by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
Yes — a UK Will can deal with a property you own in Europe. Under the EU Succession Regulation, known as Brussels IV, a British national can elect in their Will for the law of their nationality to govern their whole estate, including a home in France, Spain or Italy....
by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
This is the decision parents postpone longest. Fees and Executors get dealt with quickly; the question of who would raise the children if both parents could not is left open for years — which leaves it to be settled by other people at the worst possible moment. What...
by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
When a business owner dies, practical problems start immediately, long before probate is granted. A sole trader’s bank account, or any account in a personal name, is frozen the moment the bank hears of the death, stopping payments to staff and suppliers...
by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
A Will covers what happens after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) covers what happens if you lose mental capacity while you’re still alive – and without one, nobody automatically has the legal right to manage your money or make care decisions for...
by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and death benefits will count towards your estate for inheritance tax — legislated in Finance Act 2026, with HMRC’s technical note (updated 29 May 2026) setting out the mechanics. Pensions stop being the tax shelter...
by johnireland | Estate Planning Essentials
Leaving money directly to a vulnerable beneficiary — someone with a disability, mental health condition, addiction, or simply poor financial judgement — can do more harm than good. A direct inheritance above £16,000 can end means-tested benefits like Universal Credit...
