Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Services
    • Conveyancing
    • Remortgaging
    • Auctions
  • Our Team
  • Pricing
    • Residential Property Pricing
    • Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Probate Pricing
  • Documents
  • News
    • Legal News
    • Family and Matrimonial
    • Residential Property
    • Tax and Financial Planning
    • Trust, Wills and Probate
    • General
  • Glossary
  • Contact Us
Lewes Smith
  • Make an enquiry
  • Request a callback
  • 01273 483 455

Trust, Wills and Probate

  • Administering Estates - Procedures and Pitfalls A recent survey has shown that more than one in ten people who are thought to have died intestate (i.e. without leaving a will) may actually have made a will and that a similar number of those who leave a will which is initially believed to be the last will...
  • Asset Valuation Problems - Chattels When dealing with an estate, an increasing problem for executors is the valuation of assets in the form of the chattels of the deceased. In probate terminology, chattels are the ‘everyday’ assets such as furniture and ordinary possessions, as...
  • CGT and Shares in Estates Valuation Trap In the UK, there are quite generous exemptions from Inheritance Tax (IHT) which apply to business assets. One problem with making use of such exemptions is the effect this may have on the subsequent value of the relevant assets for Capital Gains Tax (CGT)...
  • Changing Wills For Benefit A will expresses the final wishes of the deceased person and it is commonly thought that a will is irrevocable after death. However, provided everyone agrees, it is normally possible to vary a will provided that the application is made within two years of...
  • Cohabitees and Death - Who Can Claim? When one member of a cohabiting couple dies, it can come as an unpleasant surprise to the bereaved partner to discover that not all of their late partner’s estate will pass to them in the absence of a will. It is only when this happens that many people...
  • Dealing With an Insolvent Estate One of the rules that applies to the administration of estates is that whilst a person appointed as executor under a will can refuse to accept the appointment, once an executor ‘intermeddles’ in the estate, in principle he or she cannot then...
  • Estates - What Happens if Values Fall? One of the biggest problems now facing executors is that assets can fall in value as well as increase, which can mean that the value of an estate for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes is greater than the market value later on. Where assets are disposed of at...
  • Heir Hunters - Take Advice! Until the recent publicity afforded by television shows on the subject, many people might not have realised that ‘heir tracing’ companies exist, let alone that they research ‘promising’ estates by looking at public records and then...
  • Helping Your Executors Being an executor is a demanding job at the best of times and a task that is made all the more difficult when the deceased has not given proper thought to the problems their executors will face. Here are some of the things you can do to make sure your...
  • How do I Leave Money to Charity in My Will? It's easy to include a charity in your will, but you should always consult your solicitor before you write or change your will  to be sure it reflects your exact intentions and that you understand its implications. Before you call your adviser, take a...
  • Making Your Will - Guidance It is easy to keep putting off making a will. However, having a valid will is the only way to guarantee that your estate goes to who you want it to when you die. If a person dies having made a will, the distribution of their estate is normally...
  • What Happens on Intestacy? The Inheritance and Trustees’ Powers Act came into force in late 2014. It changes intestacy law in England and Wales to allow a deceased's estate to pass to their widow, widower or civil partner absolutely where there are no children. The intestacy...
  • What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? In October 2007 there was a fundamental change on the way in the way powers of attorney are created and the powers that they can give attorneys, when the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) was replaced by the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). EPAs are no longer...
  • What is a Trust? A trust comes into effect when a ‘settlor’ places money, land or other assets in the hands of trustees. The trustees are the legal owners of the property but are obliged to hold and manage the property for the benefit of a person or a group of...
  • Who is Under the Influence? The law recognises that some people (such as solicitors or accountants) have a high degree of influence over other people (their clients), since clients hire their professional advisers for the specific purpose of giving advice. However, it is not normally...
News
  • Legal News
  • Family and Matrimonial
  • Residential Property
  • Tax and Financial Planning
  • Trust, Wills and Probate
  • General

Latest News

Father Who Disinherited Daughter Lacked Capacity to Make a Valid Will

2021-12-02 00:00
Read more

What Does 'Survivor' Mean? High Court Resolves Inheritance Doubts

2021-11-16 00:00
Read more

Dying With Your Affairs in Disarray is a Poisoned Legacy for Your Loved Ones

2021-11-03 00:00
Read more

Judge Unravels Agatha Christie-Style Plot to Detect Will Forgery

2021-10-18 00:00
Read more

Father's Failure to Make a Will Plunges His Widow Into Legal Difficulties

2021-10-06 00:00
Read more

Court Honours Woman's Intentions by Correcting Clerical Error in Her Will

2021-09-22 00:00
Read more

Making a Will? This is Why You Should Appoint a Professional Executor

2021-09-09 00:00
Read more

Don't Delay Making a Will Until You Feel the Hand of Mortality Upon You

2021-08-19 00:00
Read more

Wealthy Father Under No Obligation to Maintain His Healthy Adult Daughters

2021-08-05 00:00
Read more

'Both' or 'Each'? - One Mistranscribed Word Triggers £6.4 Million Will Dispute

2021-07-15 00:00
Read more
  • Page 2 of 5
  • Previous
  • Next
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© Lewes Smith solicitors and property lawyers. All rights reserved.
Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No: 308733 VAT no: 750 5266 40

  • Legal Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Complaints
  • Cookies
  • Site Map
Your choice regarding cookies on this site

Clicking the Accept All button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies (check the full list). We use cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click Settings.

Our use of cookies.

You can learn more detailed information in our Privacy Policy

Some cookies are essential, whilst others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. The technology to maintain this privacy management relies on cookie identifiers. Removing or resetting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential Cookies

These cookies enable core website functionality, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.

Google Analytics Cookies

Google Analytics cookies help us to understand your experience of the website and do not store any personal data. Click here for a full list of Google Analytics cookies used on this site.

Third-Party Cookies

Third-Party cookies are set by our partners and help us to improve your experience of the website. Click here for a full list of third-party plugins used on this site.