In Scotland, when someone dies without a Will, their things don’t just evaporate into limbo. However, the process of sorting everything out might be far more complicated. The law governs who gets what, who acts as executor, and how the estate is divided if there are no instructions left behind. This article talks about what…
Many people will have been considering their New Year’s resolutions now that 2025 has begun. Most people, understandably, are eager to put their health and fitness first, but it’s also critical to consider the future and shield family members from known dangers. Making a will is a simple decision to carry out. A November 2024 Will…
When you expect to inherit from a member of your family, for example, your spouse or civil partner, after they pass away, it can be challenging to learn that they had a Will in place which left you nothing. Their Will may have left everything to another family member, or may not have left you as much…
We live in an age where most of our lives are spent online, leaving behind a digital footprint of our social media profiles and cloud storage filled with photos and other personal information such as online banking. All of this information can remain online for much longer than our lifespan. With this being something often…
Upon the death of my cohabitant without a will, what are my legal rights? A surviving unmarried partner is not automatically entitled to collect money from the estate of their deceased cohabitant in the absence of a will. This may make getting through a trying time more difficult. If there is no will in place,…
September marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in the UK, a time dedicated to raising awareness about this life-changing condition. For many, this month serves as a reminder to plan for the future—ensuring your wishes are respected should you become unable to communicate them due to illness. This year, we’re proud to support the Alzheimer’s Society and…
You can decide who will inherit what from your estate A Will is a legal document that takes effect once you die. Anyone in Scotland can write a Will from age 12. When you die everything you own, and all the debts you owe, are regarded as your ‘estate’. If you die without leaving a…
Why having a will (even a simple one) is better than dying without a will Making a will can seem difficult, and the temptation to put it off until “another day” may be great. There are numerous justifications offered for not drafting a will, many of them are founded on false presumptions or a failure…
How do I contest, dispute, and challenge a will and estate that I was left out of? For instance, my father left his money to his unmarried partner and left me out of his will, or my mother left more money to my sister than to me. The court will provide you with a grant…
Making decisions about our bodies is a critical component of estate planning. There are various areas where a person can prepare in advance to present information about their preferences, allowing their requests to be honoured in the end. Failure to carry out such future planning can result in various default legislation taking effect, which may…
