Blog
Nov 2021
Stamp Duty Holiday has finished, so why are house prices still climbing?
According to recent figures by HMRC, there was a 25% increase in Stamp Duty receipts in the six months from April - October 2021, compared to the same period in 2019. While the flurry of activity in the market boosted the average house price in the UK, many were surprised that once the Stamp Duty holiday came to an end, prices didn't come down with it - but why?
Nov 2021
If the Chancellor takes your pension pot for IHT you might want to stay one step ahead
It’s fair to say expectations of anything less than doom and gloom from last month’s Budget were pretty standard as we recover from the economic blow that was Covid-19 - and it seems even if you die you have not escaped the Chancellor's notice for an opportunity for taxation.
Nov 2021
Sign a digital LPA - and save yourself 20 weeks!
If you’re about to draft a Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) document, you might be in luck - as the process to sign paperwork and make things official could be about to get easier.
Nov 2021
If you’ve had a couple of marriages, you might want to check your will
Posthumous fallouts don’t just sound unpleasant, but for those living through them, they can be heartbreaking to deal with, on top of losing a loved one.
Oct 2021
Oct 2021
What will be this year’s “rabbit out of the hat”?
Never has there been more speculation around a budget statement as we emerge from Covid-19 and continue to pay for the damage it has caused to the economy. Could it be this is the end of the rabbit-out-the-hat moment, as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak looks to balance the books? Here are a few predictions from us as to what the budget may contain this Wednesday.
Oct 2021
STEP pushes for simpler access to digital assets after death
The professional body for lawyers and other practitioners who work with families, STEP, has completed a project with Queen Mary University of London, highlighting the real problems people will face if accessing digital assets isn’t made more simple.
Oct 2021
Increase in couples signing pre-nups
According to the Marriage Foundation, 20% of couples are now signing pre-nuptial agreements before tying the knot - compared to just 1.5% in the 1970s. But why?
Oct 2021
Marrying in later life? You might want to consider the financial side.
As we enjoy longer, healthier, and more active lives, many people see retirement as a chance to try something new - which is perhaps why more of us are marrying much later. But, whilst being older and wiser can bring with it more life experience when it comes to relationships, there are some financial implications to consider too.
Sep 2021
OPG outlines plans to make LPAs “fit for the future”
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has released a consultation in efforts to bring the Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) process up to date without compromising safety.
