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NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND MY CHARITY OF THE YEAR

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND MY CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2018 I know, I know, it’s not even Christmas yet. So why on earth am I bringing up New Year Resolutions? I can’t help it I’m afraid. It’s time to publish my trusted and, some might say, valuable blog. Which is why I had no choice but to get ahead of the game and get you ahead of the game too. So for a moment forget about what you can buy Aunt Mabel. Can she cope with more posh toiletries and yet another scented candle? If the answer is yes, you […]

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WHY WRITING WILLS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!

WHY WRITING WILLS MAKES ME SO HAPPY! I’d forgive you for thinking I’m a bit strange – but I do enjoy writing Wills for my clients. It makes me happy and puts a smile on my face. I get even more excited in the moment after I’ve witnessed them signing their Wills when I see the look of relief on their faces. Job done! But how did this happen? How did I end up as a Will writer? It’s not the sort of thing most people have a desire to do when they are young and full of hopes and […]

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Have Will, will travel!

Have Will, will travel! AN ESSENTIAL ITEM TO ADD TO YOUR HOLIDAY CHECKLIST – HAVE YOU GOT A VALID WILL? Picture the scene: you’re packing for your holiday. You’re excited and can’t wait to get away from it all. Your sojourn in the sun, sightseeing in the city or swooshing down the slopes is almost upon you. It’s quality time for you and your family and it’s great to all be getting away together for some R&R. So, you’d think that, in this flurry of pre-holiday activity, having a valid Will in place would be the last thing on people’s […]

The new inheritance tax allowance and how it affects you

The new inheritance tax allowance and how it affects you The Residence Nil Rate Band Allowance What is it? The Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) is a new allowance for inheritance tax that came into force on 6th April 2017. It’s an additional inheritance tax-free amount that certain individuals can use alongside their existing Nil Rate Band (NRB) allowance. How does it work? At the moment, everyone has an NRB allowance of £325,000. This means that when you die, if the value of your estate, and any gift made within seven years of death, is below this amount, there will […]

Writing a Will: It’s not as hard as you think

WRITING A WILL: IT’S NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK In my 12+ years as a solicitor, I drafted Wills most days. My clients came from all walks of life and came with different personal and financial circumstances. Because I’ve had so much practice at drafting Wills, they’re second nature to me. I do though understand that it’s not the same for you. But trust me – you don’t need to feel that writing a Will is frightening or difficult. Yes, it’s true that some Wills need to have trusts and other special arrangements for families. But for most people, […]