With no changes to inheritance tax announced in the recent Budget below is a summary of the allowances and exemptions currently in place. At present each individual is allowed the first £325,000 of their estate free of inheritance tax, referred to as the Nil Rate Band. Inheritance tax at 40% is usually payable on any…
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Wills, Trusts and Probate
April 6, 2021
January 20, 2021
The random nature of the Covid-19 virus has caused many of us to reflect on our own mortality during recent months. The long weeks of lockdowns have persuaded thousands of people to reassess their lives, and allowed them the time to focus on their financial circumstances. They have made new plans for their retirement, and…
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January 20, 2021
Research shows that over half of UK adults currently have no Will. This may be understandable if they are young and in good health, but figures show that even in the over-55 age group approximately 37% of people have still not drawn up a Will. When someone dies without leaving a will the UK intestacy…
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December 7, 2020
With public health at the front of everyone’s minds it is no surprise that more and more people have been updating their wills, or in many cases drawing up a will for the first time. It has long been the case that a will must be signed by the testator (the person who is making…
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November 25, 2020
As defined in the government website www.gov.uk: applying for the legal right to deal with someone’s property, money and possessions (their `estate’) when they die is called “applying for probate”. Before the next of kin or Executor named in a will can claim or dispose of any of the deceased person’s assets they may have…
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August 13, 2020
New rules allowing wills to be witnessed using video conferencing technology are set to be introduced in September, as the government attempts to streamline probate legislation in the face of Covid-19. Using software such as Zoom, Facetime and Skype, once an individual has signed their will it can be posted to witnesses for them to…
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July 13, 2020
Changes to the rules of intestacy were introduced in early February, increasing by £20,000 the amount a spouse will automatically inherit in certain circumstances. Intestacy rules decide how the assets of someone who dies without making a will must be shared out. From 2014, the spouse or Civil Partner was entitled to all assets in…
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May 27, 2020
Facing the often sudden death of a family member is difficult enough. Bereaved relatives report that they are now suffering additional stress as they try to settle the deceased’s affairs because of inefficiency on the part of banks, pension companies and utility suppliers. Clearly the Coronavirus outbreak has had an effect on the ability of…
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March 27, 2020
With public health at the front of everyone’s minds it is no surprise that more and more people are seeking to update their will, or in many cases draw up a will for the first time. The Law Society and the government are currently looking at ways to streamline the execution process in light of…
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November 4, 2019
The topic of digital legacy has been increasingly talked about in recent years and people should consider their digital assets when making a will or Lasting Power of Attorney. Firstly, would your Executor or attorney know about your online banking, your e-mail accounts, online shopping accounts and your social networking presence such as Facebook, Twitter…
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My name is Ruth Palmer Cooper. I am posting this review to publicly confirm that this solicitors is simply the best in St Albans. I have had the pleasure of dealing with Mr Osman Dervish and his team for the past 18 months. Throughout the entire process , Mr Dervish has been outstanding. He is a remarkable solicitor who answered various queries and handled all of the ups and downs with great professionalism and clarity. He supported me through so many very tricky moments and explained everything to me in a way that I could understand. He is polite and courteous.I would recommend him highly and the company are very lucky to have such a brilliant solcitor working within their establishment. Many thanks for making this whole episode so much more bearable.
william palmer cooper
Huge thanks to Lucy Madley and her team. They were friendly, helpful and proactive, keeping us informed at every turn and we have now bought our first house. I would recommend happily to friends and family.
Jack du Pille
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We are so pleased to have worked again with Osman Dervish at Bretherton Law.
Osman always goes out of his way to support us when buying or selling and is such an incredibly nice gentleman to converse with.
Thanks for all your support Osman. D Grant
Sandra Bradley and her team were extremely knowledgeable and efficient. Her care, consideration and professionalism were outstanding. I felt totally supported & extremely well represented throughout a very complex & complicated case for nine months. Words cannot express my gratitude for the result she achieved. Highly recommend to everyone.
Jen Bullock
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I know this law firm cover many different areas which I would use if I ever needed them. I can never thank Sandra Bradley enough for her professionalism and hours of work over the past 6 months in what was a complex family case. Her support was incredible she was always honest and never gave false hope. I have every confidence in recommending this law firm and will go back to them if I ever need further help or advice. Thank you once again. Dawn
Dawn Brett
We recently completed on the sale of a flat and the purchase of a house, with Osman Dervish acting for us. Osman was responsive, professional and commercial to ensure the transaction was done as efficiently as possible. He faced an inexperienced and extremely rude solicitor who acted for our purchaser but always maintained a cool and professional manner notwithstanding how infuriating she was! This really helped to ensure we worked our way through the issues she created. Brethertons were also good value. Highly recommended.
Sarah Wright
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I have done three conveyancing transactions and handled a Probate via Bretherton Law in the last 6-8 months. Bretherton Law is probably not the cheapest option in either case, but you do get the service and attention you pay for. Both Anne Stockley (Probate) and Isobel Doherty (Conveyancing) were outstanding and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
Joe Hames
Sandra Bradley and team, assisted my partner and I through a very difficult time. They guided us through a very complex arena that was completely foreign to us with professional dedication and compassion throughout. I still have them on speed dial and would use Bretherton Law for all my legal needs in the future and have recommended to many family and friends already, who have also had a highly positive experience.
Richard Saunders
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We recently used Bretherton Law for a sale and purchase. We were really pleased with the service received. The team were responsive and professional at all times. They took the time to answer any queries we had in detail to ensure we fully understood everything. Most importantly, there was a sense or urgency throughout the whole process. We would highly recommend Bretherton Law.
Adam
Serving Communities
We have been advising our local communities in the Northern Home Counties and London for over fifty years but now, from our base in St Albans, we also serve clients across England and Wales