Featured in The Guide – Raynes Park & West Barnes Residents’ Association

When making a Will, most people focus on deciding who will inherit their money, property and other assets. However, there are often personal wishes and practical matters that do not need to be included in the Will itself. A Letter of Wishes can sit alongside your Will and provide additional

A deed of variation can allow beneficiaries to change how an inheritance is distributed after someone has died, without the need for lengthy legal proceedings. What Is a Deed of Variation? A deed of variation is a formal agreement that changes the terms of a will or trust after death.

For many Muslim couples, a Nikah is the central and meaningful act that establishes their marriage in accordance with Islamic law. However, a Nikah does not necessarily create a legally recognised marriage in England and Wales. This distinction can have significant consequences for inheritance, particularly where one partner dies without

The death of a loved one can raise many practical and legal questions, particularly when property is involved. One of the most common is: “what happens to a jointly owned property when one of the owners dies?” The answer depends largely on how the property was owned and, in some

Our lives are increasingly digital, and our estates are no exception. Cryptocurrencies, online investment accounts, digital wallets, cloud storage, social media profiles, domain names and even valuable digital artwork may all need to be considered when making or reviewing a Will. Unlike many traditional assets, however, identifying a digital asset

A will challenge may appear legally compelling, but it can still fail if it is brought too late to achieve a useful remedy. That is the central practical message from McElroy v McElroy [2023] EWHC 109 (Ch), a decision that highlights the importance of acting promptly where a grant has

If you have been named as an executor of an estate, it is natural to feel slightly overwhelmed about the task ahead. Estate administration can be complex, especially when you are navigating the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of dealing with someone’s final wishes. This can be especially daunting if

A ‘Letter of Wishes’ should be used as a guide to trustees or executors about your personal preferences and reasoning on discretionary matters. However, this document is not legally binding in the same way as a Will or Trust deed is. Those wishing to ensure that their estate is distributed

If you have seen the recent news reports concerning the upcoming Autumn Budget, speculation on another round of inheritance tax changes may be ringing alarm bells. And if you are one of those who had previously been confident that your pension and property would pass smoothly to your loved ones,

In a recent article published by Today’s Wills and Probate, the topic of predatory marriages was discussed along with potential legal reforms on the horizon. It comes in response to a report by the Law Commission on modernising wills, published earlier this year, and concerns from contentious probate practitioners who