Can someone with dementia still make a valid will?
A dementia diagnosis does not stop someone making a valid will. What the legal test asks, how a solicitor proves it was met, and what happens if capacity has already gone.
9 min · September 2026
Guides · Written by Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP
Plain English guides, written by a solicitor.
62 guides on wills, lasting powers of attorney, probate and trusts. Each one says what the law is, what usually happens, and what to do next. Where a legal term is unavoidable, it is defined as you go.
Start here.
The newest guide in each subject.
What an attorney can and cannot do: gifts, spending and the OPG rules
What an attorney under a property and financial affairs LPA may give and spend, the section 12 gifting rule, the OPG's practice note, paying yourself, and when a gift needs the Court of Protection.
9 min · September 2026
Named as executor but do not want the job? Renouncing, reserving power and stepping down
Nobody can be forced to act as executor. How to renounce on form PA15, what power reserved means, why intermeddling closes the door, how stepping down after the grant works, and what to do about a co-executor who will not act.
9 min · September 2026
Can I put my house in my children's names? Yes, and why it usually makes things worse
You can put your house in your children's names, and for most families it makes things worse. Why the house usually stays in your estate, why the council can still count it, and what to do instead.
9 min · September 2026
18 guides
Wills
Who inherits, who looks after the children, who is in charge. What happens when there is no will.
Can someone with dementia still make a valid will?
A dementia diagnosis does not stop someone making a valid will. What the legal test asks, how a solicitor proves it was met, and what happens if capacity has already gone.
9 min · September 2026
Just Bought a Home in Bridlington? Why a Will and LPA Should Be Next
Completing on a home is the moment to sort your will and LPA. How you own the property decides who inherits it, and most buyers never find out which way theirs is set up.
6 min · July 2026
Who Can Witness a Will in England and Wales? The Rules Explained
Who can witness a will in England and Wales, why beneficiaries must never sign, and how to get the signing right first time.
7 min · June 2026
Codicil or New Will? How to Change Your Will the Right Way
Whether to add a codicil or write a fresh will: how each works, the strict signing rules they share, and why DIY edits so often go wrong.
7 min · June 2026
What Happens to Your Will When You Marry or Divorce?
Getting married usually cancels your existing will, and divorce treats your ex-spouse as if they had died first. What those rules mean for your wishes, and the simple steps that protect them.
7 min · June 2026
Where to Store Your Will and How Your Family Can Find It
Where you keep your will matters as much as what it says. Solicitor storage, the National Will Register, telling your executors, and why only the signed original counts.
7 min · June 2026
Do You Need a Solicitor to Make a Will?
You can legally write your own will. This guide explains when a DIY or online will is fine, when it is risky, and what a solicitor actually adds.
8 min · June 2026
How Much Does a Will Cost in 2026? A Clear Breakdown
What a will should cost in 2026 from a solicitor, a will-writer, online or free. Fixed fees, what is included, and the hidden cost of a cheap will that goes wrong.
9 min · June 2026
Pension Pots and Inheritance Tax: What Changes in April 2027
From 6 April 2027, unused pension pots count as part of your estate for inheritance tax. If you assumed your pension would pass tax-free, this guide explains what changes for your family.
4 min · May 2026
Inheritance Tax Thresholds 2026/27: How Much Can You Leave Tax-Free?
The inheritance tax thresholds for 2026/27, how the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band work, and practical ways to reduce the bill.
10 min · March 2026
Will Reforms 2025: Digital Wills and the Future of Inheritance
The Law Commission wants to replace the Wills Act 1837. What it proposed in May 2025, including electronic wills and a dispensing power, and what it means for you.
8 min · March 2026
Wills for Parents: Guardianship, Trusts and Protecting Your Children
A will is the only way to name guardians for your children and control how your assets are managed for them. What parents need to include.
10 min · March 2026
Joint Property After Death: Tenants in Common vs Joint Tenants
How you own property with someone else decides what happens to it when you die. The difference between joint tenants and tenants in common, and when to change.
9 min · March 2026
How to Update Your Will: When and Why You Should Review It
When to update your will, the life events that should trigger a review, and whether you need a codicil or a new will.
9 min · March 2026
Protecting Your Bridlington Property: Trusts, Wills, and the Family Home in East Yorkshire
Your home is probably your most valuable asset. This guide explains how wills and trusts can protect it for your family, and the pitfalls to watch for in East Yorkshire.
9 min · March 2026
Estate Planning in Bridlington and East Yorkshire: Why It Matters More Than You Think
East Yorkshire has one of the oldest populations in England, yet many residents have no will or lasting power of attorney. This guide explains why estate planning matters here.
9 min · March 2026
Mirror Wills for Couples: What They Are, When They Work, and When You Need Something More
Mirror wills suit many couples, but not all. This guide explains when they work, when you need something stronger, and how to decide.
9 min · March 2026
The Complete Guide to Making a Will in England and Wales
How to make a valid will in England and Wales: the legal requirements, choosing executors and guardians, inheritance tax basics and the mistakes to avoid.
