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Questions about Wills

What happens if a husband and wife accidentally sign each other’s wills?The answer to this will depend on whether the husband and wife are both still alive or if either, or both, has passed away. If they are both still alive then correct the situation

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Do I need a Grant of Probate?

A grant of probate is a legal document often required by executors if a person has died and left a will. The executors are the persons who have been appointed in the will to carry out the wishes of the person who has died.People often

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Highcliffe Castle Christmas Tree Festival 2024

This year Highcliffe Castle are holding their first ever Christmas Tree Festival. Decorated trees will take pride of place in their State Rooms. As well as the beautiful trees visitors can also enjoy Christmas storytelling and a festive trail which will incorporate the trees contributed

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Death Bed Wills and Death Bed Gifts

In a book written by a palliative nurse “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” the top 5 regrets are: What if on your death bed you remember that you have not paid attention to my articles and you have not made or updated your

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Criminal Activity

To my shame I was a recent victim of a scam.  In May I had contacted my bank as I could not use my debit card.  I was told that there was suspected fraudulent activity on my account and my card had been stopped.  I

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Hotchpot……

…no not a recipe for a fine English stew or the name of the witches’ cauldron in Macbeth.  The word hotchpot was used as early as 1292 as a legal term. Executors of a will asked to divide an estate equally among the deceased’s children

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Predatory Marriage

Predatory marriage – a marriage that takes place in circumstances where one party to the marriage has been induced to marry by the other party who is acting solely for financial gain. There is already a criminal offence of “forced marriage”.  A person commits an

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Digital Lasting Powers of Attorney

The Powers of Attorney Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 18 September 2023.  The aim of the Act is to make the process of preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney digital.  The Justice Minister said: “This Act allows us to modernise the service, introduce

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Inheritance Tax

Inheritance tax receipts increased to £7.5 billion from March 2023 to April 2024. This is the highest value ever recorded. The figure was a £400 million increase from the same period in the previous tax year.Although the amount collected has increased only 4% of estates

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