Blogs
Dryden vs Young – why you should take care when making charitable bequests in your Will
When Marjorie Thompson passed away in 2020, she left behind a Will making bequests to a number of charities. However, it was found that seven of the charities were incorrectly or ambiguously named. For example, Ms Thompson named the ‘Animal Defence Society 52 – 53 Dean Street London W1V 5HJ....
Brother wins battle in £10m strawberry farm case
The son of a fruit farmer who abandoned his dream of becoming a Royal Marine to work in the family strawberry business has won a court battle against his brother over their father’s £10m business. Richard Winter gave up his dream of military stardom to grow strawberries after his father promi....
Frequently asked questions about passing on wealth
As the Private Wealth Law Firm, we have spent many years supporting our clients to pass down their wealth to future generations as smoothly and tax-efficiently as possible. Although every client’s needs and experiences are unique, there are some questions which we find come up time and time again....
Labour government releases policy statement on “a generation of new towns”
In 1946, as Great Britain emerged from World War II, the New Towns Act came into force, giving the government the legal right to designate areas of land for new town development. The new towns programme was an ambitious planning project designed to alleviate overcrowding and poor living conditions ....
The Renters’ Rights Bill – Labour’s plans to end no-fault eviction
As many of our readers will know, we have been following with interest the previous Conservative government’s pledges to introduce landmark protections for renters. Unfortunately, the advancement of the Renters’ (Reform) Bill through parliament came to a screeching halt after former Prime Minis....
What did the King’s Speech promise for planning?
The King’s Speech – formally known as the Speech from the Throne – is a much-awaited event that is delivered at the State Opening of Parliament, marking the start of the parliamentary year. In this speech, the UK monarch sets out the government’s priorities for the months ahead Thi....
Donationes mortis causa – what is a ‘deathbed gift’?
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the validation of legal documents became a significant challenge due to the need for witnesses to be physically present. Although temporary legislation was passed on 31 January 2020 to enable the signing of Wills to be witnessed using video conferencing technology, thi....
Inquiry calls for change in probate service crisis
Analysis of Ministry of Justice data shows that there has been a 65% increase in probate cases taking a year or longer to clear. These delays are continuing to cause significant emotional distress and financial losses for families who are already going through an incredibly difficult time in their ....
When fees transparency meets unreasonable behaviour
As lawyers, our reputation is built on the quality of our advice, the outcomes we deliver for our clients, and our commitment to transparency and honesty when it comes to explaining the fees our clients will pay for the services we provide. It is this last aspect that will be the focus of our bl....
Do grandparents have rights?
In many families, grandparents play a huge role in their grandchildren’s lives, their upbringing and their welfare - from providing childcare to supporting them financially through their education. As a society we are increasingly recognising the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren....
Anne Robinson provides a lesson in estate planning
The news that Anne Robinson has given away her £50 million fortune to avoid paying inheritance tax has recently caused a splash around the media. But can gifting your fortune really keep the taxman away? And what does the story tell us about the importance of estate planning? Inheritance....
Executor of will vs power of attorney – what’s the difference?
In the world of estate planning, there are two legal roles that often get confused: executor and attorney. The former is responsible for carrying out the wishes of a deceased person as per their Will, whilst the latter is responsible for looking after a person’s money and welfare while they ar....
