What can happen without a lasting power of attorney?
A lasting power of attorney, or an LPA, enables you to select a person to make key decisions for you regarding important elements of your life, such as welfare, health, business affairs and (more…)
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Study shows will errors lead to risks for disabled children
Over two-thirds of disabled children in the UK are unintentionally being put in financial jeopardy due to an error in their parent’s will. The report indicates that a common mistake can also lead to (more…)
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French superstar’s inheritance dispute resolved
The son of famous singer Johnny Hallyday has revealed that a legal battle over his father’s estate has finally concluded. (more…)
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How to dispute a Lasting Power of Attorney
With average life expectancy on the rise in the UK, people are increasingly looking to appoint someone to take care of their finances, property and healthcare when they can no longer manage these (more…)
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What might make a will invalid?
From simple errors, to serious issues arising where an individual does not have sound mental capacity when papers were signed, there are multiple reasons why a (more…)
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Wills witnessed via video link to become legal
To facilitate drafting wills in England and Wales during the COVID-19 outbreak, new legislation planned will make it possible for them to be witnessed remotely using (more…)
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Sister wins £2m inheritance battle over brother
Venetia Murray has been awarded a share of her family property valued at £2m, ending a decades-long inheritance battle with her brother, Dale Brunt.
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How to make amendments to your will
If you’ve experienced a change in personal circumstances, you might decide you need to make alterations to your will.
When this situation arises, it’s essential that you don’t action these changes by simply amending your original will after it has been successfully signed with witnesses. Any noticeable changes to the legal document will be assumed to have been added later than the date of signing and will not be classed as part of the original valid will.
There are only two ways of making changes to a will – you can either add a codicil to your will, or make a new one entirely.
What is a codicil?
A codicil is an addition to a will that makes one or several alterations to the document while leaving the remainder intact. This may be useful under many different circumstances, from changing a guardian or executor listed, adding beneficiaries or increasing the amount you bequeath to someone.
Codicils must always be signed by the person making the will and witnessed accordingly, although witnesses can be different to those used for the original document.
You can update your will with as many codicils as you require, but they are best employed for simple and straightforward changes.
Drawing up a new will
When a more complex amendment is required, the best policy is to make a brand-new will. It’s advised to begin any new will with a clause affirming that the document revokes any previous wills made along with their codicils. The old will should then be destroyed along with any copies made.
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Barrister ordered to pay six-figure sum in court fees
Michael Templeman, a barrister and son of a judge, must pay a £350,000 bill after losing a case against his stepsisters over his father’s last will.
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What is the cost of application fees for an LPA?
Assigning a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a wise way to ensure that if you are no longer able to make personal or financial decisions for yourself, you are cared for a manner of your choosing by the person you select.
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