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Easter Fun

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We are so egg-cited that we are holding a Charity Easter Egg Hunt (our first since 2019) at Uckfield Rugby Club Hempstead Fields TN22 1LX from 11am – 2pm on Good Friday 7 th April 2023 Join us with the Easter Bunny for some great activities:...

A new member of the Private Client Team

Jo Claxton
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We are pleased to announce that Jo Claxton, a solicitor, has joined our Private Client team. Jo has been looking after private clients for over 7 years and qualified as a Solicitor 4 years ago.  Jo is married with 2 adult children and her passion, when...

Can you help?

Laura Manton
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Our fundraising has started for Charity for Kids! Each year Dawson Hart employees vote for a charity to focus their fundraising efforts on for the coming year and this year Charity for Kids won the vote! Charity for Kids is based in Hastings and Rother and...

What is the alternative to a Power of Attorney?

Jenny Mayhew
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A client recently contacted me to say that her mother needed a power of attorney. After asking some questions it became clear that it would not be possible for a power of attorney to be prepared on this occasion because mother had advanced dementia so was...

Are your affairs in order?

Jenny Mayhew
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As the latest Lockdown continues now is a good opportunity to get your affairs in order and, in particular, to check that you have a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) in place. An LPA is a legal document in which you appoint trusted people to make...

Make a Difference Campaign

Jenny Mayhew
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The whole country was plunged into its third lockdown on 6 th January amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Schools were closed for everyone apart from children of key workers and vulnerable children and are not likely to open now until at least Easter time. ...

Dawson Hart Celebrates Success With Will Aid

Laura Manton
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  We are delighted to announce that the Private Client department of Dawson Hart Solicitors has raised over £2,000 for Will Aid 2020. They gave up their time and expertise to draw up Wills while the charities received much-needed donations for...

Video witnessed wills to be made legal during pandemic

Laura Manton
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In these unprecedented times, it seems that the only thing we can be certain of is uncertainty. Covid-19 has affected us all in one way or another. Some have been unwell with the illness or have lost loved ones. Others have been affected by job losses or...

Making a Will during Covid-19

Laura Manton
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Laura Manton , Director at Dawson Hart Solicitors Wills and Probate Team looks at why those thinking about making and signing their Wills need to be very careful during these times of social distancing.   When it comes to signing a Will in England...

Increase in IHT allowances from April 2020

Julie Binge
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The Residence Nil Rate Band which was introduced in the Summer Budget 2015 and came into force for deaths after 6 th April 2017, increases to £175,000 per person in April 2020.   The Residence Nil Rate Band is an allowance on top of the...

A Trainee's Diary - Seat Three

Stuart Long
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My penultimate seat before qualifying involved a concoction of Private Client and Employment Law. Naturally contrasting areas, but I always find it important to learn as much as possible in life. As the saying goes, “knowledge is power”. This is...

When can I use Power of Attorney?

Jenny Mayhew
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Many of you will have been appointed as an Attorney in a Power of Attorney.  A Power of Attorney is a document which someone (the Donor) signs to say that if they cannot ever make decisions for themselves, they appoint one or more trusted people to make...

What is a Statutory Will?

Tracey Pugh
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When an individual lacks the necessary mental capacity to make a Will for themselves, it is possible that a Statutory Will can be made for them.  A Statutory Will looks and works very much like a regular Will.   Under the Mental Capacity Act...

The importance of having a Lasting Power of Attorney

Julie Binge
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Do you have a Lasting Power of Attorney in place?  The Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduced Lasting Powers of Attorney which replaced Enduring Powers of Attorney.   A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document where a person appoints...

Your New Year's Resolution

Jenny Mayhew
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Your New Year’s Resolution The festive period is over and you have made your list of New Year's resolutions so why not add one more to the list? It is a good idea to keep your Will under regular review. This is to ensure that the Will is up to...

How making lifetime gifts can affect your inheritance tax bill.

Tracey Pugh
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People sometimes like to make cash gifts to family or friends during their lifetime.  This could be for a variety of reasons and whilst their generosity is appreciated, the person may not realise if the gift is made within seven years of their death...

How to ensure your assets pass in accordance with your wishes

Julie Binge
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Do you want to ensure your assets pass in accordance with your wishes? Make a Will now. Over 50% of UK adults have not made a Will.   If you do not have a Will in place, your assets will pass under the intestacy rules which will not...

