Christmas means different things for different people
Christmas – it can be the most wonderful day of the year for all ages. During the challenges we have…
Private wealth
The Inheritance on Channel 5
A month on since the last episode of Channel 5 The Inheritance aired, which you can still stream on catch…
Bank of Mum & Dad – Helping children onto the property ladder
It can be quite common for people to provide financial assistance to their adult children (or grandchildren); particularly when they…
Kieran Whitt
About Kieran
As a Paralegal at Moore Barlow, I can help and assist my team with a wide variety of…
Felicia Kolawole
About Felicia
Being a paralegal within the court of protection team, I pride myself in providing unwavering compassionate care, empathy…
Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney – the benefits of using a professional
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) are legal documents that allow you to appoint…
Leigh Burwood
About Leigh
As a paralegal in the private wealth team I am dedicated to provide support and guidance to all…
Statutory advertisements in probate
Executors have many responsibilities – one being to notify potential creditors and beneficiaries of the death. This can be done…
Can I deal with my foreign holiday home in an English Will?
The quick answer, it depends. Unfortunately, leaving foreign property under your English Will is not as straightforward as it seems.…
The increasing cost of dying
As everyone is aware, interest rates are on the way up. However, not everyone realises that rising interest rates are…
What is probate and when is it needed?
When a loved one dies there is a lot to think about and so it can be difficult to know…
Capital Gains Tax UK Property Disposal Returns
It was recently the third anniversary of the Government introducing a new type of tax return: the Capital Gains Tax…
Flavia Mongiello
About Flavia
I am a private wealth solicitor with experience in advising domestic and international clients on wills, lasting powers…
Are you receiving care or are you a carer?
Last week, 5th to 11th June was Carers Week. Carers Week is an annual campaign to highlight the numerous challenges…
Managing legal affairs for someone with dementia
Dementia UK advises that there are currently 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, with the numbers set to…
How does creating a Will relate to a Disney movie?
In the magical world of Disney, tales of adventure, romance, and self-discovery often captivate audiences of all ages. Amidst the…
The capacity and mental health of farmers
Terry Pratchett, the well known author of fantasy novels once wrote that “those of us with dementia need a little…
Lisa Marie Presley’s Will challenged by her mother
Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, died unexpectedly at aged 54 after suffering cardiac arrest at her home in Southern…
Nick Langmead
About Nick
I am a qualified solicitor handling estate administration matters and will drafting for the firm’s clients in Richmond…
A welcome change in Capital Gains Tax for divorcing couples
For many couples, the thought of having to pay large tax bills when transferring assets as part of a divorce…
Wealth planning in an uncertain world
Insight bites: Wealth planning in an uncertain world
Seismic economic shifts in the UK and globally are driving a renewed…
Tara Powell
About Tara
I am a trainee solicitor currently undertaking my second seat in the private wealth team. I primarily support…
Moore Barlow’s Private wealth team celebrates IWD23
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023 some of the women in the Private Wealth team have shared their experiences…
Nikita Shah
About Nikita
I am a trainee solicitor in the private wealth team at the Guildford office. I primarily support other…
An evening with the younger generation
I was invited by the Lady Nafisa Secondary School to speak about my career path since leaving school. The event…
Year end tax planning
With the final day of the tax year (5 April 2023) just a few weeks away, it is that time…
Common misconceptions about Wills and Probate
The legalities surrounding inheritance are often complex and naturally there are various misconceptions that people have around wills and probate…
Claire Buryfield
About Claire
I specialise in wills and inheritance tax planning, probate and estate administration and Powers of Attorney.
I am…
Guardianship clauses in wills
Update Your Will week 2023 is from 23 to 29 January, and is hosted by Solicitors For the Elderly. If you don’t…
Do I need a solicitor to apply for a Grant of Probate?
You have discovered you are an Executor but you are not sure what this will involve and whether you will…
Kevin Barker
About Kevin
I have over twenty years of experience working with trusts, previously as a trust manager within a major…
Seize the power: Half a million more families protect their finances from serious illness
Half a million more families across the UK have acted to protect their financial affairs from unexpected illness or serious…
From childhood to lawyer to partner and mother
I was born in a town in the North East of England called Middlesbrough which is famous for its industry…
Saima Hameed
About Saima
I am a Solicitor in our Woking and Richmond office. After obtaining a First Class in my BSc…
Succession planning – why I do what I do
The author PG Wodehouse once wrote “it was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he…
Autumn Statement – Are there any personal tax planning opportunities?
There were concerns regarding drastic and immediate tax changes in the Autumn Statement, but this did not occur. For example,…
Autumn statement 2022
The Chancellor has given his Autumn Statement. Given the current economic challenges – regarding the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine,…
What are estate accounts and why are they important?
