Understanding your right to reasonable financial provision from a deceased person’s estate If a loved one has died and you have been left out of the will, or left less than you reasonably need, you may have options. Under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and...
Private Client
Major Changes Ahead: How Undrawn Pensions Will Impact Inheritance Tax from April 2027
Pensions have long been a tax-efficient way to pass on wealth, but that is about to change. From April 2027, undrawn pension funds will fall within the scope of inheritance tax for the first time, with significant implications for estate planning, probate, and the...
Understanding “Gift with Reservation” What It Means and Why It Matters
When you give away an asset, you usually give up all rights and benefits attached to it. However, in some cases, the person making the gift (the donor) might still want to keep using or benefiting from it. This is where the concept of a “Gift with Reservation” comes...
Spotlight On: Ian Pringle
Muscatt Black Graf managing partner Ian Pringle has been practising as a lawyer for more than 30 years. In addition to advising individuals and families on private client legal matters, Ian has extensive experience in residential property and commercial property,...
How to Protect Your Assets with Trusts
A Trust is a legal arrangement where one party gives assets to another person or entity to manage for the benefit of another individual or group. Trusts can be an extremely useful estate planning tool and, if used properly, can be a highly effective and...
Why is it Important to Make a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that enables an individual (the ‘donor’) to appoint one or more people (‘attorneys’) to manage their affairs should they lack the ability or mental capacity to do so themselves. Many people mistakenly believe that...
When Should I Make a Lasting Power of Attorney?
In this blog, our experienced Private Client lawyers consider frequently asked questions relating to Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs). What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? An LPA is a legal document that allows an individual (the donor) to appoint one or more people...
Why Do I Need a Solicitor to Write a Will?
There has been an increase in contentious probate claims in recent years. Several factors have contributed to this rise, with an ageing population, the cost-of-living crisis and a heightened willingness to contest a will all playing a part. An increase in homemade and...
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney and Who Needs One?
A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lack the capacity to do so yourself. Many people mistakenly believe that their spouse or other next of kin will automatically be able to access their bank...