Articles by ‘Mandy Casavant’

No matter how much your house is worth, most people will have buildings insurance as it’s generally a requirement of most mortgage lenders. But it’s a little known fact that not buying contents insurance for your property is getting some wealthy individuals who employ staff on their properties into hot water.

There has been a recent increase in cohabiting couples marrying at the last minute. So-called ‘deathbed weddings’ are to ensure that the surviving partner receives financial support when their spouse dies. The problem is that cohabiting couples are not treated the same as couples who are married or in a Civil Partnership, and could therefore suffer some shocking consequences as a result.

As people look for alternative ways to invest their money there are increasing numbers of estates which include digital currencies. However there are several issues that can arise, which can make dealing with their administration complex, time consuming and in some cases can mean that the asset is lost in its entirety. 

Retirement has been changing; with longer life expectancy, changing working habits and older generations increasingly assisting younger generations. For those planning their futures, it can be essential to take estate planning advice, make Lasting Powers of Attorney and keep an up to date Will.

In a world where technology is rapidly changing, and wealth and assets are becoming increasingly fragmented and difficult to define, managing your legacy and understanding the value of your family’s assets is not simple. Specialist Mandy Casavant discusses the importance of making sure your family know the value of your collections and assets, and how our unique Life Safe portal can help you do this.

Where would we all be without technology? Look at your own daily life from waking to bedtime. Social media, PayPal and online banking, downloaded music catalogues, eBay, Amazon, email accounts, mobile phones, electronic address books… it’s endless. But what would happen if you were to die? Have you given any thought to your digital legacy?

The Telegraph published an article in December entitled “Inheritance tax shocker: Some families will pay 80pc”. Be assured, there is no 80% inheritance tax rate, and this “shocker” only applies in very limited circumstances.

Private client lawyers at the Swindon and Marlborough offices of RWK Goodman have raised £6,625 for Prospect Hospice through the annual ‘Make a Will Month’ campaign.

At the recent Conservative Party Conference the housing minister, Gavin Barwell, suggested that parents should pass their assets on to their grandchildren, not their children because younger people “are less likely to own their own home and we need to do something about that”. John Pengilley suggests that a discretionary trust Will may be a better solution.

Our private client team in Swindon and Marlborough raised £7,512 for Prospect Hospice during its most recent ‘Make A Will Month’ by waiving their usual fees in exchange for a charitable donation.

In his pre-election budget of April 2015, Chancellor George Osborne announced that the Government will review the ongoing availability of deeds of variation. A consultation was consequently launched, which could potentially lead to significant changes to inheritance tax mitigation.

The private client team at Swindon-based law firm Withy King raised over £9,000 for Prospect Hospice during its most recent ‘Make A Will Month’ by waiving their usual fees in exchange for a charitable…