Author Archives: Heather Warnock
Are you Divorced and Now in a New Relationship ?
Recent research has been carried out by Direct Life Line Insurance which revealed that 60% of divorced adults in the UK, who are now in a new relationship, have failed to update any of their personal finances since their previous … More
Cheers to Norwich City Football Club
I don’t know how many times and how many ways to say it, but the importance of having a Will cannot be overstated. To put it in a simple context, please read this true and heartwarming little anecdote. A gentleman … More
Can Someone With Dementia Make a Will?
It was World Alzheimer’s Day on the 21 September 2019 offering an opportunity for organisations and individuals to raise awareness of the disease and to do all that we can to support those living with the illness. The generic term … More
Life Admin
You would hope that your next of kin, your nearest and dearest, would be able to help manage your affairs if you were in an accident or diagnosed with a brain disease and you could no longer make decisions for … More
Estate Planning with Foreign Assets
Owning a home in another country is not uncommon. It is a great way of getting to know another country, perhaps learn another language and is somewhere to go when you need time to relax. However, not all owners of … More
Rachel Thompson has won her case against Apple
Rachel Thompson’s husband Matt died in July 2015. Rachel, a property adviser, from Chiswick met Matt when she was 19 and he was 18. They married ten years later and had a daughter Matilda who is now ten. Matt died … More
Advance Directives and Dying Matters
I recently had a discussion with a client and the subject of advance directives (sometimes known as living wills) arose. It is a sad matter to talk about, but the fact is, in life some people do become incapacitated either … More
Inheritance Tax exceeds £5 Billion for the First Time
HM Revenue & Customs recently released data which showed Inheritance Tax (IHT) raised a record £5.2 billion in the financial year 2017-18, up 8% from the previous tax year. It is thought that the increase is due to the fact … More
Scottish Law Could Lead the Way by Treating Elder Abuse as a Hate Crime
Scotland could be one of the first countries in the world to treat abuse of the elderly as a hate crime. The Justice Minister, Humza Yousaf, advised that he was considering whether targeting victims because of their age should be … More
Inheritance Rights of Cohabitees
Cohabitation is far more common these days than ever before. To move in with a partner is a big decision and understandably the practicalities of what would happen to the cohabitants’ home if one of them were to die without … More