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Wills are legal documents that help spell out how you would like your affairs and assets handled and given out after you pass away. There are many types of Wills you can choose from and one may be better for you and your estate than another. 

Choosing the best options for you requires a bit of knowledge on what each type of Will covers. This article will take a look at a few of the most common types of Wills and Trusts in order to better prepare you for planning for your estate.

Understanding the Different Types of Wills

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between a simple Will and a Will Trust, and compare the benefits:

A Simple Will Versus a Will Trust

The most significant difference between a simple Will and a Will Trust is that a simple Will gives away all of your estate after you have passed away, while a Will Trust is used to protect your estate. Therefore, your Trustees will administer it for your beneficiaries until the Trust comes to an end or is wound up.  Having a simple Will or a Will Trust is a personal choice but both are normally used to protect your assets or loved ones.  

Trusts in Will Trusts are complex and take longer to finalise. Professional advice should be obtained before deciding whether this is the right vehicle for you.

Single Will

If you are single, do not have vulnerable beneficiaries and your circumstances are straight forward, a simple Single Will may be appropriate for you.

Mirror Will

A Mirror Will is a Will that mirrors its counterpart.  They are normally used by spouses but can also be used by siblings or people who live together. There are two Wills, one for each individual, each identical or similar with what they specify for end-of-life plans. Mirror Wills are designed for couples who have the same or similar wishes and who are usually the beneficiaries of each other’s Wills should the other person die.  The couples may be married or cohabitees.

A Mirror Will may not be appropriate if  you do not have the same end of life wishes as your partner. Keep in mind you can change your Will without the other party knowing at any time..

Advanced Decision or Living Will:

A Living Will is active when you are alive and invoked in case of a health emergency or accident. An Advanced Decision or Living Will is a legal document that specifies what medical treatments you want to opt in or out of if you are unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself. You can also choose if you want to be kept alive in the event of an accident, as well as other preferences for medical decisions like organ donation.  It will be attached to your Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney.

A Will Trust

A Will Trust can be used in different scenarios.  It all depends on what you require.  For example, if you would like to protect your estate against possible care fees, this can be used to help.  A couple can use them to protect their estate for their children by giving a life interest to each other on the first death.  If the survivor needs care, the share of the first one to die is protected for the children.  

There are other Will Trusts , such as discretionary, property, and flexible trust, for example , which can be used to help you, so make sure to speak with your solicitor who will discuss the options that most suitable for you.. 

A Life interest Will or Discretionary Will Trust  can be used to cover complex marital and legal aspects of your estate, such as granting income or property to a second spouse during their lifetime, but then  the children all benefit equally on the death of the second spouse.. 

A Will Trust can also be used to fund education for your children and grandchildren, or simply provide for your loved ones that may be or become vulnerable. 

Your Will Is In Good Hands With Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors

Drafting a Will  is always complex, as  most people don’t know how their circumstances will change over time, or their affairs are not straightforward or simple.  Make sure to contact an experienced solicitor to help you create a Will that will guarantee all your affairs are in order and leave you with the  reassurance that your wishes will be followed to the letter. 

Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors has an excellent and knowledgeable staff who are ready to help assist you with your estate planning needs. We will help you plan for the future and solve any legal issues you may have with expertise, professionalism, compassion and kindness.

Call us today or make an appointment on our website for more information about assistance with your Will, as well as your other legal needs for Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Equity Release, and Settlement Agreements.

Death can come unexpectedly and without warning. With COVID-19 still ravaging the globe, the odds of an untimely demise are perhaps the highest we’ve ever known. It’s easy to see the prudence in laying out a plan for end-of-life affairs.

There’s a lot to consider. We want our family to be comfortable — with their lifestyle and future provided for. While it may seem like there’s little need to worry, it’s unfortunately easy for things to go awry.

So how do you ensure that your estate makes it to those you wish it to when you no longer have any control over the situation? The answer may lie in a life interest Will trust.

The Issues With Wills

What’s wrong with a simple Will? Well, nothing, but it does have its weaknesses.

