Uncle died without a will – what happens ?

Probate

If your Uncle or Aunt has died without a will, it is of course important to double check that no will was left. the best places to check are local solicitors, banks or building societies or even the will search company called Certtainty. If no will can be found then  your Uncle’s estate will be subject…

Probate & Inheritance Tax under the Budget

Inheritance Tax

The Government when announcing its Budget on the 19th March 2014, provided a pledge that Inheritance Tax would remain at the current level of £325,000 until 2017/18. Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on those estates above £325,000 although there are a number of reliefs available. For example, assets that pass between spouses are exempt…

What is a Mutual Will ? a way of avoiding conflict

Probate

As a law firm specialising in contested probate perhaps one of the most frequent areas of contention arises when the Deceased had Children from two different marriages. The typical scenario is that the Deceased having remarried leaves everything to the second spouse, who may well have no connection with the Children from the first marriage. Upon the…

Signing of a will : probate problems

Contesting a will

The recent Supreme Court ruling in the case of Marley illustrates the tragic consequences of what can go wrong when a will is incorrectly signed. The facts of the case are very straightforward. Mr & Mrs Rawlings had mirror wills drafted, leaving everything to each other. If that failed their estates would pass to the…

How to obtain a copy of a will

Probate

After someone has died, family members are often anxious for various reasons to see the Deceased persons will. So what is the law and how can you obtain a copy ? If either a Grant of probate or Grant of letters of administration are issued, then a Copy of the Grant and Will becomes a…