Articles & Guides
Clear, practical advice on wills, LPAs, trusts and estate planning from our team in Kent
Legacy Lines publishes guidance on wills, estate planning, inheritance tax and protecting family wealth. Our articles help individuals and families across Kent understand how to plan their estates and ensure their wishes are clearly documented. All content is written by our estate planning consultant, David, drawing on direct experience of working with clients in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Maidstone and the wider Kent area.
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Explore our complete guides on the estate-planning subjects that matter most.
Wills
Practical guides to making, reviewing and protecting a will.
Probate
Clear guidance for executors and families administering an estate.
Inheritance Tax
Inheritance tax rules, gifts, trusts and planning considerations.
Estate Planning
How wills, property, pensions and trusts work together in a plan.
LPAs
Guides to choosing attorneys, registration and LPA decisions.
How Long Is a Will Valid?
A will is valid indefinitely once correctly signed — but marriage revokes it automatically. Find out when your will becomes outdated and what to do about it.
Can I Change My Will? A Guide to Codicils
Yes — you can change your will at any time while you have mental capacity. Learn how codicils work, when to make a new will, and what you must never do to a signed will.
What Is Probate and How Long Does It Take?
Probate is the legal process of administering an estate. It typically takes 6–12 months. Learn what it involves, when it's needed and how much it costs.
What Happens to Your Pension When You Die?
Your pension doesn't form part of your estate and isn't covered by your will. Learn how pension death benefits work, who can inherit them and the 2027 IHT changes.
How to Find a Will After Someone Dies
Start with personal papers, then contact their solicitor or will writer, search the National Will Register and the Probate Registry. Step-by-step guide.
What Is a Deed of Variation?
A deed of variation lets beneficiaries redirect inherited assets to someone else — often for IHT planning. It must be signed within 2 years of the date of death.
Inheritance Tax and Gifts: The Seven Year Rule Explained
Gifts made more than 7 years before death are IHT-free. Gifts within 7 years are taxable on a sliding scale. Understand taper relief and lifetime gifting strategy.
Jointly Owned Property and Inheritance: What You Need to Know
Joint tenants or tenants in common — this distinction determines who inherits your property share when you die. Essential for couples and estate planning.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will in the UK
Understand UK intestacy rules in detail. Who inherits, what happens to your property and children, and how to protect your family with a professionally written will.
How Much Does a Will Cost in the UK?
Compare will writing costs in the UK. Solicitor vs will writer prices, mirror wills, trust wills and online wills — and why professional wills are worth every penny.
Mirror Wills Explained: What They Are and When You Need One
What are mirror wills? How do they work for couples? Learn about benefits, common mistakes, and when a trust structure provides better protection.
Inheritance Tax Explained for Families in the UK
A comprehensive guide to UK inheritance tax. Thresholds, the residence nil rate band, spouse exemptions, gifting rules and trust planning strategies explained clearly.
How to Protect Your Home From Care Fees
Understand how care fees work, when your home is assessed, how protective property trusts can help preserve family wealth, and common myths about care planning.
Do You Need a Solicitor to Write a Will?
Understand the difference between solicitors and specialist will writers, when a solicitor is appropriate, and how to choose the right professional for your will.
Estate Planning Checklist for Families
A complete estate planning checklist for UK families. Wills, guardians, inheritance tax, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and regular reviews — all covered.
Will Writers in Kent: What They Do and How to Choose One
A helpful guide explaining what will writers do, when to use one instead of a solicitor, and how to choose the right will writer in Kent, Tonbridge or Sevenoaks.
Making a Will in the UK: What You Need to Know Before You Start
A comprehensive guide to making a will in the UK, covering what a will is, why it matters, common mistakes to avoid, and when to use a professional will writer.
Protective Property Trusts: Why Use Them
Learn what protective property trusts are, how they work, and when they may be appropriate for protecting your family home and providing for your loved ones.
Lasting Powers of Attorney Explained: Why They Matter and How They Work
Understand the two types of Lasting Power of Attorney, when they take effect, common misunderstandings, and why setting one up early is so important.