One of the simplest and most common types of Will is a simple mirror Will. Under this arrangement, your entire estate transfers wholly to your spouse (or civil partner, or whoever you designate). Then, upon their passing, the estate is distributed to your children according to the terms in the Will. Your spouse, then, usually has a similar Will, where their estate would transfer to you, should they pass first.

There are a couple of risks with  this. First, your spouse can spend it. The surviving spouse might need care in a residential home or care home.  Care fees can rapidly consume the value of your estate. The government will step in eventually and begin to cover costs, but your children could end up with as little as £23,250 between them — no doubt a paltry sum compared to the value of your property!

The other risk to consider is rather uglier, but it happens. It’s called the “sideways disinheritance trap,” and it has to do with the fact that if your spouse remarries, they can draft a new will. . If the Wills you had were simple mirror Wills, and they die before their new spouse, your estate would pass to the new spouse and thereafter their children.  ,  Your children could end up with none of your estate. We’d like to think that people have kinder hearts than this, but it happens often enough to so many people, therefore you have to protect your own estate for your children. 

How a Life Interest Will Trust Is Different

This kind of Will is very important for you because you control who receives your estate and when. Your spouse receives what is called life interest, allowing them to continue living in the house while still having control over their share of its value. They could even sell the house and downsize if necessary.  The share of the first to die is always protected. 

Furthermore, under a life interest Will trust, your spouse is entitled to any income made from the property, whether that be from renting it out or investments if they are included in the trust.. This income can help cover the costs of a care facility should the surviving spouse’s health fail.

Ultimately, a life interest Will trust protects your estate from it ending up belonging to children who are not your own. 

The Downside to a Life Interest Will Trust

The most common issue with a life interest Will trust is resentment on the part of the new spouse who is prevented from giving the share of the estate of the first one to die to their own children who shouldn’t get it in any event. 

The law allows the surviving spouse to make a claim against the estate of the spouse who has died. It does not protect the estate of the spouse who died first. For example, Amanda and Brendon are married with three children. Amanda dies first and Brendon remarries Susan. The law says that Brendon has to provide for the spouse at the date of his death. Therefore, if he leaves a simple Will with Susan as his sole beneficiary, his children from the first marriage may get nothing unless she enters into a deed of variation giving some of her late husband’s estate to his children. 

The other alternative that Brendon has is to have a mutual Will with Susan where she agrees to give part of his estate to his children on her death. Brendon’s children probably have to take Susan’s estate to court if she doesn’t honour Brendon’s mutual Will. This is expensive and time consuming.

A life interest Will trust protects Amanda’s share of the estate that she had with Brendon. Susan wouldn’t be able to sell the property because there would be a restriction stopping her from doing so without the children’s consent. This gives them control of their inheritance. 

Having a Will In Place is Important

Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors offers the legal expertise you need to plan for the future and protect your assets. We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different and our friendly and approachable legal team works to develop Wills, lasting powers of attorney, and tax and estate planning suited to your unique needs.

Contact us today to learn how our services can help you and your family prepare for the future and protect your estate.

Being married has many benefits, including legal ones. But some people don’t want to go down that route. When it comes to your Will, it’s essential to know what that means for the parties involved. Wills for cohabiting couples are a crucial component of financial planning and future provisions. 

Cohabitation is a new norm. The number of cohabiting couples doubled to 3.3 million in 2017, up from just 1.5 million in 1996. Many people may assume that there would be new legal protections for couples with these numbers in case one dies. 

Sadly, when it comes to inheritance, property, children and dependents, there are no legal protections for couples in this position. Therefore, ensuring Wills are correctly in place is essential to ensuring your partner is protected. 

The Law of Intestacy 

The law of intestacy explains what happens when someone dies without a Will. This law applies differently to married couples, civil partnerships and cohabitees.

The law doesn’t give cohabiting couples any rights. If someone in a cohabiting relationship dies, the other does not automatically receive anything. Here are some instances of what happens in these situations. 

