Current laws regarding the signing of Wills have been in place since 1837 Section 3 of the Wills Act 1837 sets out that no Will shall be valid unless: it is in writing, and signed by the testator, or by some other person in their presence and by their direction; and it appears that the […]
As we approach the end of tax year 2019/2020 on the 5th April 2020 now is a good time to make use of your annual exemption for gifts – if you have no already done so. Making use of ‘gifts’ Everyone has an annual exemption of £3,000.00 which allows you to make gifts of assets […]
Free Wills from Cunningtons for over 55s this March During the month of March 2020, Cunningtons Solicitors LLP will be taking part in Free Wills Month. Free Wills Month is organised by a number of different charities; the scheme is designed to reinforce the need for everyone to have a professionally-drawn up Will, while raising […]
Currently, in England and Wales only those who are married or civil partners do not have any inheritance tax to pay on assets left to them by their spouse. Any other class of people who live together do not enjoy the same inheritance rights and can potentially see an inheritance tax bill of 40% of […]
In the event an individual dies in England and Wales without a Will or their Will only disposes of part of their assets then their residuary estate (or the undisposed part of) will fall under the Rules of Intestacy. The current Rules of Intestacy came into force on 1st October 2014 and under these Rules, […]
Inheritance Tax or ‘the dreaded tax’ as it’s sometimes known continues to rise, with HMRC receiving £5.4 billion in 2018/19, compared to £5.2 billion the previous year. A review of inheritance tax by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS), requested by Chancellor Philip Hammond, has suggested several changes to make Inheritance Tax on gifts to […]
You can rely on receiving an inheritance you’ve been led to expect all your life. What are your options is you end up feeling disinherited? We talk you through your rights in these circumstances.
Since Cunningtons started supporting Will Aid we have raised an incredible £11,387 for nine Will Aid Charities which benefit from the scheme run during the month of November. Will Aid is a British Charity Will writing scheme designed to reinforce the need for everyone to have their professionally drawn up Will to raise money for […]
DIY Is Not Always The Best Way Forward The number of cases being heard in the High Court relating to inheritance dispute has risen sharply in recent years from 227 in 2018 to 368 in 2019, largely as a result of DIY Wills which are riddled with errors. These have usually been drafted by people […]
Wintertime can be a very difficult time for the elderly who are more vulnerable in the winter months. It is a sad fact that every year approximately 20,000 more people aged 65 years or over die during the winter months. Ways to assist the elderly: Keep an eye out for illness or unusual behaviour Keep […]
The recent judgment by the Supreme Court on the Illot versus The Blue Cross and others case was a triumph for charities named in Wills. This judgment finally marks the end of a legal battle that has been raging since 2004. It was also a blow to adult non-dependent children of the deceased who wish […]
Solicitor Bryony Wilmshurst from Braintree issues warning about the Government’s online tool for Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). LPA tool leaving people at risk of financial abuse and fraud A coalition of organisations including Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), Action on Elder Abuse, Anchor, Contact the Elderly and SOLLA are backing the new report Solicitor Bryony Ruth Wilmshurst from Cunningtons Solicitors LLP based […]