Vigilance needed to protect those vulnerable to undue influence when making wills
News article published on: 9th October 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has left many elderly and vulnerable people increasingly isolated due to social distancing, shielding and restrictions on households mixing. Experts at London law firm Osbornes Law warn that this, combined with a new law that means wills can now be witnessed remotely, leaves those making wills potentially more vulnerable to undue influence. […]
Plan your Estate ahead of the Autumn Budget
News article published on: 25th September 2020
The issue of Inheritance Tax made the headlines recently after the Chancellor of the Exchequer was reported to consider raising it in the upcoming Budget. The Chancellor intends to recommend that Parliament approves the increase in certain taxes now, to help pay for the pandemic-related spending, with a view to decreasing the taxes around 2023 […]
Making a Will by video link
News article published on: 25th September 2020
The Government has recently announced plans to allow for the witnessing of Wills and Codicils by video conferencing. This is a welcome step which will enable many clients who are self-isolating or shielding to prepare a valid and legally binding Will in the current circumstances. The current law The current law on the validity of […]
I was left out of my mother’s last will and I am confident this was not her intention. What can I do?
News article published on: 2nd September 2020
Whilst testators in England and Wales are able to leave their estate to whoever they wish, we are often approached by clients who are distressed that they have been unexpectedly left out of the will of a loved one. This can be due to the testator willingly and knowingly disinheriting certain persons, but sometimes there […]
Dealing with a Contentious Probate Claim
News article published on: 12th August 2020
Many people do not know what a contentious probate claim is until they have become embroiled in one. The root of these claims is a dispute over someone’s estate after they have died. They can take many forms, a few examples are: Where a Will is invalid either due to a technicality (i.e. how it […]