• Lance and Samantha have been cohabiting for a decade but are not married. Lance has £50,000 in savings and a company pension. Lance suddenly dies. Samantha doesn’t get any of his assets. The assets go to his closest living relative (his sister, Amelia). If Lance wants Samantha to benefit from his savings or his company pension, his Will is the only way he can do this. If Samantha has been living with Lance for two years immediately before his death, in the same house, then she will have a legal claim against his estate.  She has to instruct solicitors to bring a claim against Lance’s estate. The procedure is complicated.
• Jenna and Jasmine are married. Jenna dies, leaving behind £100,000 in savings and £100,000 in investments. Jasmine is entitled to everything. She inherits the first £250,000 of everything that Jenna owns and would be allowed 50 percent of what she owned above that figure if they had children
• Tristan and Jessica are not married but have one child – Mackenzie. Jessica suddenly dies, leaving behind £400,000 in savings. This money will bypass Tristan and go directly to Mackenzie. Mackenzie is 14, and so the £400,000 will be held in trust for her until she is 18. Tristan will have a claim against Jessica’s estate if they were living together in the same house, as a couple, for two years before her death.

Cohabiting couples don’t realise there is no legal protection because there’s no legal recognition of their relationship. “Common-law spouse” is often used to describe couples who are not married and aren’t in a civil partnership. But no law recognises this term or any benefits to it. So, Wills are essential to ensuring that a person’s wishes are met in the event of their death. 

Handling Assets

• Money in the bank: If a partner in a cohabiting couple dies, the money in the bank under their sole name goes directly to their estate. The other partner will have no access to it. If there’s a joint account, then the surviving partner will have access to the account. But, part of it could be part of the deceased’s estate. 
• Debts: Any debts accumulated by both partners may be left to the surviving partner solely. They may be left with debt, with no additional inheritance to help pay for them. 
• Property: This part depends on how the property is held by both cohabitees. . If the two are tenants in a common, and one person dies without a Will, their part of the property will pass on to their estate, not their partner. If the property is held by the couple as beneficial joint tenants, then the part belonging to the partner that has died passes to the surviving partner.. 

Couples and Children

When it comes to children, Wills are highly important for cohabiting couples. Partners who are parents have legal rights regarding their children and can make decisions about significant parts of their lives. 

A mother that gave birth to a child automatically has parental responsibility. Still, the father doesn’t unless specific circumstances exist–if he was married to the mother at the time of birth, got married afterward, or his name is on the birth certificate. Issues can arise if one partner dies with responsibility and the other doesn’t have parental responsibility. 

Without parental responsibility or a Will, the surviving partner could be left without any rights to ensure the child remains with them. 

Claims Made Against the Estate

A surviving unmarried partner can claim against the deceased partner’s estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act of 1975 if there’s no Will. A claim like that gives reasonable financial provision necessary for the maintenance of the surviving partner. 

This takes into account facts like their own financial circumstances and the estate’s value. But, there are no guarantees that the surviving partner will obtain the estate. The process can also be time consuming and expensive. Having a Will in place is much simpler, more straightforward, and far less stressful. 

The Benefits of Wills

• Ensure the surviving partner is entitled to cash or assets the deceased would like them to have. A Will can lay out the details, whether part or all of their assets get left to their partner. 
• Provides security when it comes to property ownership. For instance, if the property is held as tenants in common and the deceased’s share gets left to a different beneficiary, the survivor has no security in the property. . Without a Will, a proportion of the property can become legally owned by someone else-likely the deceased’s closest living relative. This situation can cause significant issues, especially if that person wants to sell the property. 
• Issues with children are secured. A Will will lay out the inheritance and how children will be cared for in the event of one’s death. 
• Avoids the need for a surviving partner to have to make a legal claim on the deceased’s estate. Making a legal claim can be messy and complicated. Avoiding the need to do this is almost always in the best interest of all parties involved. 
• Minimises the possibility for more heartache or issues with relatives who have inherited what the deceased partner would have wished the survivor to have because of intestacy laws. 
• Proper estate planning to minimise the impact of inheritance tax where it’s applicable. 

How to Tie Up Your Loose Ends

Wills for cohabiting couples give security and peace of mind for the future. Although it’s never possible to predict when something will happen, a Will in place will help cohabiting couples have some protection against any legal problems when it comes to being unmarried in the event of a partner’s death. Wills can lay out all the details of someone’s wishes so that everything will be evident in the event of one’s death. 

