A Trust is a legal arrangement that can form part of a person’s Will and come into effect upon death, granting the named Trustees in a Will control of assets, such as funds and property, on behalf of the beneficiaries. Various types of Trusts can be written into a Will, depending on an individual’s circumstances. This blog will provide an overview of our experience of working with Trusts in Wills upon death, specifically exploring Property Trusts, Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trusts (NRBDT), and Trusts for Minors.

The legislation, which was first passed in 2020, that allows for Wills to be witnessed via virtual means in England and Wales due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended until January 2024. Though the amendment was originally due to end 31 January 2022, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has deemed it necessary to remain in place, as many continue to isolate.

Looking back to our first blog of 2020 where we predicted what could make headlines throughout the year, there was definitely a prediction that did not make the list – a global pandemic that would affect our personal and professional lives in unprecedented ways. Aside from the pandemic, we saw some other news that impacted the estate administration industry, as well as accomplishments from Kings Court Trust that have affected how we work with each of you.

Disputes over inheritance have soared in recent years, with the number of cases reaching the England and Wales High Court increasing dramatically during the last decade. According to Direct Line Life Insurance, 12.6 million British adults would be prepared to dispute a Will and go to court if they disagreed with the division of their relative’s estate.

It’s no secret that mistakes, misconceptions and unfortunate circumstances occur when people make (or fail to make) arrangements for their estate. However, these errors become amplified when they are made by famous people. As human beings, we are curious by nature and our curiosity often piques when we get a glimpse into the lives of individuals with assets most of us can only dream of and the public battles that may ensue among the deceased’s heirs. Regardless of value and status, there are notable lessons that celebrity deaths have taught us about planning our legacy. Let’s take a look at four celebrities that have passed away, leaving behind lessons we can all learn from.

It’s now official – heterosexual couples in England and Wales can formalise their relationship with a civil partnership rather than marriage. Civil partnerships were first introduced through the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 and was only available to same-sex couples . As of the 31st of December 2019, mixed-sex couples have been able to form this union. The amendment to the Act was made as a result of a Supreme Court ruling which confirmed that the Civil Partnerships Act 2004 was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

The importance of creating a valid Will has been a popular topic of conversation recently. After details of George Michael’s Will came to light, some popular TV and radio shows including Loose Women, This Morning and The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, took the opportunity to discuss the topic.

The ‘Changing family structures: The Will writing industry in 2018’ research paper provides new and insightful findings about the Will writing industry in the UK. It builds on the findings from our first Will writing industry report, ‘A changing landscape: The Will writing industry in 2017’. Both papers provide a general overview of the Will writing industry but this year’s report has a specific focus on changing family structures and the implications for Will writing services.

The Office of National Statistics has reported that there has been a 33% rise in the number of unmarried couples since 2005. Perhaps unsurprisingly, during this time there has also been a rise in the problems which result when an unmarried partner dies without a Will.