Can I use a trust to cut my IHT and care home fees? (Part 1)
Today we begin a series of weekly articles covering wills and probate, trusts and powers of attorney. If you would like advice on any of these matters, please click on the links above to send us an email. We open with the following article by Claire Redding: On average we expect to receive a call at least once a week from someone asking whether, if they transfer their home into the names of...Read More
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Charity Golf Day – Adjourned
We are sorry to say that we have had to adjourn this year’s Charity Golf Day, which was going to be held at Silvermere, on account of the pandemic and the latest government stipulations. The good news is that we have re-arranged a date for Spring next year by which time we hope that it will be possible to host this event and it will be bigger and better than before. The new date will be 17th...Read More
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Statement on COVID-19
In light of rising concerns surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to assure you that Carpenter & Co is committed to maintaining business operations as usual. Our number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our clients and staff. With this in mind, we wanted to let you know what we are doing to keep everyone as safe as possible during this time. We are not accepting...Read More
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Simon McIlwaine appointed Legal Advisor to the South African Legion
Our partner, Simon McIlwaine, has been appointed as Honorary Legal Advisor to the Legion in the United Kingdom, where he will be assisting with developing the organisation’s charitable structure. Around 227,000 South Africans reside in the United Kingdom, probably one quarter of whom have undertaken national military service in the armed forces or the South African Police. The South African...Read More
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Restrictive Covenants
What are covenants? Simply put, covenants are obligations or rules, and can affect either Freehold or Leasehold land. They can be classified as either positive or negative. Positive covenants impose an obligation to carry out some positive action (which typically requires money to be spent). An example would be the obligation to maintain a property’s boundary fence. Negative covenants – also...Read More
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Carpenter & Co raises £480 in St. Raphael’s Hospice’s “Make your Will Fortnight”
We have participated once again in the St. Raphael’s Hospice “Make your Will Fortnight”. Under the terms of this scheme, for a period of two weeks, our Wills & Probate team prepared wills free of charge for a number of local people who each made a donation to the hospice. We have been pleased to support a local charity and the sum raised this year was £480. Carpenters have supported this...Read More
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Charity Golf 2019
We are looking forward to our 11th annual charity golf day at Silvermere golf course on the 30th of September this year. The event is in aid of Help for Heroes who do great work assisting armed forces veterans, service personnel and their families. If you’d like to take part in this event, we have spaces available. See the flyer or contact us at golf@carpenterssolicitors.co.uk for further...Read More
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Free seminar for first-time home buyers
If you’re a first-time buyer, this event is for you. A panel of friendly experts (including our own Rebecca Mabert) will give presentations. They also will be glad to answer all of your questions about getting on the property ladder – there is no such thing as a silly question. Place: The Ginger Frog, 53 Woodcote Road, Wallington SM6 0PH Time: Thursday 4th April, from 6:30pm to...Read More
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No Will, No Way
Unmarried couples who have lived together for a long period of time often mistakenly believe that they are “common law” spouses and that on the death of one, the other will inherit. This is not the case, and especially where the partner who has died did not leave a Will. In such circumstances, the estate of the deceased would pass under the intestacy rules not to the surviving...Read More
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A Chilling Forecast: England and Wales to See a Sharp Rise in Probate Fees from April 2019
The Government has announced major changes to probate fees, which means applications for a Grant of Probate may cost some families £6,000 or more – unless the estate is worth less than £50,000, in which case no fee will be payable on application. Currently, probate fees – paid when administering someone’s estate after they die – are fixed at £0 for estates worth £5,000 or less and £215 (or...Read More
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Avoiding too much tax on death
We recommend that everyone should check their Wills to avoid missing out on a significant exemption to inheritance tax liability which could be worth up to £175,000 on an individual’s estate (or more for married couples or those in civil partnerships). In April 2017 there was introduced the Residence Nil Rate Band exemption to inheritance tax payable and this means that many older Wills...Read More
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