Few probate disputes are as emotionally charged or legally complex as those involving missing or destroyed wills. When a person dies and their will cannot be found, families face uncertainty: Did the deceased intentionally destroy it to revoke...
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Update Your Will Week runs from 2nd to 8th March 2026. This annual campaign encourages people to review their Wills and ensure they still reflect their current circumstances and wishes. At Bennett Griffin, we regularly advise clients who assumed...
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National Funeral Planning Awareness Week runs from 23rd February to 2nd March 2026, and encourages you to consider and make known your funeral wishes. One of the most effective ways to record your funeral wishes is within your Will, making...
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Losing a loved one is never easy, and in some cases, the contents of their will can leave close family members or dependents feeling unfairly treated. If a will fails to provide reasonable financial support, certain individuals may have the legal...
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When a loved one lacks the capacity to manage their own affairs, the Court of Protection can appoint a deputy to make decisions on their behalf. Professional deputies often offer reassurance and stability, acting with care and...
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Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones, your assets, and your wishes. Yet many people across West Sussex still ask, "Do I need a Will?" or assume that it's only necessary if you have significant...
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On 16 May 2025, the UK government announced reforms to the country's outdated will-making process. With laws dating back to the Wills Act 1837, these changes aim to make creating a will easier, safer, and more accessible in today’s modern...
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A charity has triumphed in a Court battle to claim a £180,000 fortune left in a homemade Will written on the back of a Mr Kipling mince pie box and frozen fish packaging. Despite its unconventional format, the Will was upheld by a Judge,...
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It’s interesting that we tend to receive enquiries about the same question in waves and then not hear anything about them for a while. Perhaps the enquiries are prompted by a news story or trending television programme? We have recently...
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If you are considering making a Will and you have a child or children under the age of 18, you will be asked to appoint a guardian when preparing a Will. This is a big decision to think about as you need to choose someone you trust to look after...
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As of the 1st of May 2024, the standard probate Court fee in England and Wales has increased. Following a consultation in November 2023, the Ministry of Justice decided to increase most court fees by 10%. The standard probate fee has been...
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When dealing with the estate of a friend or loved one, you may discover assets that are located in other countries. Those assets may be ‘physical’, such as land or property, or non-physical such as bank accounts or shareholdings. Dealing...
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wills Act 1837 was amended temporarily in order to allow Wills to be validly signed and witnessed by using video-link from January 2020 to 31st January 2024. We discussed this in our 2020 blog Video Witnessing Of...
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Have you lodged an application for a Grant of Probate or Grant of Letters of Administration and wondered why you haven’t heard back for weeks, or even months? Grant of Probate can be lengthy, and we appreciate that this can be...
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How Will Your Assets Be Distributed If You Don't Make A Will? The rules of intestacy are the legal guidelines governing the distribution of assets when someone passes away without a valid Will. Recently, on 26 July 2023, the UK Government made...
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Facing the loss of a loved one is an incredibly challenging and emotional time. Amidst the grief, there's a need to navigate through the practical matters that follow. If you find yourself wondering what to do when a loved one passes away, our...
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