Crafting wills is a fundamental aspect of private client practice. This topic offers expert guidance on drafting, executing, and contesting wills, ensuring your clients' wishes are clearly articulated and legally sound, while addressing potential challenges and disputes.
The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on No line of sight—due execution and presence In the Estate of Kathleen Coady
The following Private Client news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on Private Client weekly highlights—2 October 2025
Question of the week: What are the key points to consider when advising on a new Will for an individual when that individual's spouse has dementia and assets including properties are held jointly by the two of them?
FTT considers two cases on the calculation of the ‘reference salary’ and other aspects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) job retention scheme (City Blinds Scotland Ltd v HMRC and Complete Solutions Europe Ltd v HMRC)
Nature and classification of trusts—the three certaintiesCertaintyIn order for a settlor to create a private express trust the three certainties must...
ProtectorsWhat is a protector?A protector is a person who holds powers under a trust but who is not a trustee. A protector is a person who is...
Preparing the application form PA1P/PA1A for probate or letters of administrationFORTHCOMING CHANGE: The postal application forms PA1P and PA1A for...
Administration actions—personal representatives and the deceased's liabilitiesAn individual may assume obligations, for example in respect of...
Personal representatives and trustees—power of appropriationAppropriation is a process by which a personal representative (PR) or a trustee uses a specific asset in the estate or trust fund to meet, in full or in part, a beneficiary’s entitlement or interest.Personal representatives' common law and
Where a beneficiary is present when a Will is signed and witnessed, but is not an attesting witness to the Will, are there any grounds to challenge that beneficiary's entitlement under the Will?See Practice Note: Requirements for a valid Will which sets out the formalities for the proper execution
Contents of Wills—rules of apportionmentThe rules of apportionment should be considered at the moment of drafting the Will. Whenever a Will creates a trust, some rules of apportionment may be applied or excluded unless they have been dealt with expressly in the wording of the Will.Essentially, the
Failure of gifts—lapseThere are a number of reasons why a gift may fail, including where a gift has lapsed. For further guidance on the various reasons for the failure of a testamentary gift, see Practice Note: Failure of gifts—effects. This Practice Note considers the doctrine of lapse in more
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