Let Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors Help

For assistance in preparing your Will and ensuring that all witnessing and signatures are conducted lawfully, reach out to Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors. We are pleased to offer virtual, COVID-safe options to ensure that your estate is properly planned and your wishes made known. 
Contact us today to learn how our services can help you and your family prepare for the future and protect your estate.

As you are looking through your loved one’s belongings, you wonder what you will do with it all. Who gets the family china? What did they want to be done with their residence? Which of the relatives will receive a portion of the money left in the deceased’s bank accounts?

Unfortunately, people often have to decide each of these things when there isn’t a will to be found. By not having a will, families are left in the dark about what to do with the deceased’s belongings and how to proceed legally.

Figuring out Who is in Charge of the Estate.

When a person dies without a will, this is known as “dying intestate”. This means the law decides who inherits the estate by criteria called “intestacy rules”.

A relative or friend can choose to sort out the estate, but they also have to take care of the estate promptly. For someone to take over the administration of the estate, the person wanting to be responsible will need to apply for a “grant of letters of administration”. 

The grant will allow the administrator to value the estate, pay any debts and distribute the estate according to the intestacy rules. It will take quite a bit of time to sort out an estate if the person who died wasn’t prepared, so it is best to apply for probate as soon as possible. The sooner you have administrator status means the sooner the heirs to the estate can receive their inheritance.

Who Will Inherit?

The intestacy rules are laid out so only close relatives will receive anything from the estate before distant relatives. It is laid out in this order:

#1. Spouse or Civil Partner

A spouse or civil partner will receive the entire estate if there are no children. 

If there are children and a surviving spouse or civil partner, the surviving spouse or partner will receive: 

• The first £270,000 of the estate
• Half of anything left over
• The deceased’s personal possessions

The children will receive what is left. This doesn’t include step-children who aren’t legally adopted. Step-children have no stake in the inheritance unless they have been adopted before the deceased’s death. If step-children are treated as children of the family and you want them to inherit any of your estate you need a will to state your wishes.

#2. Offspring

If the deceased was not married , but had children who survived him, they  will inherit everything. It will be divided equally among his  children.  

If there is no legally binding marriage at the time of death but the dearly departed had a partner who was living with him, the partner’s position is precarious.  The complexity of the partner’s situation depends on whether they lived with the dearly departed in the same house for two years before the death. If it’s less than two years, they are not entitled to any of the loved one’s estate, unless they owned assets jointly. If they owned property jointly, they will have to pay part of the inheritance tax liability due from the deceased’s estate, if the estate is taxable.

If the partner lived with the deceased for two years immediately before the death, as long as it occured in England or Wales, the partner will be entitled to a claim for maintenance. Unfortunately they have to engage solicitors to start court proceedings to make sure that they get what they are entitled to, under their loved one’s estate. Engaging solicitors for this type of claim is expensive especially if it goes to court. Costs of over £25,000 are not uncommon. 

Depending on the relationship with any children that the dearly departed may have, the partner may not even be allowed to take part in the funeral preparations. This can be very stressful and painful for any surviving partner, especially if they lived with the departed for a long time.

The myth of the common-law wife or husband does not exist.

#3. Grandchildren

There is a possibility the deceased may not have any living children left. It is the grandchildren who inherit if that is the case. 

#4. Parents

The deceased’s parents are the next to receive the inheritance if the dearly departed died without offspring or adopted children. This doesn’t include step-parents. Step-parents have no legal standing to receive anything from the estate. If a child has been brought up by a step-parent and sees that step-parent as their parent, the child needs to have a will giving the step-parent whatever they wish them to have.

#5. Siblings

Siblings will only receive the inheritance if there are no offspring, grandchildren, or parents. This does include half-siblings. It does not include step-siblings. 

#6. Nieces and Nephews

Say the deceased is the last of the family’s brood left. When they die, the nieces and nephews will inherit the estate. 

#7. Grandparents

Grandparents are the next to be granted the inheritance if there is no one else. This does not include step-grandparents.

