I recently read an article in The Telegraph which focused on the negative issues surrounding the much misunderstood and much reported-on powers that attorneys have when acting under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). The article reported that attorney disputes with banks are on the rise, and there has been a sharp increase in attorney related litigation.

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Around six million people in the UK are living with a partner and the number looks set to keep growing.

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Around 12,000 families a year are running up legal bills and facing delays in sorting out financial and health issues when their relatives become incapacitated, according to newly published research.

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The Court of Appeal published its eagerly awaited judgement in April in the case of HMRC v The Executors of Lord Howard of Henderskelfe (deceased) ([2014] EWCA Civ 278).

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The Inheritance and Trustee’s Powers Act 2014 received Royal Assent on 14 May 2014 and is expected to come into force in October.

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The weekend press reports highlighted that one likely effect of the recovering economy and rise in house prices will be to increase by a third the number of families potentially facing an inheritance tax (IHT) bill. The current IHT threshold of £325,000 was originally set in April 2009, where it is expected to stay until 2019. While it is difficult to avoid IHT altogether, its impact can be eased by following some basic rules.

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An anticipated rise in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia means that older people should think carefully about putting in place a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), even if it is never needed.

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If you care about what happens to your assets after you die, you should make a will. Without one, your intended wishes for how your estate is to be distributed and who it should be distributed to, may not be adhered to.

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A leading think tank has warned that inheritance tax (IHT) paid in the next few years could reach its highest level in more than four decades.

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The Sunday Telegraph recently reported a rise in inheritance disputes due to increasing numbers of couples who choose to cohabit without marrying. The diverse range of family relationships seen now have contributed to a significant increase in inheritance disputes over the last 10 years. Problems that arise highlight the importance of making a Will and organising your affairs.

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The Budget was announced on 19 March and Chancellor George Osborne made savers the centre of attention, saying they “deserved help” for their lifetime of hard work as he unveiled plans which will enable them to keep more of their own money.

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When Chancellor George Osborne said, in his “Pensioners’ Budget” on 19 March, “Let me be clear.  No-one will have to buy an annuity”, he was far from alone in appearing to believe that this was still a legal requirement for members of defined-contribution pension schemes.

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