14 min · March 2026
When you are ready to have it done: Wills at a fixed fee. What it costs, what happens in order, and how long it takes.
11 guides
Powers of attorney
Who can act for you if you cannot. Money and property; health and care. How registration works.
What an attorney can and cannot do: gifts, spending and the OPG rules
What an attorney under a property and financial affairs LPA may give and spend, the section 12 gifting rule, the OPG's practice note, paying yourself, and when a gift needs the Court of Protection.
9 min · September 2026
The bank will not accept our lasting power of attorney: what to do
What to do when a bank refuses a registered lasting power of attorney: the checks the bank makes, the GOV.UK access code, certified copies, how to escalate, and the Financial Ombudsman.
9 min · September 2026
How Much Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Cost to Register?
What a lasting power of attorney costs in England and Wales: the £92 OPG registration fee per LPA, when fee remissions apply, and where solicitor fixed fees fit in.
7 min · June 2026
Can You Make an LPA Yourself, or Do You Need a Solicitor?
Yes, you can make a lasting power of attorney yourself in England and Wales. But getting it right matters, because mistakes are often only spotted years later, when it is too late to fix them.
7 min · June 2026
When Does a Lasting Power of Attorney Take Effect?
When a lasting power of attorney starts working: why a property and financial affairs LPA can be used while you still have capacity, and a health and welfare LPA cannot.
7 min · June 2026
Dementia and Power of Attorney: What Families Need to Know
A guide for families facing dementia: when a lasting power of attorney is still possible, what happens without one, and where to find support in East Yorkshire.
10 min · March 2026
Who Can Override a Power of Attorney? Rights, Safeguards and Disputes
Who can challenge or override a power of attorney, the safeguards in the system, and how to raise a concern about an attorney.
10 min · March 2026
How to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney: Step by Step
How to register a lasting power of attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian: the steps, the £92 fee, the 8 to 10 week wait and the mistakes to avoid.
10 min · March 2026
What Happens If You Lose Capacity Without an LPA? Understanding Deputyship
Without an LPA, your family may face a costly and slow Court of Protection application if you lose capacity. This guide explains deputyship and how an LPA avoids it.
7 min · March 2026
Property and Financial Affairs LPA vs Health and Welfare LPA: What Is the Difference?
There are two types of lasting power of attorney and they do different jobs. This guide explains both in plain English so you can decide which you need.
8 min · March 2026
Lasting Powers of Attorney: The Complete Guide for England and Wales
An LPA is one of the most important documents you can put in place, yet many people put it off. This guide explains both types, how they work and how to set them up while you are well.
14 min · March 2026
When you are ready to have it done: Lasting powers of attorney at a fixed fee. What it costs, what happens in order, and how long it takes.
21 guides
Probate
The grant, the tax, the money in and the money out. What to do first, and what it costs.
Named as executor but do not want the job? Renouncing, reserving power and stepping down
Nobody can be forced to act as executor. How to renounce on form PA15, what power reserved means, why intermeddling closes the door, how stepping down after the grant works, and what to do about a co-executor who will not act.
9 min · September 2026
How much can a bank release without probate? The thresholds, the £5,000 rule and what happens above them
There is no legal probate threshold for banks. Each bank sets its own limit for paying out on a death certificate and an indemnity, and the £5,000 people quote governs the court fee, not the bank.
9 min · September 2026
Fixed Fee vs Hourly Probate: How to Compare Solicitor Quotes
Probate can be billed as a fixed fee, an hourly rate, or a percentage of the estate, and the difference can run to thousands of pounds. Here is how to compare quotes properly.
7 min · July 2026
How to Value an Estate for Probate: A Step-by-Step Guide
Valuing the estate is the first real job an executor faces. This guide walks through what to include, how to value each type of asset, and the mistakes that cause problems later.
8 min · July 2026
Closing a Bank Account After Someone Dies in England and Wales
When someone dies, closing their bank account follows a clear path. This guide explains small-estate limits, joint versus sole accounts, and when a grant of probate is needed.
7 min · June 2026
What Is a Grant of Probate and When Do You Need One?
A grant of probate is the court document that proves an executor's authority to deal with someone's estate. What it does, how it differs from letters of administration, and when you need one.
7 min · June 2026
How Long Does Probate Take? Realistic Timelines for East Yorkshire Families
The grant of probate usually arrives within weeks, but settling the whole estate often takes nine to twelve months. A plain timeline of what happens when, and what slows it down.
7 min · June 2026
How to Get a Property Valued for Probate in Bridlington
The home is usually the biggest asset in an estate, so its probate value matters. How property valuation for probate works in Bridlington, and when a formal RICS valuation is worth paying for.
7 min · June 2026
Registering a Death in Bridlington: Where to Go and What to Bring
How to register a death in the Bridlington area: the five-day rule, where to go, what to take, the Tell Us Once service, and what the documents you receive are for.
7 min · June 2026
Do You Need Probate? When It Is Required and When It Isn't
Not every estate needs probate. When a grant is required, when small estates and jointly owned assets pass without one, and how to find out where you stand.
