Practical guidance from Simon Jenkins, Director at Curtis Legal.
An EPA made before October 2007 is still valid, but it never covers health and welfare decisions. Here is how it compares to a lasting power of attorney and when it must be registered.
Read more →There is no expiry date on a will in England and Wales. A will written decades ago can still be perfectly valid today. But certain…
Read more →A deed of variation allows beneficiaries to redirect an inheritance after death. Curtis Legal explains the two-year rule and how tax read-back works.
Read more →A lasting power of attorney comes in two types: property and financial, and health and welfare. This guide explains what each covers, the differences, and how to register.
Read more →Without an LPA, a Court of Protection deputyship is needed to manage affairs for someone who has lost mental capacity — a costly and slow process. Find out what is involved.
Read more →How long does probate take with a will? Most straightforward estates complete in 6-12 months. Complex estates take 2-3 years. Definitive 2026 timescales, stage by stage, with key deadlines.
Read more →Do you have to act as an executor if named in a will? No. You can accept, renounce, or reserve power. What each option means, what intermeddling is, and how to make the right decision.
Read more →Where to store your will so your executors can find it after death. A will that cannot be found may as well not exist — 5 secure options, what each involves, and what to do if a will goes missing.
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