Advice
Whilst we at Heritage Will Writing work in the field of Wills and Estate Planning – and this post applies directly to our profession (and to you, if you’re looking to write or update your Will) – it applies, equally, to every trade or profession I’ve ever come across. The fact is, whatever area you’re looking…
Right Money, Right People, Right Time is our FREE Wills and Estate Planning seminar. We chose that name because we’re passionate about making sure that the right money goes to the right people at the right time in your family. One of the challenges we have is that most people – and you may be…
What happens if you are sorting out the financial affairs of someone who has died and you suddenly realise there is not enough money to pay all the debts? First of all, don’t panic. As the executor or administrator, you cannot be held liable. The Government has laid down rules to cover this, similar to…
Mortgage may literally mean death pledge, in a medieval concoction of Latin and Old French, but it doesn’t go away when you die. Some lenders are happy to suspend repayments while personal representatives wait for the grant of probate. But be aware that some companies do insist on receiving their monthly instalments regardless of the…
Dying certainly costs a lot of money but there is a glimmer of good news. Council tax ceases to be due from the date of death. It’s also not charged on empty homes until six months after probate is granted. So it’s important to notify the local authority as soon as possible, especially if there…
How much your jewellery is worth depends on who’s asking. For insurance purposes, the value is the replacement cost. But that price is not used for the purposes of probate. Searching the market place for an identical item or paying to have it re-made will cost considerably more than the price the buyer would pay.…
Something that may catch many people out is the need to re-tax a car that you inherit when, say, a parent has died. Most of us know that we would need insurance. But some may not be aware that the DVLA changed its rules when vehicle tax discs were abolished in 2014. Tax used to…
It may appear a tad unfair but you can still be charged rent on your home after you have died. There may be a requirement for a month’s notice, for example, in the contract. Who pays that? Well, you do. Or at least it comes out of your estate. If you are an executor or…
SMALL businesses run the risk of major upheaval if one of the owners dies without carefully planning what would happen to their shares. A survey by financial services giant Legal & General discovered that 51% of Britain’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) bosses have not left any instructions in their wills or made other special…
THE register office in the town in which the death occurred must be notified within five days unless the coroner is involved. This, of course, may not be the deceased’s own town. It is the registrar who issues the death certificate not a doctor, who only issues a medical certificate. You will need the medical…