8 min · June 2026
Donating Belongings to Charity After a Death: A Practical Guide
Practical advice on giving someone's belongings to charity after their death: who has authority, valuations first, which charities collect in East Yorkshire, fire label rules and the tax position.
7 min · March 2026
Funeral Directors in Bridlington: A Local Guide
A guide to funeral directors in Bridlington and East Yorkshire, independent and national, with plain advice on costs, help with paying, and what happens next.
8 min · March 2026
Probate Valuations and Auction Houses in East Yorkshire
Where to get probate valuations in East Yorkshire, including David Duggleby in Scarborough and Dee Atkinson and Harrison in Driffield, and what HMRC expects.
7 min · March 2026
Selling a House During Probate in Bridlington
A practical guide to selling a house during probate in Bridlington: when you can sell, local estate agents, capital gains tax and the legal steps.
8 min · March 2026
Executor Duties Explained: Your Responsibilities and Where to Get Help
What an executor must do, the personal liability that comes with the role, how to renounce and when to get help.
11 min · March 2026
Contesting a Will: Grounds, Process and Time Limits
The legal grounds for contesting a will in England and Wales, who can claim, the time limits, the costs and what to expect.
10 min · March 2026
What to Do When Someone Dies: A Step-by-Step Checklist
The practical steps to take when someone dies in England and Wales, from registering the death to deciding whether probate is needed.
12 min · March 2026
How Much Does Probate Cost in 2026/27? A Clear Breakdown of Fees
From the £526 court fee to solicitor charges: a plain breakdown of what probate costs in 2026/27, and how to keep the cost down.
8 min · March 2026
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Probate Process in England and Wales
A plain guide to probate in England and Wales, from registering the death to paying out the estate. Fees, timescales and the steps that protect executors.
15 min · March 2026
Probate Rule Changes in 2025: What Executors Need to Know
Probate rules changed in November 2025 and the fees changed again in July 2026. This guide explains what changed and what it means if you are an executor or administrator.
7 min · March 2026
What Happens If You Die Without a Will? The Intestacy Rules Explained
Without a valid will, strict legal rules decide who inherits, and the results can surprise people. This guide explains how intestacy works and why a will matters.
8 min · March 2026
When you are ready to have it done: Probate at a fixed fee, never a percentage. What it costs, what happens in order, and how long it takes.
12 guides
Trusts
Protecting a home, a business, a farm or a vulnerable person. When a trust earns its place, and when it does not.
Can I put my house in my children's names? Yes, and why it usually makes things worse
You can put your house in your children's names, and for most families it makes things worse. Why the house usually stays in your estate, why the council can still count it, and what to do instead.
9 min · September 2026
Do I need to register my trust with HMRC? Which trusts must register, the deadlines and the penalties
Which trusts must be registered on HMRC's Trust Registration Service, which are excluded, the 90 day and tax year deadlines, what you need to hand, the penalties, and who is responsible.
9 min · September 2026
Farm and business inheritance tax from April 2026: what East Yorkshire families need to do
From 6 April 2026 the first £2.5 million of farmland and business property per person gets 100% relief, with 50% above that and ten interest-free instalments. What East Yorkshire farming families need to check, and why wills written before 2026 may need another look.
9 min · September 2026
Property protection trusts: the disadvantages nobody mentions
The drawbacks of a property protection trust that sales pitches leave out: it protects half the home at most, trustees control the title, it saves no tax, it needs registering and running, and it can be undone.
9 min · September 2026
Gifts out of surplus income: the unlimited inheritance tax exemption most families miss
Regular gifts from income you do not spend leave your estate immediately, with no upper limit. The three tests, what counts as income, and the records your executors will need for IHT403.
9 min · September 2026
Family protection trust explained: the will version, the lifetime version, and what each protects
What a family protection trust actually is, which of the two things sold under that name you are being offered, what the will version protects and does not protect, and why the lifetime version needs care.
7 min · September 2026
Deeds of Variation Explained: Redirecting an Inheritance
How a deed of variation lets beneficiaries redirect an inheritance after a death, the tax advantages and the strict two-year time limit.
9 min · March 2026
Setting Up a Trust for Your Children or Grandchildren
How a trust lets you leave money or property to children or grandchildren without handing it over at 18, the main types, and what they cost.
10 min · March 2026
Protecting Your Home from Care Home Fees
How trusts, joint ownership and early planning can protect your home from care home fees, and the rules on giving assets away.
11 min · March 2026
Inheritance Tax Planning with Trusts: What You Need to Know
How trusts can reduce inheritance tax, the charges they carry, and the rules that catch people out, explained in plain English.
11 min · March 2026
Protecting Your Family Home: Life Interest Trusts and Property Protection Trusts Explained
How life interest trusts and property protection trusts work, what they can and cannot protect, and how to decide whether one is right for you.
10 min · March 2026
Trusts Explained: A Plain-English Guide to How Trusts Work in England and Wales
What a trust is, who is involved, the main types, how trusts are taxed and when one might matter for your family, in plain English.
12 min · March 2026
When you are ready to have it done: Trusts and estate planning from a STEP solicitor. What it costs, what happens in order, and how long it takes.
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