Georgina Vanden Berghe

Common Myths about Inheritance Tax Planning: Busting the Misconceptions Inheritance tax planning is a crucial aspect of financial management, yet it is often shrouded in misconceptions and myths. As the New Year begins, it's an opportune time to...

Three children have won a share of their father’s £700,000 estate after a hard-fought case that reached the High Court in London. The siblings took action when their father Kenneth Grizzle died and they found they were excluded from his...

Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone at any time. These accidents can result in individuals losing the ability to make their own decisions. If this should happen, the Court of Protection in the UK steps in to protect the interests of vulnerable...

An article in the Law Society Gazette a few weeks ago revealed that a couple were stung with an £89 annual storage fee for their wills, having already paid £4,500 for their wills and been told the storage fee would be £49. Meanwhile, the...

In 2022, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registered over 770,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and this was an increase of nearly 10% over the number of registrations from 2021. However, the waiting times between making an application for...

Our Wills and Probate team is moving! Currently based in Gravesend offering a wide range of services including wills, probate, powers of attorney, trusts and court of protection, we are excited to announce from Monday 24 July our Wills and Probate team will...

Creating a Power of Attorney (POA) is a crucial legal step to ensure your wishes are upheld and your affairs are managed in the event of incapacitation. While it may seem tempting to make a POA online, it's essential to understand the potential pitfalls...

Contentious probate refers to any disputes about an individual's estate when they are no longer here. This process can be difficult for families and lead to many mixed feelings, but understanding when an estate can be contested can help answer many...

A Power of Attorney is a very valuable document to have in place, allowing you to plan for the future when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. In this article, we look at why a Power of Attorney is something you should consider. What...

No real surprise as Inheritance Tax receipts soar by nearly 20%. Can you limit the damage Inheritance tax does to your estate? Most economic editors in the media expressed surprise that there was a surplus in Government finances announced for January...

We are incredibly excited to announce that our firm has been shortlisted for the UK Probate Research Awards 2023, for the Best Probate Law firm category of medium size firm. After winning this award in 2020, Martin Tolhurst is thrilled to announce that we...

In June, the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) launched a new “Protect your Digital Memories” campaign . The campaign aims to increase awareness and encourage people to protect their digital memories. STEP is calling for both the...

Inheritance disputes may have risen in response to soaring property prices, second marriages and blended families, with relatives more likely to feel they are missing out, but the courts are pushing back on frivolous claims and obstructive family...

As part of inheritance tax planning, or simply as part of passing on wealth to the next generation, you may consider gifting money or property to family or friends. However, there are several things you need to know about gifting and inheritance tax. In this...

Professionals working with the elderly and vulnerable are raising concerns over future safeguarding following a dramatic fall in the number of lasting powers of attorneys registered during the coronavirus pandemic. Figures from the Office of the Public...

The International Day of Charity takes place annually on 5 September, but did you know that one of the best ways to support a charity is to leave them a gift in your will? Many charities in the UK rely on donations left by their supporters, and any gift you...