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The increasing use of unregulated online will writing services could lead to a surge in family disputes over a loved one’s estate, researchers have warned. Online services have become more popular over the last few years, particularly during the Covid lockdown periods. The consultancy firm, Funeral Solution Expert (FSE), analysed 26 online will writers. It…

The government has announced plans to build thousands of new homes on underused and derelict land to regenerate local areas and help people on to the property ladder. Nearly £58 million from the £75 million Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) has been allocated to 53 councils to fund the scheme. Ministers say the funding will…

The government has announced the next step in its plan to provide an extra 1,500 homes for first time buyers and key workers by 2023. Home builders across England have been invited to bid for a share of the £150 million being made available by offering plots for sale as First Homes, The contract award…

The High Court has reconciled contradictory instructions relating to a deceased woman’s estate so that all three of her children can receive an equal inheritance. The court made the ruling after the trustees of a settlement applied for an interpretation of the woman’s will. Under the deed of settlement, the woman had a special power…

A man has been removed as an executor of his mother’s will after his brother complained that he was obstructing the administration of the estate. The case involved three brothers; two of them were executors of her will. Following several years of disagreement, one of the brothers raised a petition seeking the removal of the…

Three homeowners have lost their appeal against a decision that sections of land they bought with their homes should be classed as ‘gardens or grounds’ and so be subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) at the full rate. The issue in each case was whether the land sold with each house was, or formed…

An 86-year-old woman has had her will declared to be valid by the High Court despite suffering from dementia when she created it. A dispute between the two brothers and two sisters was at the heart of the case. The mother died in 2015, ate the age of 86. Her will created in 2010 left…

The number of first-time home buyers has reached its highest level for 12 years. Data collected from mortgage lender shows that 35,010 people started their journey on the property ladder in August 2019. This is the highest in a month since August 2007. Information from both UK Finance and the Ministry of Housing state that…

A mother’s will, which left nearly all her estate to her daughter, was not overturned by her three sons. The original will divided her estate equally between the four children. Unfortunately, her health started deteriorating in 2009 and her daughter moved in as her carer until her demise in 2016. During this period, her sons…

People who have been overcharged when arranging deputyships for over a seven-year period can now claim refunds. The average pay is thought to be £240. The fees for the appointment of deputies, who help people that lose the capacity to manage their financial and welfare interests are set by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) while…