When someone dies, one of the first steps for the personal representatives is to establish what assets and liabilities are…
Statement from the Chancellor
July: Mr Sunak
August: Mr Zahawi
September: Mr Kwarteng
October: Mr Hunt
Whilst this might look more like some sort…
Lawyer and working mum – Is it possible?
Right from the start, I have always loved being a lawyer. I have always been organised, driven and hard-working, and,…
When is a Budget not a Budget?
The Government called it a “fiscal event” and then a “Growth Plan”. The media called it a “mini-Budget”. It was…
World Alzheimer’s month and estate planning
Did you know that globally nearly 50 million people are living with dementia? (alzheimers.org.uk)
We believe it is important to…
Can an executor charge for estate administration?
To charge or not to charge – that is the question. A case summary of Da Silva v Heselton (also known as…
Lifetime gifting – the allowances and exemptions available to you
Many people will make gifts to loved ones out of their natural love and affection, but also in an attempt…
Capital gains tax following a separation
Last month the Government released draft legislation in relation to changing how capital gains tax (CGT) will apply after a…
Kiran Birring
About Kiran
I am a private wealth solicitor based in the Richmond office with expertise in advising a range of…
Inheritance tax taper relief
Taper Relief is an often misunderstood and misquoted inheritance tax relief. But it is a very useful and beneficial relief.…
What is the difference between Power of Attorney and Court of Protection?
Asking the difference between a Power of Attorney and Court of Protection is a common question for people when considering…
Cost of living crisis – Don’t forget about Inheritance Tax planning
With all the doom and gloom about the economy, the cost of living rising fast and set to rise even…
Inheritance Tax planning – Normal out of income exemption
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is primarily a tax paid on assets upon a person’s death if their assets are above their available tax…
Are you a Trustee of a Trust that owns a part share of a property
As you may already be aware, HMRC introduced new criteria for when a Trust needs to be registered on the…
Risk-averse high-earning Brits aren’t buying into NFT hype
Recently Moore Barlow commission a survey on 250 high-net worth individuals and discovered that personal wealth among UK adults that…
Domicile status for individuals
In recent months it is likely that you will have heard about Akshata Murty (the wife of Chancellor Rishi Sunak)…
A life in wills and probate
I have worked in Private Client my whole working life, but I had not intended to work in Wills and…
5 reasons why you should make a Lasting Power of Attorney
With the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week now having drawn to a close, more people are conscious of the importance…
Advance Decisions – what you need to know
Any fans of BBC’s The Split will have seen the appearance of a Private Client lawyer in the last episode of the…
What do private wealth lawyers do?
Private wealth lawyers advise individuals on a wide variety of personal matters providing general or specific tax advice in the…
How to register an enduring power of attorney in the UK
In March we published an article entailed, Should I replace my Enduring Power of Attorney with a Lasting Power of…
Appointing guardians – a common dilemma
A key decision that parents often have to make when drawing up new Wills is the question of who should…
Liabilities of an executor of a will
An executor, also known as a personal representative, is appointed by someone, often a relative, in their will to deal…
Estate planning for vulnerable beneficiaries
As a Private Client lawyer, I have seen an increase in clients having to readdress their wills due to a…
The dawn of another tax year
Wednesday 6 April 2022 marks the start of a new tax year. For once, this doesn’t mean any changes to…
Declaration of Trust – everything you need to know
What is a Declaration of Trust?
A Declaration of Trust is a legal document that is drawn up when people…
Thoughts on the 2022 spring statement
On Wednesday 23 March 2022, the Chancellor announced his Spring Statement. Unlike most newspapers, I won’t quite go as far…
Should you replace your Enduring Power of Attorney with a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs) were replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) in October 2007. Both an EPA and a…
Risk-averse high-earning Brits aren’t buying into the NFT hype
New research finds that the UK’s high-earners are more likely to invest in property and high-value items than buy into…
When and how to declare an inheritance to HMRC
Updates to the Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted Estates) (Amendment) Regulations 2020
The Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted…
What is the difference between executors, trustee’s and administrators
Following a death, the world of the administration of an estate can be a confusing time for loved ones. There…
Estate planning and inheritance tax implications when selling business assets
When selling your business or business assets, it is vital to consider what you want at the end of the…
Wills and why people should make them
It is still common to come across a lot of clients who haven’t made Wills for a number of reasons. …
Changes to HMRC’s Trust Registration Services
HMRC first introduced the TRS in 2017 when it was necessary for Trusts with a tax liability to be registered.…
New excepted estate change in regulations
Aiming to simplify the inheritance tax process and make this less daunting for Personal Representatives (“PRs”), the Inheritance Tax (Delivery…
Enterprise Investment Scheme – EIS
Introduction
The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is a Government scheme designed to encourage individuals to invest into certain companies, thereby…
5 reasons why you should have a trust
Trusts and their administration are a diverse and often misunderstood area of law, which when used correctly, can provide real…
The benefits of appointing professional executors and making a valid will
When making a Will, deciding who to appoint as an executor is extremely important. The executor is the person or…
Can you vary a Will after death?
