Joint Ownership and Inheritance: Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common
How you jointly own a property has a direct, significant effect on what happens to it when one owner dies - and many people who own property jointly don't…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 29th 2026
Trusts Explained: Why (and When) You Might Actually Need One
Trusts have a reputation as a tool for the very wealthy, but they solve genuinely practical problems for a wider range of families than that reputation…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 27th 2026
Gifting Money to Family: The 7-Year Rule and Other IHT-Free Gift Allowances
Giving money away during your lifetime is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce a future Inheritance Tax bill, but the rules around timing and…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 25th 2026
Probate Explained: How Long It Takes and What It Actually Costs
Probate has a reputation for being slow, expensive, and requiring a solicitor - all three are only partly true. Here's a realistic picture of the timeline…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 23rd 2026
Power of Attorney Explained: Protecting Your Finances If You Lose Capacity
A Lasting Power of Attorney is arguably as important as a will, yet far fewer people arrange one - despite the fact that anyone can lose the mental…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 21st 2026
Married Couples and IHT: How to Pass on Up to £1 Million Tax-Free
The oft-quoted 'married couples can leave £1 million tax-free' isn't automatic - it depends on both spouses' allowances actually being available and…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 19th 2026
The Residence Nil-Rate Band: An Extra £175,000 for Leaving Your Home to Children
Beyond the standard £325,000 nil-rate band, homeowners get access to a second, separate allowance specifically for passing on their main home - but it…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 17th 2026
Inheritance Tax Explained: The £325,000 Nil-Rate Band and How It Actually Works
Inheritance Tax (IHT) affects a growing share of UK estates every year, mostly because its core threshold hasn't moved since 2009 while property and asset…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 15th 2026
Writing a Will in the UK: What Happens If You Die Without One
A significant share of UK adults don't have a valid will - and dying without one means the law, not your own wishes, decides who inherits, through a fixed…
Marsha Marcus-Kennedy
September 13th 2026