The possibility of both you and your partner dying while your children are still under 18 verges on the unthinkable but, however unlikely this situation might seem, it is important that you make provision for it in your will. Unless you have given specific instructions, children left without any parents can be placed in care …
Many people do now make the financial Lasting Powers of Attorney but unfortunately a large proportion do not wish to think about the health and welfare document, which could be equally important in the future if you were to lose mental capacity. We have recently spoken to a client whose husband has Alzheimer’s. The client …
Whilst it is always important to have a Will, this is particularly important if you are an expat resident in Spain, or even if you just have a holiday home there. The Brussels IV Regulation that came into force in August 2015 was intended to simplify matters between member states when making Wills and dealing …
Sometimes the generosity of a friend or relative leaving you a gift in their will can backfire if it turns out your estate will need to pay tax on it or if there is a chance that it could be swallowed up in future care costs or in satisfying some other type of claim. It …
If someone you know has died and has left a Will, and you have been asked to deal with their affairs, you need to be able to prove that you have the legal right to do this. Otherwise, you will run into difficulties when trying to access their bank accounts or sell their property and …
When a loved one dies, and you are the next of kin, there are legal formalities that must be dealt with. Deborah Adams, head of private client department at Parnalls in Launceston explains what you should do. Registering a death Your first duty is to register the death. Either the next of kin or the …
Leaving a gift to charity in your will Time spent with family and friends over the festive period can make you realise how precious life is and the importance of ensuring that those you love and care about are provided for when you die. Among those you wish to benefit from your will may be …
In an earlier article, Deborah Adams, head of private client department with Parnalls in Launceston, explained how making gifts of money or property during your lifetime could help reduce the inheritance tax payable on your estate when you die. In this article she looks at how making potentially exempt lifetime transfers, under what is known …
If you are fortunate enough to have financial security, and more money than you need to live comfortably, then you may want to pass on some of your wealth to your family and friends while you are still alive. Making gifts to loved ones during your lifetime can be immensely rewarding and tax efficient, but …
21 September 2017 is World Alzheimer’s Day. To mark the occasion, and help raise awareness of the issues faced by dementia suffers and their families, Deborah Adams, head of private client department with Parnalls Solicitors in Launceston, provides an overview of the practical legal steps you can take to help protect yourself and your loved …