#8. Aunts or Uncles

The next in line are aunts and uncles. This doesn’t include the step-aunt or step-uncles. It does include any half-aunt or half-uncles the deceased may have. 

#9. First Cousins

First cousins will inherit the estate if there are no aunts or uncles left. This does not include any step-children the aunt or uncles may have unless they have been legally adopted. 

#10. The Crown

If there are no living blood relatives left to inherit the state, the entire inheritance will go to the Crown. This is a process known as “bona vacantia”.

Bona Vacantia means any vacant goods. The ownerless property is given the name “bona vacantia”, and by law, then passes to the Crown. 

The Treasury Solicitor acts on the Crown’s behalf to administer the estate of people who pass intestate without blood relatives. Assets and other ownerless goods are collected by the Treasury Solicitor and become properties of the Crown. 

What Happens to Jointly Owned Property?

There are many cases where a home is owned jointly by someone who is not a blood relative. They are called “joint tenants” or “tenants in common”. 

If the deceased passes away and the house is owned by both parties as joint tenants, it is not considered part of the estate. This means if one person dies, the other will inherit their share, even without a will. 

However, if the property has the owners listed as tenants in common and one dies, the shared half of the property isn’t automatically given to the other owner. The intestacy rules  are followed if there is no will and whoever is next in line for the estate now owns the other half of the home. 

Who Can’t Inherit if there is no Will?

When there isn’t a will, it makes a challenging situation for everyone in the deceased’s life. Without a will, anyone who is not in a legally-recognised relationship with the person cannot inherit any of the estate. This includes:

#1. Unmarried partners

Common law partners do not exist.  Therefore any partner who lives with the dearly departed needs a will to give them authority to administer their loved one’s will. As heartbreaking as it sounds, there isn’t a legally-recognized relationship, and it goes to a blood relative instead.

#2. Relations by marriage

Even though the step-children may have been raised by the deceased for their entire lives, they have no claim on the estate. Unless there is a formal adoption or they are maintained by the dearly departed the step-children will receive nothing. 

This also includes parents-in-law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law. While the spouses are legally bound to each other, their respective families are not. 

#3. Close Friends

While a close friend may have helped the deceased in their last days more than their own family, they cannot inherit the estate unless the dearly departed leaves a will giving them a gift

Having a Will is Important

Passing on without a will outlining who you want to inherit leaves a very complicated process for the loved ones  to follow. The best thing you can do for your loved ones to give them peace of mind after you are gone is to outline your final wishes in writing formally while you are still of sound mind and body, and long before you ever need to.
Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors are at the ready with an expert legal staff to assist you with your will needs.  Contact us for more information about assistance with your will, as well as your other legal needs for end of life.

As you age, the feeling of worry creeps in about what will happen to your home and belongings when you die. It is a fact of life human beings pass away, but the possessions accumulated throughout one’s life stay behind for our loved ones to cherish or pass on to others who might appreciate them more. 

The smart thing to do to prepare your relatives for the end of your life is to have a will or trust in place and be sure your wishes will be met. In the event of your passing, a document laying out precisely what you want and what happens to your belongings will make your loved ones’ life less stressful and allow them to focus less on logistics. A will can make life less complicated, and your relatives can grieve without worrying about what to do with your assets left behind. 

However, not everyone may be happy with what you outline in your will or want the will discovered if they are left out of the inheritance for any reason. This makes it challenging when preparing your final wishes, and you need to decide what to do with your will to protect your last decisions.

Your Rights to Privacy and Your Will

Your will is your private, personal wish for what happens to you and your possessions after you pass away. However, people do have these two questions when it comes to keeping their final wishes private.

Question #1. Do I have to tell my family members what is in my will?

The age-old tale of the children being unhappy with the will their parents created occurs more often than you might think. A demand to change the will can come up, and a fight will more than likely ensue. 

This situation can make everyone in the family unhappy and cause rifts that might never heal. The best thing to do in this dynamic is to inform your relatives you have a will and not disclose the contents of the document.

