Fill out this short form and one of the team will get back to you.
Expert Comments
Opinion
estate-planning
inheritance-tax
Heir Hunters – A Warning
Last week, we were contacted by a client who had received a phone call, and then a follow up visit to their home, by an heir hunter agency. Our client…
March 11, 2021
Opinion
Budget 2021 – Thawing out the frozen Inheritance Tax thresholds
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, yesterday delivered one of the most eagerly awaited Budgets in recent memory. Whilst in the midst of a very unique current climate, all…
March 4, 2021
Blog
Can Trusts be trusted and why might we use them?
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) have recently produced a report on the ‘Social and Economic Benefits of Trusts’ which, among other issues, looks at the way that...
Signed, Sealed but not Delivered – How Joint Property Passes on Death
Many people believe that making a will is simple and can be done through DIY kits. However, they fail to appreciate the nuances of many relevant legal matters, including property…
November 9, 2020
Blog
wills-and-probate
Donatio Mortis Causa: Are deathbed gifts legal?
The usual way of making gifts in your lifetime fall under those that are “Inter Vivos” gifts, which translates to those “between the living” and those which are made in...
October 29, 2020
Blog
intestacy
Death, Taxes and the Crown: What happens to everything I own when I die?
The belief that the Queen will take all of your assets if you die without a Will is often raised by those who are not sure how the law works....
October 21, 2020
Opinion
Covid-19
Signing a will using video conferencing – a great new option or only a last resort?
During the Covid 19 crisis, many more people have been thinking about writing or changing their will. But a major concern has been how to get the will witnessed correctly...
Post-Pandemic Probate: how to deal with the estates of those who have died
It has been a difficult time this year with many relationships, families and minds being tested as a result of the far reaching impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Whilst we...
August 7, 2020
Blog
What happens if someone loses mental capacity without Lasting Power of Attorney?
One of the most common questions I am asked by clients is:- what options are available to me once a loved one has lost their mental capacity and does not...
June 22, 2020
Opinion
A Reduction at the Registry: The Future of Grant Applications after Covid-19
In the past it was a comfort to know that Registry grant applications would take up to 10 working days to be issued, but following legislation proposed by Government in...
June 8, 2020
Opinion
Signing a Will and Social Distancing
Since the start of lockdown, solicitors’ offices have been closed and clients are being relied upon to correctly execute their wills at home. The Wills Act 1837 lays down strict...
May 29, 2020
Opinion
Why did Sally Challen challenge the Forfeiture Rule if she didn’t want the money?
It has been widely reported in the media that Sally Challen has won the right to inherit the £1m estate of her husband despite being convicted of his murder, subsequently...
Who wants to be a Millionaire: A guide to the current rules on Inheritance Tax (IHT)
It is hard to believe that back in 2015, the initial IHT guidance for the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) was announced. This provided a gradual increase in the RNRB...
May 19, 2020
Opinion
Demand For Wills Jumps 76% In Two Weeks Due To Coronavirus
As the UK begins to adjust to the “new normal” that we face amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many families are approaching their affairs with an increased sense of reflection and…
Keeping Calm and Carrying On: Wills & Probate Services during COVID-19
In these unprecedented times, the Private Client team here at Hodge Jones & Allen wishes good health to everyone with the hope that life will return to normal as soon...
March 26, 2020
Opinion
The Proposal: Inheritance Tax Exemptions For Transfers Between Siblings
Lord Lexden, a Conservative peer in the House of Lords has sponsored a Bill (cited as the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (Amendment) (Siblings) Act 2020) that amends existing legislation to…
March 13, 2020
Opinion
Is it safe to rely on the intestacy rules?
On 6th February 2020, the statutory legacy awarded on intestacy to a surviving spouse or civil partner will go up by £20,000 from £250,000 to £270,000. Every 5 years, the...
A new alternative to marriage for heterosexual couples in the UK
Civil partnerships were first legalised in 2004 however this was exclusively for couples of the same-sex. Therefore, prior to 31 December 2019, mixed-sex couples who objected to marriage would not...
January 21, 2020
Blog
Capacity to marry: Can you be too vulnerable for marriage?
The recent case of Mundell v Name 1, heard in the Court of Protection has ramifications for claims on divorce and also issues surrounding a person’s capacity to make a…
Over the years TV shows and popular culture have depicted storylines of people murdering wealthy family members in order to receive an early inheritance, or prevent it falling into the...
