Wills, Probate & Later Life

Estate Planning

An older man sitting on the edge of a bed in an aubergine bedroom, holding his glasses, looking towards the window

Paying for care: what the council covers and what comes out of your savings

Social care in England is means-tested, and the thresholds are lower than most families assume. Understanding the assessment is what stops decisions being made in a panic.

Law In Life · 3 September 2026

A mother and her teenage daughter sitting on the steps of a terracotta-tiled garden room, talking quietly

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

Trusts, without the mystique: what they do and when an ordinary family needs one

A trust is a way of holding something for someone else. Most are set up for young children, vulnerable relatives or second families — not for avoiding tax.

Law In Life · 3 September 2026

A couple in their forties sitting on the back step of a house with a slate blue door, mugs in hand, looking out at the garden

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

Getting your affairs in order: the five documents that do the heavy lifting

Estate planning sounds like something for the wealthy. In practice it is five pieces of paper, and most families are missing at least three of them.

Law In Life · 3 September 2026

A mother and her grown-up daughter standing outside a brightly painted front door with a set of house keys

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

Inheritance tax for beginners: who actually has to pay it?

Inheritance tax is discussed as though it applies to everyone. In practice it starts at £325,000, doubles up between spouses, and can reach £1 million for a couple leaving a home to their children.

Law In Life · 3 September 2026

A group of white, back, asian, mixed race
Active pensioners, not sitting down, they are active but talking together and enjoying life really

Wills, Probate & Later LifeEngland and Wales

Being an executor: Why the role will get harder after 2027 pension reforms

Changes to pension rules coming in 2027 are expected to make the role of executor more complex and burdensome, highlighting the importance of careful estate planning and record-keeping.

3 September 2026