You may think that if a person has a dementia diagnosis, they can no longer make a Will. In many cases, this could be true, but a qualified and experienced professional may be able to help. Read on for helpful guidance about the test for capacity to make a Will.

Your executors will need to be able to find your personal and financial information when the time comes.

A simple way to do this is to prepare and maintain a record for your executors. It doesn’t have to be long and complicated. It should simply show them what you own and where you have kept vital information.

Download my FREE template and find out more in this article.

You may think that LPAs are just for the retired and elderly.

But the truth is, every adult needs one. Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives you control. YOU choose who you want to support you if you need help after an accident, illness or in later life.

Here are my top 10 reasons why everyone over 18 should make Lasting Powers of Attorney.

A discretionary Will trust is like a gift box for your assets. With this legal trust arrangement, your trustees (people you choose because you trust them) have the legal power to decide how your assets are distributed among your beneficiaries. Your words, either verbally or in writing, guide their actions.

Let’s look at some of the situations where a discretionary Will trust could be advantageous.

A joint tenancy creates rights of survivorship. When one owner dies, the remaining owners automatically own the whole property. This means a joint tenant cannot gift their interest in the property to anyone by their Will.

Find out more in this easy to understand blog.

Writing your own Will may seem like a money-saving option. However, I regularly review handwritten Wills that contain minor (and major) errors that make them invalid or—worse still—don't have the intended effect.

This article explains some of the pitfalls.

A Deputy is one or more people appointed by the Court of Protection (CoP) to make decisions on behalf of another who cannot do so themselves. The good news is that it’s easy to avoid expensive and stressful involvement with the slow and bureaucratic CoP.

Click read more to learn how invaluable Lasting Powers of Attorney can be.

Cohabiting couples have fewer legal rights than married or civil partners. In England and Wales, the law does not recognise these loving relationships.

Here’s what you need to know.

Many of us face difficult and complex decisions when it comes to caring for our ageing parents.

Labout has scrapped the care cap of £86,000 but has not introduced any alternative arrangements. You may wonder what this means for your family.

If your relationship with your spouse or civil partner breaks down, you, your home, your assets and your family circumstances are all affected. The wishes you set out in an existing Will may no longer be appropriate, and you will likely want to reconsider your estate plans.

In this easy-to-read article, learn more about how the law looks at Wills when couples divorce. You’ll also find links to other resources and sources of support.

Every estate planner must be cautious when assessing the mental capacity of a person creating or amending their Will, especially if that person is elderly or in ill health.

Learn more about the test for capacity to make a Will and the golden rule in this article.

A letter of wishes sits alongside your Will. It can be a farewell letter to your family and friends and guide your executors about how you’d like them to deal with your wealth and assets if they have the discretion to do so.

Download my FREE template letter of wishes when you sign up for a monthly newsletter. Unsubscribe at any time.

Are you considering gifting your house to your children while you're still living in it?

You can give your house away to your children and continue living in it. BUT… and its a very big BUT… have you considered all the disadvantages?

Learn more in this blog article.

Have you fallen out with someone in your family?

Does it worry you that someone who’s no longer in your life might inherit from you? If so, it’s time to make your Will. Find out why impartial estate planning guidance is so crucial in this article.

The simple answer to the question, “Can my children inherit if they live overseas?” is yes, but there could be a few hurdles.

If your child is also an executor of your Will, there will be an added layer of complexity. Find out more in this blog.

All wills and documents submitted for probate are kept in their original paper form forever, as they have been since 1858. However, in December 2023, the government suggested a change: older wills could be scanned into digital form, and the paper versions destroyed after 10 to 12 years.

Find out the results of the review, and what will happen to your paper Will after you’ve gone in this blog.

It’s a sensible move to put your LPAs in place when you have the mental capacity to do so, but your choice of attorneys is crucial.

Appointing just one attorney is rarely advisable. Doing so can lead to an extra step in the house buying and selling process if your partner loses capacity, so it is worth considering other options. Learn more about Lasting Powers of Attorney and jointly owned property in this helpful article.

Understanding your legal documents is essential. Modern legal advisers use plain English and create sections to make your Will easy to read and understand. Legal words and phrases are inevitable in a well-drafted, accurate Will because they avoid ambiguity.

To help you, I’ve explained the most common legal terms used in estate planning in this article.

Estate planning can help protect your wealth for the next generation. Trusts are not only for the super-wealthy.

Standard mirror Wills do not include asset protection trusts. If safeguarding your wealth is important to you, read on, and to learn how a simple Will trust can benefit your family.

It might not sound as glamorous as hitting the gym or booking a dream vacation, but estate planning is a decisive step toward securing your future. Act now to protect the people you love. If you've been putting it off, you're not alone. Discover why 2025 should be the year you make your Will.