There is no rule requiring an attesting witness to have ‘mental capacity’ as such. (Section 14 of the Wills Act 1837 refers to a witness not having to be ‘competent’, but that is thought to refer to the old rules of evidence governing competence to be a witness, rather than mental capacity.) Mental capacity is time...
The Question assumes : Inheritance tax advice has been provided on GROB and PET depending on the situation The risk of the daughter being made bankrupt, predeceasing or divorcing and her mother’s assets being taken into account. A lack of any declaration of trust will make the mother’s position more difficult as she would have...
If you die without having made a will, your estate passes under the rules of Intestacy. These rules set out a statutory prescribed order of who benefits under these circumstances. The legislation does not include unmarried cohabiting partners.At TLS, we encourage everyone to put in place a will to ensure that your estate will go...
It is important that Lasting Power of Attorney’s (LPA’s) are put in place at a time before they become necessary. We advise clients to put them in place at the same time of making a will. If an LPA is not an option, there is an alternative. You could apply to the Court of Protection...
We would like to wish a big congratulations to Malwina Konopinska on her admission to the Roll of Solicitors. Malwina started her legal career with us in 2015 and re-joined the firm to complete her solicitor training last year. With 7 years of conveyancing experience under her belt Malwina is ready to hit the ground...
Benefits of selling in 2022/2023 Low competition – Due to the increased demand for houses, it is likely you won’t have much competition. This is good as it can allow for a quick sale at a price you are happy with. In fact, it could leave you with a much greater price than your original...
Buying a property is an extremely exciting time for people, especially if you are a first-time buyer. Although purchasing a property can have its ups and downs, it is all worth it when you have the home of your dreams. Reasons to be hopeful about buying in 2022/2023 First Time Buyers do not pay any...
What is Stamp Duty Land Tax? You must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. You pay the tax when you: Buy a freehold propertyBuy a new or existing leaseholdBuy a property through a shared ownership schemeAre transferred land or...
Many people are under the impression that making a Will is only for people above a certain age. But the problem is that death can occur at any time, and not planning ahead can leave your loved ones with additional tax and stress, that could have easily been avoided with a bit planning and forward...
The effect of marriage that you may not know about! Few people realise that when you tie the knot, unless you have a Will that was written in contemplation of your marriage, it automatically becomes void, placing you in the position of being without a Will at all. This means that unless you make a...
