How do you go about administering an estate where the death was several years ago and nothing has been done since?

There is a project that has been termed “Google maps for graves” which intends to map and photograph the Church of England’s 19,000 church graveyards, with the aim of recording every grave, headstone and memorial.

A more straightforward digital system to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) could come into play, but experts say that it is vital that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect elderly and vulnerable people from abuse. In this article, we look at how the system might work, and the concerns for potential abuse of a digital process for setting up Lasting Power of Attorney.

Two years ago this month, the Office of Tax Simplification published their second report into the reform of Inheritance Tax. Having gathered information from practitioners, government departments and the public, they sought to publish their findings about how the complex Inheritance Tax system could be reformed.

Receiving compensation as a result of a personal injury claim can provide some comfort when living with an injury or disability, however it can also be a daunting prospect. For many, the idea of managing the funds for themselves or their child can be quite overwhelming.

When a person receives a dementia diagnosis, this of course doesn’t automatically mean that they cannot make important decisions from that point onwards.

There are many reasons why an individual may establish a trust, whether this is created in a person’s Will to protect assets or during a person’s lifetime.

If you have concerns about an elderly or vulnerable person, finding out whether they have an attorney or deputy to assist with their affairs may be crucial.

The government have announced that, following recommendations by the Office of Tax Simplification, they are looking at ways of reducing inheritance tax reporting requirements. The government has now agreed to simplify the position so that, from 1 January 2022, over 90% of non-taxpaying estates each year will no longer have to complete inheritance tax forms for deaths when a grant of representation is required.

If you intend to leave savings, property or other assets to family or friends after you die, you need to consider the impact of inheritance tax (IHT). With the rate of IHT set at 40% for most estates above the thresholds, it is important to plan ahead, so that you can minimise IHT and ensure as much of your estate as possible reaches your loved ones.

So, what happens when a person has neglected to update their Will and it therefore misses out on more favourable tax treatment? Is there anything which the beneficiaries or Executors can do about it?

Succession planning is an essential part of running a family farm business. Effectively planning for the future allows you to protect your assets, safeguard your business, ensure continuity and provide for your family. Succession planning in the farming industry is also vital to the sector's viability as a whole. In this post, we look at some of the key things you need to consider when succession planning for your farming estate.