leave as part of their Estate is their property. In areas of the South East of England especially, the equity in such properties could be substantial. It is therefore very important for the executors to secure that asset, sell it on…
By acting as an Executor you take on a key responsibility to protect the estate of the deceased. In many cases the substantial asset of the deceased is the former family home so you must act quickly to protect the asset. What are the steps you should take if the property is unoccupied? You should…
The importance of the Health and Welfare Lasting of Power of Attorney has been highlighted recently with the Covid-19 vaccination. Many of the elderly and vulnerable members of society have already received their first vaccination. If you or a family member have not taken up your vaccination appointment then what can and what can’t you…
Following on from last month’s contentious probate article, Contentious Probate: How Much and Who Pays, we go into detail about one particular way in which clients can instruct a solicitor: using a CFA. What is a CFA? A conditional fee agreement is an agreement between a client and their lawyer where payment of the lawyer…
It is a common misconception that people think they do not need to make a Will because they do not have anything of ‘significant value’ to leave to family and friends. However, with the modern world and technology constantly evolving, most people now have some form of digital assets which are equally as important to…
Any person who has a Deputyship Order in their favour, on behalf of another person, needs to ensure that they adhere to certain steps and requirements as and when that person dies. Some of these steps include:- The Practical Steps when a Court of Protection Order ends due to death. Final Financial Reports required by…
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a powerful legal document that gives very strong permissions over someone’s life and wellbeing, therefore it is advisable that you seek legal help and advice from a solicitor when wanting to make a Power of Attorney to ensure that there can be no risk of abuse of the power given. By…
Among the Private Client team, clients often ask us whether putting their home into the names of their adult children would be a good idea. This is usually due to concerns about the costs of care as they become elderly, or perhaps fears that their home would have to be sold to pay Inheritance Tax…
This month we witnessed National Grief Awareness Week from the 2nd-8th December and this year, perhaps more than any other year, highlights the importance of recognising grief, supporting those experiencing grief and becoming aware of the support systems available. Barrett and Co Solicitors are proud to support and work alongside the Good Grief Trust and…
