Articles by ‘James McNeile’

One in three UK adults expects that they or their partner will inherit money or property of some value, according to recent research.

City-based solicitors Royds LLP has been accredited to the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS).

In the last few weeks we have been bombarded by press stories warning of “the most horrendous retirement income car crash” next year, that 200,000 pensioners will “blow their pensions” next year, and that HM Revenue and Customs will be overwhelmed next year and will apply emergency tax codes to any payments from pension schemes, so that 40% (or even 45%) tax will be applied to payments as low as £17,000.

The daughters of an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease have successfully opposed a bid by their brother to take control of her affairs.

Radical changes to intestacy laws came into force on October 1st, aimed at simplifying the issues of inheritance in cases where the deceased has left no Will.

Radical revisions to the intestacy rules came into force today (October 1) which are aimed at simplifying the issues of inheritance in cases where the deceased has left no will. 

Death and taxes have always been part of life and people make wills, not just to ensure their estates are divided as they would wish but, increasingly, to try and negate some of the effects of inheritance tax. Due to expanding property values and, to some extent to popular savings schemes like ISAs, those who may never have considered themselves wealthy now face the prospect of their estates becoming subject to the tax.

New statistics have revealed that cases involving claims of mishandling estates have more than tripled over the last year.

Thinking about the consequences of an accident or illness that causes severe incapacity is not something most of us want to do.

I recently read an article in The Telegraph which focused on the negative issues surrounding the much misunderstood and much reported-on powers that attorneys have when acting under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). The article reported that attorney disputes with banks are on the rise, and there has been a sharp increase in attorney related litigation.

Around six million people in the UK are living with a partner and the number looks set to keep growing.

Around 12,000 families a year are running up legal bills and facing delays in sorting out financial and health issues when their relatives become incapacitated, according to newly published research.