Estate Planning in the UK: Simple Steps to Protect Your Family
A practical guide explaining what estate planning means, how wills and LPAs work together, common pitfalls to avoid, and when professional guidance is helpful.
When Should You Update Your Will or Estate Plan
Learn about the life events that should trigger a will review, how marriage and divorce affect your will, and why regular reviews are essential.
What Information Do You Need to Make a Will?
A complete guide to the information you need to prepare before making a will, including details about assets, beneficiaries, executors, and guardians.
Common Will Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learn about the most common will writing mistakes and how to avoid them. Professional guidance on executors, guardians, property ownership and more.
How Marriage, Divorce and Cohabitation Affect Your Will
Understand how marriage, divorce and co-habitation affect your will. Learn when to review your will and how to avoid unintended outcomes.
The Risks of Having an Outdated Will
Discover the risks of having an outdated will and when your will might need updating. Practical guidance on reviewing old wills.
What Does an Executor Do? Duties and Responsibilities
Understand the role of an executor, their duties and responsibilities, and how to choose the right person for this important role.
Should Your Spouse Be Your Executor?
Explore the pros and cons of appointing your spouse as sole executor, including when joint executors might be more suitable.
Professional Executors: When Are They Needed?
Learn about professional executors, when they are appropriate, how fees work, and the benefits and drawbacks of professional estate administration.
How to Choose Guardians for Your Children
A guide to choosing guardians for your children, including who can be appointed, practical considerations, and how to record your wishes in your will.
What Happens If No Guardian Is Named?
Understand what happens if parents die without naming guardians for their children, including the court process and why clarity matters.
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Guidance on estate planning for blended families, including protecting children from previous relationships, providing for new partners, and using trusts effectively.
Leaving Gifts and Legacies in Your Will
A guide to leaving specific gifts, pecuniary legacies and personal items in your will, including timing, conditions, and avoiding disputes.
Excluding Someone from Your Will
Understanding when and how to exclude someone from your will, who may have claims against your estate, and how to reduce the risk of disputes.
What Are Letters of Wishes?
Learn about letters of wishes, what they can include, their legal status, and how they complement your will and trusts.
Tenants in Common vs Joint Tenants Explained
Understand the difference between tenants in common and joint tenants, how each affects inheritance, and why this matters for your will and estate planning.
Right to Occupy vs Life Interest Trusts
Understand the difference between right to occupy and life interest trusts, how each protects property, and which might be suitable for your circumstances.
What Is a Flexible Life Interest Trust (FLIT)?
Understand what a Flexible Life Interest Trust (FLIT) is, how it works, who it can help, and common use cases in estate planning.
Business Property Relief and Trusts
Understand Business Property Relief (BPR), how it can reduce inheritance tax on business assets, and how trusts can help preserve these benefits.
Recording Your Funeral Wishes
Learn about including funeral wishes in your will, what is legally binding, where best to record your wishes, and practical tips for ensuring they are followed.
Organ Donation and Your Will
Understand how organ donation decisions are recorded, what your will can and cannot do, and practical steps to ensure your wishes about donation are known.
Mental Capacity and Will Making
Understand what mental capacity means for will making, when extra safeguards are used, the importance of proper documentation, and how to reduce challenges.
Why Identity Checks Matter When Making a Will
Understand why identity verification is important when making a will, what documents are typically needed, and how this protects you and your family.
Urgent Will Preparation: What to Do
Understand when urgent will preparation may be needed, practical steps to take, what to prioritise, and how to reduce the risk of mistakes.
How to Choose Your LPA Attorneys
Guidance on choosing the right attorneys for your Lasting Power of Attorney, including trust, competence, family dynamics, and practical considerations.
Joint Attorneys: How They Work Together
Learn about joint and joint and several attorneys, how decision-making works, and the practical implications of each approach.
How to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney
A guide to registering your LPA with the Office of the Public Guardian, including timescales, costs, and common issues to avoid.
Health and Welfare LPA: Life Sustaining Treatment
Understand the option to give attorneys authority over life sustaining treatment decisions, what this means in practice, and how to make this important choice.
47 articles