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 Private Client weekly highlights—5 February 2026
Question of the week: Can executors pay inheritance to a beneficiary who is subject to a debt relief order? Are there are any additional precautions the executors should take?
The following Tax news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on FTT finds HMRC validly assessed taxpayer to CGT and penalties as a UK resident (Kearney v HMRC)
The following Tax news provides comprehensive and up to date legal information on FTT decides joint and several liability notice is a criminal charge and it has jurisdiction to consider public law arguments (Hall 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...
Revocation of WillsA Will is revocable at any time during the testator's lifetime. A Will may only be revoked by automatic operation of law (involuntary revocation) or by a deliberate act of the testator (voluntary revocation). Apart from these methods, and where there has been an obliteration under
Contents of Wills—residuary giftsWhat a residuary gift comprisesThe residuary estate will not necessarily comprise only cash, but will usually include other assets that have not been sold during the course of administration. Section 33 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925 (AEA 1925) defines the
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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