Gregory John

If you are thinking about writing a will, you may have considered doing it yourself. There are many templates and tools available online, along with vast amounts of information about the law and how to go about writing your own will. However, there are...

When someone you love has passed away, the last thing you might be thinking about is debt. However,there are many misconceptions about debt and inheritance, and it is essential to understand your position. Many people believe that when a person dies,...

I, like many others, have recently watched the Netflix documentary David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet. If you have not yet seen it, I would urge you to do so, especially as it has the potential to be life changing. Without giving too much away, the...

Kanye West is never far from the headlines and, dependent on your views of him, you might consider this a good or bad thing. Although his music may not be to my taste, I cannot dispute how talented he is musically and often feel that this is often lost in...

A very busy week but oh so rewarding… Our Private Client Team have been very busy dealing with Will and Lasting Power of Attorney enquiries all of last week. Both myself and Spencer have...

The current national lockdown does not appear to be ending anytime soon, as we continue to seek to protect the many heroes currently serving in the NHS. For those of you reading this in the NHS or classed as a key worker, please do check out our 50% off...

As a Private Client solicitor, writing any type of blog or update is not always an easy task at the best of times, with our subject matter not always top of people's priority list. In this current national climate we all face, this task is not any...

As a Star Wars fan, I can still remember the first time I saw the shocking moment in The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader utters those famous words - "No, I am your father" . It has become an iconic, if not misquoted scene in movie history. ...

News has broken this week that there has been a change to the statutory legacy that a spouse will receive when someone dies without a Will. Under the current rules of intestacy, should a spouse die leaving a surviving spouse and children, the current...

Created by Ryder Carroll, bullet journals have taken social media by storm, with over seven million people picking up their pens. Intended to help you live a more meaningful and productive life, bullet journals have seen millions of people successfully and...

The importance of having preparations in place... Like most people around the world, I was shocked and upset earlier this week by the scenes coming from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. For me, Paris is one of my favourite cities and I believe that the...

I am not normally one to jump onto a social media trend, but as we have entered into 2019, a huge number of people have taken to various social media platforms and started to post "then and now" pictures and stories of themselves from 10 years ago....

One too many times we hear that those who have chosen to not put a Will in place do not because they believe their family or loved ones would have their best interests at heart once they die. However, by putting a Will in place it not only gives you peace...

While browsing the BBC News, I was really touched by the story of Gary Andrews and how he used a daily "doodle diary" to help him in his grief following the unexpected death of his wife. Mr Andrews shares pages of this diary on his social media...

One question I often encounter when dealing with clients is "what will happen to my money in the event that I am unable to look after it myself?" The importance of ensuring that this question is not only considered, but that you have put...

One thing I have noticed in my years of practice, especially when advising long term unmarried couples, is that you become increasingly aware of the flaws in the law we currently have when "marriage" becomes tax advice. However, is all this...

When I tell friends I'm a solicitor and they ask what I specialise in, I often find that the answer I give is often followed by another question. I deal with Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning, Trusts and…Probate. "What is...

I am not a handy man. If I try to undertake DIY it is most likely that I am going to hurt myself, damage something, hurt someone else or all of the above. I have learnt from experience that, in the long term, it is cheaper for me to pay someone who knows...

Whether you were a fan of his or not, it would have been hard to miss the news that comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd sadly passed away on Sunday at the age of 90. It has been widely reported that Sir Ken's fortune is estimated to be within the region of...

Chocolates, roses, romantic meals for two spring to mind, or perhaps even diamonds so Happy Valentine's Day! Whilst it's not something any of us tends to dwell on, sadly it is a fact that not all couples will enjoy a long term relationship...

When I start these blogs, I often make the generic comment that "death" is a topic that we do not enjoy talking about; that it is not a dinner table conversation starter. However, the upcoming Pixar film Coco appears to be seeking to buck that...

For those whose only contact with trusts is through the media, it is easy to paint trusts in a negative light. Often when we think of them at all, it is in the context of such events as the Panama Papers and the words ‘offshore’ and ‘tax...

The majority of houses are no longer bought by married couples. As exciting (and often stressful!) as buying a new home is, it is of great importance to document how a property is to be held in the event the property ever needs to be sold. It is often the...

Although I do not make a habit of thinking about my own demise, one thing I do know is that, when my time comes, I want it to be as quick and painless as possible. Whether "death" is a hot discussion topic for you or not I'd imagine most...

The topic of marriage can often be a difficult subject for couples in today's society. If you are in a long term relationship you could often be met with a steady stream of "When's?" and "Why not's?" from both friends and...

Chancellor Philip Hammond is coming under increasing pressure to raise more money to fund long-term social care. Dispatches released a programme on Channel 4 that aired on Monday night at 8.00pm on the so-called 'Dementia Tax'. The programme...

It will not come as a surprise to you that whether I'm speaking with my clients or spending time with friends, people do not like talking about death. No one likes to consider their own mortality and the subject of death isn't one we want to discuss...

The proposed changes to probate fees which were to take effect in May 2017, have been delayed indefinitely as there is insufficient time for the legislation to pass through Parliament before the general election.

Three animal charities have won an appeal at the Supreme Court against a daughter cut out of her mother's Will. The Supreme Court is the highest appeal court in the UK.

Guidance has now been provided by the Probate Registries relating to the practical implementation of the increase in probate fees announced by the Ministry of Justice on the 24^th February 2017.