INHERITANCE – THE KNIVES ARE OUT

TODAY’S BLOG

INHERITANCE – DISPUTES AT ALL TIME HIGH

Perhaps you have heard the saying “Where there’s a Will there’s a crowd” the idea being that when money is on the table, people gather. Of course, there may be very good legitimate reasons for doing so – perhaps during lockdown you have watched “Knives Out” a comedic story about family dysfunction and the quest to understand what happened.

Whilst I am not suggesting murder is on the cards for most families, though I imagine that lockdown has provided more moments of stress, clearly one of the current terms of the hour is “entitled”. To my mind such a word is particularly relevant here. The Ministry of Justice published figures showing a record 188 cases went to the High Court in 2019, by individuals claiming to be entitled to a share or larger share of a deceased’s estate.

EVERYONE HAS A STORY

There are a variety of reasons for this of course, behind each is at least one story (much like the film). Family structures are certainly more complex, with multiple marriages, children from different relationships and so on. Whilst this is obviously more commonplace since divorce law evolved from 1857, 1937, 1969 (Divorce Reform Act) and 1973 (Matrimonial Causes Act), the context is nothing new as many of Shakespeare’s play will attest.

“BETTER THREE HOURS TOO SOON THAN A MINUTE TOO LATE”

The motivation may be more encouraged by the sums involved which has made the prospect of costly legal representation more appealing. Having your Will properly written is also important. Those making “last minute” homemade Wills are more obviously subject to challenge, being invariably poorly prepared and badly thought through. I don’t think anyone likes preparing their Will, it’s a fairly morbid task, but there is a huge sense of peace of mind once you have done so properly. It is part of what our Ten Minute Challenge has been leading towards – getting the difficult, uncomfortable and perhaps “boring” stuff done. There may be many gifts you wish to leave your loved ones upon your demise, but I can assure you that clarity is one of the best.

So – if your Will has not been reviewed since 2015 when the rules about property changed, now is the time to do so. We can put you in touch with a specialist. Please attempt our 10 Minute Challenge, it could be the most helpful set of final documents you provide.

As for the film, staring Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette and Christopher Plummer (a cast to die for!) well, its available on all the usual platforms, here is the trailer.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA

You can read more articles about Pensions, Wealth Management, Retirement, Investments, Financial Planning and Estate Planning on my blog which gets updated every week. If you would like to talk to me about your personal wealth planning and how we can make you stay wealthier for longer then please get in touch by calling 08000 736 273 or email info@solomonsifa.co.uk

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The Old Bakery, 2D Edna Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 8BT

Email – info@solomonsifa.co.uk
Call – 020 8542 8084

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GET IN TOUCH

Solomon’s Independent Financial Advisers
The Old Bakery, 2D Edna Road, Raynes Park, London, SW20 8BT

Email – info@solomonsifa.co.uk Call – 020 8542 8084

7 QUESTIONS, NO WAFFLE

Are we a good fit for you?

Take Survey

PRIVACY POLICY | DATA PROTECTION

So, you know what I did this summer…

Solomons-financial-advisor-wimbledon-blogger

So, you know what I did this summer..

This summer reminded me that active experience of something is more helpful than a knowledge of it. I have not moved house for 21 years and this summer, circumstances were right for a move.

On average, people move house every 7 years. At least that’s one statistic that I heard proclaimed with great certainty. Obviously many of our clients have moved over the years, and I have also spent the last five summers moving my daughters between home, university, student houses and a first new flat. So the physical hauling of stuff and the “letting everyone know” is certainly a current, up to date experience.

We haven’t provided mortgage advice for a reasonable number of years and have referred this service to a very good adviser that does. However I am very glad we don’t, because the degree of uncertainty is far too uncomfortable for me. Selling and buying houses brings out some rather unpleasant aspects of characters and I was reminded that just because someone agrees a deal, doesn’t mean that they will keep their word. Dishonest buyer intentions and motivations, attempting to manipulate every opportunity to their full advantage….perhaps I am just a bit naïve and not “cut-throat” enough.

Agents and disruption

The process was helped to some extent by technology, but if ever there was a case for some much overdue “disruption” the conveyancing and payment of funds process must surely warrant some smart techno-genius with ample opportunity to shake things up. Waiting for responses to questions, funds to clear, agreements to be honoured felt far removed from this instant internet age. Apparently nobody knows a conveyancer that is any good… (least of all Estate Agents who deal with them all the time). I did not know this.

Still, we got there in the end, happy enough with the agreement. Like everyone else I don’t want to have “paid too much” or “bought at the wrong time” but equally, this is a house for a home, not a share. Sure we are investing in the future, but there’s rather more to it than simply the price tag of a house isn’t there.

As for the Estate Agents… despite the general national view, I found all of them to be genuinely helpful and decent people, sure there was incredibly good use of photography and a couple were poorly informed, but my experience was pretty good, I have no complaints…. And I now have far greater empathy for those of you that have been through this process in the last few years. Stress levels get tested needlessly, I certainly hope that when it comes to financial planning, we remove all unnecessary stress.

Dominic Thomas
Solomons IFA