Deputyship

Jenny Mayhew
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What can you do if your loved one cannot make decisions for themselves?  If they have a Power of Attorney in place the Attorneys can act for them (subject to registration requirements) but what happens if there is no Power of Attorney?   The...

Office of the Public Guardian Refunds

Julie Binge
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Have you registered a Lasting Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) between 1 st April 2013 and 31 st March 2017?   If so, you may be eligible for a partial refund on your application fee?  Lasting Power of Attorney...

Challenging a Will (or Intestacy)

Jenny Mayhew
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Not every family is united in grief when a loved one dies. On occasions a challenge is made to a Will. Family members may do so for a variety of reasons, such as:- 1. They have received nothing in the Will & think that they should have received...

Feeling left out?

Jenny Mayhew
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If you are left out of someone’s will there are two realistic courses of legal action. You can try to claim that the will is invalid. This is only going to be a viable course of action if, by invalidating the will, you stand to receive something from...

The Perils of DIY Wills

Jenny Mayhew
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These days it is possible to buy a do-it-yourself Will kit online or in a stationery shop for as little as £10, making the option seem cheaper and potentially faster and simpler than using a solicitor to prepare your Will for you. But do these kits...

Inheritance Tax - Good News and Bad News

Jenny Mayhew
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The Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) came into effect last year for estates where the deceased died on or after 6 th April 2017.  The good news is that if you leave your main residence to certain beneficiaries, there will be an extra £100,000 of...

Business Owners Seminar

Laura Manton
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Our seminar this morning for Business Owners was a great success. It covered planning opportunities for business owners and their families.  A retiring business owner once said that he wished he had looked after his own affairs as well as he had...

New Inheritance Tax Laws - Budget July 2015

Laura Manton
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George Osborne has recently delivered his seventh Budget as chancellor, the first for a majority Conservative government since November 1996. One of the headlines in the news read ‘End of Inheritance tax on family homes worth up to £1m’ At...

Australia's First iPhone Will?

Laura Manton
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Modern technology in recent years has changed our lives in so many respects. Having access to the internet on our phone means we can do all our banking, shopping, ‘to do’ lists and communicating at a time that suits us. Last October, the...

St Peter & St James Hospice

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Each year the Private Client team participate in a charitable Will writing month in aid of the St Peter & St James Hospice and Continuing Care Centre in North Chailey, East Sussex. The purpose of the scheme is to enable supporters of the hospice to make...

The Importance Of Planning Ahead

Laura Manton
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We all like to be in control of our own destiny which includes how we manage our finances and our health. Understandably none of us like to envisage how things would be if we had a debilitating illness, a stroke, a serious mental illness or a car accident...

Meeting HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and David Dimbleby at St Wilfrid's Hospice opening

Laura Manton
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I was thrilled to have been invited to represent the Private Client team at the official opening of the new St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Eastbourne this morning. There was great excitement from all the staff and visitors at the hospice as we eagerly waited...

Gifting the family home

Jenny Mayhew
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I am often contacted by a parent or their children expressing a wish to gift the family home to the children.  The gift is to take place straight away.  The request can be made for a variety of reasons, including Inheritance Tax, Nursing Home fees...

Mediation - That is the way to do it!

Jenny Mayhew
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I was sitting on a train recently on the way back from London feeling remarkably relaxed, which was surprising bearing in mind I had just spent the day settling a contentious probate case. My client and her sister were contesting their mother’s...

Have you thought about the future?

Laura Manton
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Did you know that if you become incapable of making decisions about your finances and financial affairs, generally, no one else can do it for you – not even your spouse or children? This can cause a particular problem if others need to access your...

Lasting Powers of Attorney - are you covered?

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Having spent my weekend shopping around for better house insurance deals, I started thinking about all the insurance policies I have in place. I insure my house, health, travel, life, car and mobile phone and I expect I am not alone as these are all fairly...

Do It For Them!

Laura Manton
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Having a young family of my own I know how hard it is to even think about what would happen to our daughters, if both my husband and I were to die. Sometimes, it seems easier to push those thoughts to the back of your mind (and I know I have done this!)....

Will You or Won't You?

Jenny Mayhew
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I am delighted to say that Dawson Hart is, once again, taking part in the St Peter and St James’ Will Writing Event. Many of you will know what an inspiring place the Hospice, located in North Chailey, is. The Scheme encourages supporters to visit us...