You have no legal obligation to show your will to anyone. The family members may bluster and try to bully you into showing themyou your will’s contents but it is important to stand your ground. You do not have to disclose the contents of the will to anyone.

Question #2. Is my will a public document?

When you create your will, it is not a public document. The legal form is your private wish on paper in the case of your passing. Its contents aren’t known outside of those who you choose to share it with, the solicitor who helped you create it, and yourself. 

The document only becomes public after probate is granted. After your passing, the estate’s executor is the only one allowed to see the will’s contents. Once probate is granted, your will then becomes a public document.  

Places to Keep Your Will

Once you have the legal document in hand, it is often difficult to figure out where you want to keep it. There are a few places you can keep your will, and it is up to you to decide which one is best in your situation.

#1. Your own home

If you have a personal safe at home, it is an excellent option to store your will in your own home. There are no fees, and the document is at your fingertips to look over whenever you feel the need. You can easily modify and adjust your will as needed when your circumstances change.

However, there are some risks involved. If you store it in your home you run the risk of someone reading it without your knowledge, damage to the document, or the will being destroyed if you have a flood or fire in your home. You will also need to ensure that someone you trust will have access to your will after you pass away.

#2. With The Solicitor

After writing your will, you can choose to store it with your solicitor. Solicitors are regulated, giving you recourse if the will is lost or damaged. Storing with a solicitor also ensures that your will can be made available when it’s needed.

Be aware that an additional fee may be needed if you have to store it with the solicitor who didn’t write the document. 

It’s No Secret That You Need a Will

To ensure your estate is taken care of promptly, a will or trust is the best course of action. Your loved ones will be able to handle your last wishes with ease when they are outlined clearly. 
Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors are at the ready with an excellent staff to assist you with your will needs.  Contact us for more information about assistance with your will, as well as your other legal needs for probate, lasting powers of attorney, equity release, and settlement agreements.

Video witnessing to be made legal — How to Make Your Will Virtually

During these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to make sure your family will be protected under any circumstances. Writing a will is crucial to your overall estate planning and post-mortem procedures. However, the law of England and Wales has required two in-person witnesses for will creation. Now, in light of COVID-19, video witnessing is permissible. Here’s what you need to know.

The new provision is retroactive

The change in law has been backdated to 31 January 2020, and the new allowance will continue until 31 January 2022, if not later. So, if you have already used videoconferencing for your witnesses during this period, you can rest assured that your will is considered legally binding and valid. However, the government does request that wills be witnessed in person whenever possible.

Electronic signatures are still not allowed

Although the witnessing itself can be virtual, the witnesses’ signatures must be physical. Those creating their will may need to use couriers or mail services to ensure that all witnesses legally sign the document. Note that the will’s creator needs to see the witnesses make their signatures, so in some cases, up to three separate video conferencing sessions will need to happen. Also, the will document ideally is completed by all parties within 24 hours, which may present challenges if the witnesses are far apart.

The videoconference must be high-quality

If poor connectivity or other issues prevent any party from hearing or seeing the will’s creation, the virtual witnessing may not be permitted. All parties must be able to clearly hear, see, and comprehend each other’s statements and actions during the session.

The video feed must show the entirety of the act

Each witness must be in full view of the will’s creator, so that their face, their signing hand, and the will itself are all visible. Ideally, the entire space around them is also shown so there is no suggestion of undue influence or secret attendees during this private event.

The videoconferencing must be live

While the signing itself cannot be pre-recorded (i.e., a witness records themselves signing the will, then sends it to the will-maker), the live virtual witnessing can and should be recorded. The easiest way to do this is to use a tool such as Skype or Zoom, then begin recording the videoconference once it starts. Should the will be challenged, it will be crucial to have the recording.

The new law applies to codicils as well

Should you need to modify an existing will, you can use video witnessing to make the required adjustments and supervise witnesses’ signatures. As with will creation, all signatures and statements should be clearly covered by the video feed and preserved in a recording.

Witnesses should still sign together when possible

While both witnesses and the will-maker can all legally sign separately via videoconferencing, the government still recommends that the witnesses sign in each other’s physical presence. If this is not possible, a three-way video conference must be created in which all parties can clearly see and hear each other make their signatures.

