Having mental capacity when you don’t
In order to leave a valid will, you need to have mental capacity at the time you sign the will, right? Wrong. The recent, sad case of Burns v Burns [2016] EWCA Civ 37 once again shows that setting aside a will on the ground that the testator lacked capacity can be difficult, and should […]
Budget spells out application of inheritance tax rules from 2017
George Osborne has used his 2016 budget to amend inheritance tax rules for non-doms with property held abroad indirectly now subject to the charge. Budget documents state: “The government is undertaking a major reform to non‑domicile taxation. As announced at Summer Budget 2015, from April 2017 non-UK domiciled individuals (non-doms) will be deemed UK domiciled […]
Widow told she’s “too wealthy” to receive extra from late husband’s homemade will
The widow of construction tycoon Ian Wooldridge has been told she’s “too wealthy” to receive extra from her late husband’s will. Thandi Wooldridge, who previously ran an advertising company and is worth £10 million in her own right, took her stepson to court saying she needed an additional £372,000 a year to cover her own […]
The 25th IPW Annual General Meeting and Conference – what you missed
This year’s Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) and Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW) General Meeting and Will Writing Academy Conference held today (17th March 2016) has been a great success. Having attracted around 115 members to attend the event at Drayton Manor Hotel in Staffordshire, the IPW can safely say it was a very […]