Kings Court Trust Blog

One Step Too Far or a Great Digital Legacy?

on 22-Apr-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

Believe it or not, social media is already bridging the gap between life and death; a controversial new app called LivesOn was recently launched on Twitter, which you can authorise to create a personal digital afterlife.

Court Decides Next of Kin Inherit After Declaring Will Invalid

on 02-Apr-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

A High Court judge has ruled that the will of an 80-year-old woman, which left her inheritance to her closest friends, is invalid after concluding that she was mentally unstable when conveying her final wishes, the Daily Mail reported.

What is a Trust?

on 11-Mar-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

Many Wills may have a Trust written into them but there is often confusion surrounding the reasons why it has been included and what it actually means. Jean Massih, Legal Assistant at Kings Court Trust, explains…

STEP Disappointed With LSB's Decision on Estate Administration

on 26-Feb-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

While commending the decision of the Legal Services Board (LSB) to recommend to the Lord Chancellor that Will writing should become reserved legal work, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) has expressed dissatisfaction with the LSB's move to leave estate administration out of regulation.

Council Tax Hike to Hit Beneficiaries of Empty Homes

on 21-Feb-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

Starting from 1 April 2013, some local authorities are planning to raise the council tax on empty homes, which will affect beneficiaries who are struggling to sell the properties of their late relatives.

CLC & CILEx To Apply to Regulate Will Writing

on 19-Feb-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) and the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) have confirmed their bids to become regulators of will writers, amid criticism of the recommendation by the Legal Services Board (LSB) to leave estate administration out of regulation.

Why is Executor Choice Important?

on 17-Jan-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

Having a Will in place is essential to ensure your property and assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. It is also important to carefully choose the Executor(s) of your Will.

DIYers - Beware of Tax Penalties for Innacuracy

on 17-Jan-2013 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

Grace Li is Tax Manager at Kings Court Trust and explains what it means to be the Personal Representative of someone’s estate and what you should be aware of when it comes to submitting Inheritance Tax (IHT) forms and other documents to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Bernard Matthews' Failed End-of-Life Wishes Teach Us a Valuable Lesson

on 21-Dec-2012 09:00:00 By | Kings Court Trust |

As Christmas approaches and we begin to think of turkey and other delights, I am reminded of the case of Bernard Matthews, the British poultry producer, whose end-of-life wishes were defeated by French law. This high-profile case highlights the importance of taking care of every detail regarding your estate.