Property and Affairs
This enables you to appoint one or more persons (Attorneys) of your choice to handle your financial affairs in the event that you become unable to do so, perhaps because of your own mental or physical incapacity. Your Attorneys will be able to deal with your bank accounts, sell your house, pay your bills, and anything else you need on your behalf.
Health and Welfare
A Health and Welfare LPA enables you to appoint a person or persons to make medical decisions on your behalf, should you be unable to consent yourself. This does not have to be the same person appointed as Property and Affairs LPA.
The kind of decisions within the arena of a Health and Welfare LPA include decisions about what medical treatment you receive, which nursing home or residential home you stay in, and (if required) who can or cannot visit you there.
We will be pleased to talk through your requirements and explain the procedure in more detail.
Contesting Wills and Disputes in Estates
When a person dies or falls ill, disputes can arise. These may be in connection with a Will, administration of a deceased person’s estate, trusts, or Court of Protection. We are regularly involved in advising individuals with regard to disputes.
Long Term Care
Long term care is an issue facing more and more people and their families. We can look at the potential impact of care and advise you on ways to plan your finances for the future.
Probate and Administration Of Estates
A case where somebody dies and does not leave a will is called an ‘intestacy.’
In such circumstances it will be necessary to apply to the Court for a Grant of Letters of Administration to enable the estate to be dealt with. We will gladly assist you in this process.
We will give practical, sensitive advice to families and personal representatives (those appointed to manage the estate) on how best to deal with matters following a person’s death.
We will assist with as much of the procedure as you wish. We will tailor our service to your needs, managing either the whole process or individual sections. We understand that this can be a very difficult time and will work with you to ensure that the procedure is as easy as possible for you.
Court of Protection – Office of the Public Guardian
Fiona Bruce LLP offer an extensive service regarding Court of Protection work.
Where a person has become mentally incapable, we can assist you by making an application to the Court of Protection to enable that person’s affairs to be managed.
We can advise you with regard to Enduring Powers of Attorney and Lasting Powers of Attorney. We will deal with the Office of the Public Guardian who act as the administrative arm of the Court of Protection.
Trusts and Inheritance Tax Planning
A trust is a legal device whereby property/assets are held by individuals (Trustees) for the benefit of specified people (Beneficiaries).
Trusts can be very useful, both for tax planning and safeguarding assets for future generations. We will be pleased to advise you in your particular circumstances on the type of trust that might best suit your needs.
We can advise on various trusts to meet your requirements.
In addition, we can advise you on how inheritance tax may affect you and your family. We will consider ways in which inheritance tax may be reduced both in your lifetime and under the terms of your Will.
Deed of Variation
In certain specific circumstances, the beneficiary of a will can retrospectively redirect their beneficial entitlement.
This may have tax advantages, or be for the purpose of protecting assets for future generations.
We offer comprehensive advice including the taxation consequences involved in such matters.