A Deed of Variation, which must be signed in the presence of two witnesses, is often used by a beneficiary…
Considering gifts and inheritance tax
Many people want to give gifts to family and friends during their lifetime. Not only does this mean that you…
Is it possible to reduce inheritance tax liability through charitable gifting in Wills?
Last year more than £3 billion was left to charitable causes through Wills alone. Care needs to be taken to…
Autumn Budget: timeframe for paying capital gains tax extended
The lead up to every Budget will often involve discussion about possible changes to the tax system. This was particularly…
Estate administration: what happens to our digital footprint after we die?
We are living in an increasingly digital world. Whether it is online banking, social media accounts or photographs stored in…
When is capital gains tax required during an estate administration?
There are various issues that need to be considered when administering an estate. Whilst many people will be aware that…
When should I make a Will?
My colleague Michelle Ranasinghe-Carter recently shared with us Five reasons to make a Will in your 20s. As the title…
Top tips for managing finances as an attorney or deputy
What is a Power of Attorney?
A Power of Attorney is a legal document which allows a person (known as…
Did you know that marriage or the creation of a civil partnership revokes a Will?
With marriages and civil partnerships having to be postponed on more than one occasion for a huge number of people…
Helping to protect your property and finances when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
There are many things to deal with when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, but what’s important to remember is that…
How long will it take to administer my estate?
One of the first questions I am asked by clients is how long will the administration of the estate take? …
Bethany Walker
About Bethany
I am a Solicitor in the private wealth team based in our Guildford office.
I assist clients with…
Is the next of kin the same as having power of attorney?
The law can be scary and confusing to people who do not have much to do with it and, like…
Moore Barlow commended as a top law firm for HNW individuals
Moore Barlow is proud to announce that we have been ranked in Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) 2021, reflecting the…
Five reasons to make a Will in your 20s
Often, people in their twenties think they do not need a Will, and it is a task that remains low…
Your guide to why you need a Will
When thinking about how your estate will be passed on, you will naturally want to make sure that your wishes…
Intestacy – Who can inherit if there is no Will
Many say they will make a Will but do nothing. Perhaps they think making a Will is expensive or they…
How not to lose £140,000 in Tax
On top of the Nil Rate band of £325,000, since 2017, individuals can also receive the Residence Nil Rate Band.…
What if Britney was British? Decision making by deputies in England and Wales
You can’t help but notice that Britney Spears is splashed across the papers again with dramatic stories about her conservatorship…
Has Covid-19 changed estate planning?
The basics of estate planning remain unchanged, but Covid-19 has inevitably forced some temporary measures to be adopted, with aspects…
Professional Deputyships – Are they as scary as they seem? Clearing up the misconceptions
From the #FreeBritney campaign, a protest aiming to end the Conservatorship over pop singer Britney Spears to last year’s film…
How to avoid paying inheritance tax unnecessarily
Administering the estate of someone who has recently died is often far from straightforward, and navigating your way round the…
Thinking about investing in fine wine? What you need to know
2021 is going to be a challenging year for many investors and to protect against the risk of intense market…
Second OTS Capital Gains Tax report released – What are the additional recommendations?
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has now released the second part of its review into Capital Gains Tax (CGT).…
Protecting your assets in a divorce
When facing a marital breakdown* and an uncertain future, often the last thing that parties think about is their estate…
Paws for thought – where there’s a Will, there’s a way!
There are several considerations to think about when preparing a Will, but pets can often be overlooked. As a Labrador…
What does mental capacity mean?
Mental capacity is having the ability to make a decision, such as: what to wear; whether to have surgery or…
Lasting Power of Attorney and why it is important
The severe and lengthy Covid-19 illness of Derek Draper has received heavy coverage in the media.
The recent documentary “Kate…
Erin Abul
About Nikita
I am an associate in our Lymington office, part of the private wealth team.
I work in a…
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) for non-residents
The standard rates of SDLT on acquiring residential property currently range between 0% and 12%. In addition to this however,…
What to do when a loved one dies
The loss of a loved one, whether it be a friend or a family member, can be an overwhelming time…
Discretionary Trusts in wills
Making a Will can be a daunting task, especially when you are trying to plan for a number of different…
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) for business owners
What is an LPA?