The will should state that the witnessing will occur virtually

If a will is to be witnessed via video conference, the document must state as such. Ensure that the will contains a bespoke attestation clause describing how the witnessing shall occur.

Socially distanced witnessing is also allowed

If videoconferencing is not viable or if there are concerns about the timing of getting all signatures, parties can also witness with social distancing as long as line-of-sight is maintained. For example, the will-maker and their witnesses may supervise each other’s signatures through a window, corridor, or from a safe distance, as long as they can clearly see that the will is being signed.

Conclusion

The new legislation is intended as a temporary measure to facilitate will creation during the COVID era. Physical witnessing is still recommended, and physical signatures are absolutely required. However, virtual witnessing is a viable alternative and can be immensely useful for high-risk individuals who need to create or update their will. They and their witnesses should aim to replicate an in-person will-signing event whenever possible, maintaining full visibility and documentation of all signatures.

For assistance in preparing your will and ensuring that all witnessing and signatures are conducted lawfully, reach out to Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors. We are pleased to offer virtual, COVID-safe options to ensure that your estate is properly planned and your wishes made known. Contact us today to learn how our services can help you and your family prepare for the future and protect your estate.

Equity release is a way of accessing part of the money tied up in the value of your home without you having to move house. You can receive the money you release as a lump sum, in several smaller amounts, or as a combination of both.

There are two primary types of equity release: Lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. To be eligible for either of these options, you will need to meet certain qualifications including:

• Age: For a lifetime mortgage, you must be at least 55 years old. For a home reversion, you need to be at least 60 years old.
• Your home: You must own your home and it must be your main residence. There are other criteria that tend to vary between equity release providers, but in general, the property must be a certain value and must be in reasonable condition.
• Your family: If you live with any dependants they may need to sign a waiver confirming they understand they don’t have a right to continue living in the property if you die or move into permanent residential care.

Let’s examine how lifetime mortgages and home reversions work and how you can benefit from each.

Lifetime Mortgages

Lifetime mortgages are the most common type of equity release. It’s a type of loan secured against your home that allows you to release funds from the property, tax-free. With a lifetime mortgage, you continue to live in and own your home and are responsible for its maintenance and insurance.

The maximum amount of the loan depends on your age, the value of your home, and in some cases, your health. You can normally borrow up to 60% of the value of your property. The percentage typically increases based on your age when you take out the lifetime mortgage

Usually, the mortgage does not need to be repaid until the last borrower dies or moves into permanent residential care. Interest is added to the loan but is usually rolled up until the loan is repaid. Interest rates must be fixed or, if they are variable, there must be an upper limit that is fixed for the life of the loan.

Advantages of Lifetime Mortgages

Here are some of the biggest benefits of choosing to go with a lifetime mortgage:

• You can get a tax-free lump sum and/or smaller, regular payments to supplement your income in retirement.
• You are still able to live in your home until you die or move into permanent residential care.
• You can continue to benefit from any rise in the value of your property.
• You are still able to change homes and the product can be transferred to a new home. Be aware that you can only do this if the new property acts as acceptable security to the mortgage provider.
• For most lifetime mortgages, there is no need for regular payments.
• The product has a “no negative equity guarantee” – meaning that when your property is sold, even if the amount left is not enough to repay the outstanding loan to your provider, neither you nor your estate will be liable to pay any more.

Advice on Equity Release

Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors offers the legal expertise you need to plan for the future and protect your assets. We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different and our friendly and approachable legal team works to develop wills, lasting powers of attorney, and tax and estate planning suited to your unique needs.

Contact us today to learn how our services can help you and your family prepare for the future and protect your estate.

Can I Still Get Equity Release During the Lockdown?

The simple answer to this is yes. You are still able to do equity release during the lockdown, but some things have changed and there are important factors you will need to consider. 

Normally, equity release customers must receive legal services, but that is not possible given the current situation. To overcome this, the Equity Release Council has published a temporary modification to the rules after a detailed consultation with its members and the industry. 

