Government issues advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney
November 30th 2020The government has provided brief but useful advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and how they can be used to help people who are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. Michelle Hayes, Solicitor, provides an update. An LPA is a legal document that you can draw up when you’re fit and healthy authorising someone you choose to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer…
Siblings overturn their mother’s Will after family dispute
November 19th 2020Rebecca Armstrong Solicitor in our will claims team reports on this recent case. Four siblings have succeeded in overturning their mother’s Will after the court agreed that she had not fully understood its consequences when she signed it. The case pitted the mother’s first four children against her youngest child, the defendant. In 2004, the mother and her husband had executed mirror Wills, which meant that if the husband died…
Vulnerable woman’s Will upheld despite daughter’s challenge
October 26th 2020The High Court has upheld a vulnerable woman’s Will and rejected a claim by her daughter that she had been subjected to undue influence. By Rebecca Armstrong Solicitor The case involved two sisters, Teresa Ann Coles and Heather Christine Reynolds. In 2002, their mother made a Will leaving her estate to be divided equally between them. However, the relationship between the two sisters deteriorated in 2009. In 2012, the mother…
Leading legal firm expands as new solicitor joins team
October 21st 2020A LEADING legal firm has welcomed a new solicitor to its growing team. Michelle Hayes, 33, has joined the wills, probate and inheritance department of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors and will be based at the company’s Rosehill office in Carlisle. Originally from Bolton, Michelle is looking forward to the new challenge. She said: “Cartmell Shepherd is a well-established law firm which is embedded in the community and I’m excited about developing…
Leading legal firm launches nationwide wills dispute service
October 20th 2020A LEADING legal firm is maximising its expertise by branching out to offer a specialist wills dispute service nationwide. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, the only legal firm in Cumbria to be a member of the innovative UK200Group, has launched a wills dispute resolution website. Peter Stafford, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ managing director, explained why the firm, which has traditionally concentrated on mainly serving communities across Cumbria and Northumberland, has made the move…
Solicitor joins hospice board
October 9th 2020A SOLICITOR at a leading legal firm has joined the board of a hospice to help her local community. Claire Wilson 37, has become a trustee of Hospice at Home West Cumbria which provides palliative and end of life care. Claire, who is an Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said she was looking forward to helping support the charity’s work. Claire said: “Hospice at Home does amazing work, and…
Sons must pay inheritance tax on mother’s pension fund
October 5th 2020The Supreme Court has ruled that a woman’s sons will have to pay inheritance tax on her pension fund because she had not drawn upon it during her lifetime. By Nicholas Devlin Solicitor The court heard evidence that the deceased woman and her former husband had been directors of a company. Shortly before her death, she transferred funds from her company pension scheme into a personal pension plan, nominating her…
Farmers can’t afford to bury their heads in the sand over making a Will
August 6th 2020FARMERS have so much to deal with that tackling paperwork is never likely to be top of their agenda. But the coronavirus outbreak has been a wake-up call that there’s some tasks they simply can’t afford to bury at the bottom of their “to do” pile. Many farmers have been prompted to take action and ask for expert legal advice to ensure they are protecting their interests and their families.…
Wills witnessed over video links to be deemed legal during Covid-19
July 30th 2020The Government says that wills witnessed over video links during the Covid-19 pandemic will be considered legal and valid. The move is designed to make it easier for people to record their final wishes while keeping safe and practising social distancing. Currently, the law states that a will must be made ‘in the presence of’ at least two witnesses. However, while isolating or shielding some people have understandably turned to…
Launch of new digital registration of LPA’s should speed up process
July 24th 2020A new digital service from the Office of the Public Guardian aims to help attorneys acting on behalf of donors of LPAs Andrew Campbell from our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team explains how: The Office of the Public Guardian (“OPG”) have launched a new digital service to help attorneys prove that a lasting power of attorney exists to healthcare providers, banks and other relevant organisations.A lasting power of attorney (“LPA”)…