An LPA is a legal document that allows you (the donor) to appoint representatives (attorneys) to…
A guide to personal injury trusts
Clients who suffer personal injuries and are awarded compensation are often advised to set up what is known as a…
Don’t wait to make a Lasting Power of Attorney
Most people make Lasting Powers of Attorney in case they lose capacity later in life but, sadly, mental or physical…
Budget 2021 tax changes: What you need to know
Budget 2021 has been announced. Unsurprisingly, given the ongoing pandemic, a large part of the Chancellor’s speech was focused on…
Year-end tax planning before 5 April 2021
The end of the current 2020/21 tax year is approximately one month away now (5 April 2021). For many people,…
Charitable gifting in wills
Whether done during life, or on death, gifting money or other assets to charity is very common and commendable. This…
Inheritance Tax and Lifetime Gifts – ITV’s ‘Finding Alice’ explained
For those watching ITV’s ‘Finding Alice’, the show has raised questions for viewers concerning inheritance tax. In the very first…
Maxine Winfield
Preparation of Wills
Preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney
Trust Administration
Probate – Estate Administration
I am a Paralegal in…
Sadhna Shikdar
About Sadhna
I am a Paralegal in our Lymington office, part of the Private Wealth team.
I work in a…
Virtual witnessing of wills
The Wills Act 1837 (Electronic Communications) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Order 2020 has come into effect this month making it legal for…
Farm succession planning
The Moss family has farmed Manor Farm for 150 years and is a highly respected local family. They’re just about…
OTS Capital Gains Tax report released – What are the recommendations?
Back in July 2020, I wrote about the Chancellor commissioning the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) to undertake a review…
Moore Barlow partner authors new definitive legal guide to farming partnerships
Top 100 UK law firm Moore Barlow today announces that partner Philip Whitcomb has authored a new book which is…
Make a Will Fortnight
Moore Barlow supports Make a Will Fortnight with Woking & Sam Beare Hospices
Moore Barlow is proud to be supporting…
Tax relief for heroes: is the Government finally recognising our forces’ sacrifices
With Remembrance Day coming up in the 75th year after the end of World War II, a year which has…
Four stages in the administration of an estate
This blog explains the stages and timescales involved when you are the executor of someone’s affairs and have a legal…
Lasting Powers of Attorney
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows a person to give another person or persons,…
Naomi Wilkes
About Naomi
I am a specialist Private Wealth solicitor with high quality experience in providing advice to individuals and families…
OTS review of Capital Gains Tax
On 13 July, the Chancellor wrote to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) to request that a review is undertaken…
The difficulties of being an executor of a will – to deal or not to deal?
Executors can find themselves in a difficult position when faced with the prospect of purchasing assets from an estate, even…
Where there is a horse, there is a will
The whole idea of getting up at 6am on a dark winter’s morning to ride out in the pouring rain…
Emma Moore
About Emma
I joined Moore Barlow LLP (formerly Barlow Robbins LLP) in 2016 and worked as a paralegal in both…
Charlotte Thompson
About Charlotte
I work within the private wealth and tax department.
My role includes assisting with Trust administration which involves…
Daniel Milano
About Daniel
I enjoy advising and helping clients on a wide variety of their personal matters including: administration of estates…
Alexandra Milton
About Alexandra
I am a Partner in the Private Client department, and am based in the firm’s Woking office.
I…
Sophie Pollard
About Sophie
I assist clients with a variety of legal work relating to their personal affairs and planning for the…
Felicity John
About Felicity
I am a Solicitor in the private wealth department based in the Guildford office.
I help clients plan…
Elizabeth Eyre
About Elizabeth
I advise clients and their families with legal issues including wills, administration of estates, powers of attorney, trusts…
Fiona Gould
About Fiona
I am legal director in the private client department, based in the Guildford office. I advise in relation…
Suzanne Gullidge
About Suzanne
I am an Associate in the private wealth and tax department assisting clients with a variety of legal…
Tim Adams
About Tim
I work with clients and their families, helping them through difficult periods in their personal lives. These may…
COVID-19 Will preparation & execution
In these difficult and uncertain times many people are considering having a Will prepared for the first time or reviewing…
Online capital gains tax (CGT) for property disposals
Further to the commencement of the new tax year last week, it is now necessary for an online capital gains…
Top 10 actions to consider during the current pandemic crisis
I recently came across a quote which said “in business, what you don’t get done today can be done tomorrow.…
The impact of coronavirus on Wills
Understandably the coronavirus pandemic has caused many people to consider their existing Will or has encouraged them to make one.…
The effect of the coronavirus crisis on the preparation of wills
The coronavirus crisis is taking hold of the UK causing unprecedented disruption to our daily lives. This crisis and the…
Katie Gale
About Katie
I support clients who require help managing estates.