It is important to maintain product safeguards while also protecting customers’ health. As such, a new process has been designed with input from expert legal advisers with experience in equity release across the UK. The Council’s standards board, along with independent consumers and regulatory experts also supported this process.

Once you decide that an Equity Release mortgage is the right kind of mortgage for you, your Financial Advisor will ask you to nominate a solicitor to act on your behalf.

There are a number of solicitors on the Equity Release Council, including Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors. Your Financial Advisor will ask you to give your chosen solicitor a call to instruct them.  You will be asked to give your solicitor’s name to your Equity Release Mortgage Provider (for example, Legal and General, Nationwide or More2life)

The Process

After the Equity Release Mortgage Provider receives your solicitor’s information and is selected as your independent Legal Advisor, they will have their own team send over the documents which your solicitor will use to advise you.  They include:

1. The Mortgage Deed:  Your solicitor will advise you about your obligations under the Mortgage Deed before you sign. Your solicitor will serve as the witness.

2. Solicitor’s Certificate:  Equity Release Mortgage Provider requires your solicitor to certify that they have seen you either in person or remotely.  Your solicitor is able to give you legal advice in person, by telephone, video conferencing or post.  It is important that you let your solicitor know which method you prefer as soon as possible so that they can make the necessary arrangements.

3. Acceptance of Offer: The Equity Release Mortgage Provider will require you to sign an offer acceptance form to confirm that you agree to the offer that they made.

4. Identification & Verification form:  Your solicitor will be required to verify your identification.  Please bring your passport or driving licence together with a utility bill that is less than three months old.  They will certify them as proof that they have seen you either in person or by video conference for an ID check.

5. Certificate of Comprehensive Building Insurance: Each Equity Release Mortgage Provider’s requirements are different.  Nationwide requires their interest to be noted on your insurance policy before your solicitor sends all the above documentation back to the Mortgage Provider.  Legal and General, on the other hand, requires you to sign a form confirming that you have adequate building insurance.

6. Tenancy in Common: Let your solicitor know if you own your property as tenants in common.  If you do not know, the Office copy entries that your solicitor obtains from the Land Registry will provide them with that information.

7. Who will act for the Equity Release Mortgage Provider?

The Equity Release Mortgage Provider will choose their own Legal Advisor who will not be able to act for you as well.  The reason they cannot act for you is that a conflict of interest would arise.  Therefore, you as the borrower need your own Legal Advisor and they, as the Lender, require their own.

8. Bank details: Your solicitor will need your bank details which they will take from you when I see you. For your security, never send your bank details by email.

9. How long will the process take? It depends on how you own your property and your circumstances.  If you are a sole owner and there are no restrictions on your title then the process is straight forward.  It can take from about one week to two months to complete.  The same will apply if you are married and have not divorced.  It may take longer if you have had a separation because the Solicitors acting for the Equity Release Mortgage Provider may require a certificate to show that all the parties to the divorce received independent legal advice at the time.  That may take a long time to resolve especially if both parties have moved on with their lives.
   
   It will also take longer for the matter to complete if the property is Leasehold or if the Lease needs to be extended. 
   
10. Fees: Rates may vary, depending on the solicitor you choose.  Some Equity Release Mortgage Providers such as Nationwide will contribute towards your legal fees. If they do not offer this facility, you are responsible for legal fees to your solicitor. At Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors, our current fees are £800 plus VAT for uncomplicated transactions.  Transactions which are complicated, for example, those which include trusts, divorced clients, Leases, or Deed of Variation to extend the Leases, our fees are £1000 to £1200 plus VAT. This price is subject to change in the future.

Takeaways

When considering a home equity release, it is important that you balance your short-term and long-term financial needs. Home equity release lasts a lifetime, so you do not want to rush into a long-term decision just to service a temporary need. Expert legal advice will allow you to avoid potential issues, as a quality conveyancing solicitor can help you determine if equity release is right for you here and now.

This is where Elizabeth Middleton Solicitors can help. Our friendly team prides itself on answering all the questions you might have about equity release and helping you make the right decision for your future. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect, kindness, and receive personal service that meets their needs. 

Contact us today.