My clients are the executors or beneficiaries of someone who…
Abigail Sclanders
About Abigail
I am a Chartered legal executive specialising in all aspects of Private wealth work.
Building good working relationships…
Alex Wavell
About Alex
I work as a private client chartered tax advisor, specialising in inheritance tax and the taxation of trusts.…
Katy Withers
About Katy
I am a Solicitor in our Lymington Office and part of the Private Wealth team.
Specialisms
Wills, trusts…
Rebecca Millington
About Rebecca
I am a senior manager in the firm’s probate team. I help clients with the administration of estates,…
Budget 2020: Key points
On 11 March 2020, the new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivered his first Budget. It was also the first Budget since…
Budget predictions for farmers and landowners
There is now less than a month before we hear what Rishi Sunak disclosures in his first budget. Here are…
APPG for Inheritance & Intergenerational Fairness published a report which recommended a ‘complete overhaul’ of IHT
At the end of last month the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Inheritance & Intergenerational fairness (APPGIIF) published a report which…
Look forward to a new decade by looking back
At the start of every year it’s natural to look back and consider not only what’s been achieved, but also…
Dispelling the myths around joint accounts
There are many myths about joint accounts, especially concerning what happens if something happens to one of the joint account…
When a Power of Attorney is not in place
What happens when you can’t manage your financial affairs due to ill health and nothing has been put in place?…
Nil Rate Band Discretionary Trusts (NRB DT)
Inheritance Tax (IHT), quite often called a voluntary tax, remains an emotional topic. Every person has an allowance, also known…
When a Last Will and Testament returns to haunt families and executors
The recent discovery by Lloyds Bank of more than 9,000 forgotten Wills, which it had retained for ‘safe custody’, highlights…
Making gifts
If you are considering giving a gift to a loved one, you should be aware of the myths that exist…
Don’t be haunted by the pitfalls of poor estate planning and will preparation
When it comes to considering the horrors of life and the risk of being haunted by poor decisions, an often…
Collecting antiques and works of art
There is nothing like the thrill of hunting down that one rare piece at an auction or antiques fair to…
Agricultural Estate Planning Archers Style – How NOT to do it!
Here at Moore Blatch, we love wealth protection – so it always raises a smile when others are equally fascinated…
Office of Tax Simplification review inheritance tax
Earlier this month the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) published its second and final report in relation to its review…
Every farmer should have a lasting powers of attorney
A Property & Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can prove essential in helping to protect a farm should…
Rising cost of inheritance tax
HMRC has confirmed that there has been a significant increase in the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) received in tax…
Who can see my will?
We are frequently contacted by individuals wanting to confirm if we are holding a family member’s will.…
The taxing issue of wine
Many people have an interest in wine. Not just the drinking of it, but also the laying down and collection…
Relief against forefiture
It is a principle of public policy that the law should not allow offenders to benefit from their own crime;…
Potted history of Moore Barlow
As a recent addition to Moore Barlow, when joining I was asked by family members “What firm are your joining?…
Estate administration
As life gets more complicated, so do the financial affairs that need to be settled after death. This is a…
Hampshire residents in danger of missing out on new inheritance tax benefits
April will mark one year since the new Inheritance Tax (IHT) allowances came into force, yet due to the complex…
Moore Blatch supports Lymington Dementia Action Group
Moore Blatch have sponsored Lymington Dementia Action Group, giving ¬£300 towards a tea dance.…
Court of Protection rule on best interests contraceptive patch case
The recent case of The Hospital Trust and Miss V & Others [2017] EWCOP 20 before the Court of Protection…
Moore Blatch celebrates record year in Legal 500 rankings
Moore Blatch, a top 100 law firm with offices in Southampton, Lymington, Richmond and the City of London, has been…
Lymington lawyer nominated for solicitor of the year award
Fiona Heald has been nominated for ‘Solicitor of the Year (Private Practice)’, in this year’s prestigious Law Society Excellence Awards. This…
Moore Blatch nominated for three Law Society Excellence awards
In a year that saw a record number of entries, law firm Moore Blatch has been nominated for three awards…
Considering taking on a lasting power of attorney?
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal agreement allowing an individual to give authority to someone they trust…
Hundreds of thousands of wills need reviewing to take advantage of the new £1 million IHT limit
Moore Blatch is warning that hundreds of thousands of people will need to review their wills to potentially benefit from…
