Garden House Solicitors: Sharon Brown

Showing posts with label Sharon Brown. Show all posts

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Power of Attorney Solicitor Hertford

If you are looking to prepare a power of attorney it is important to consult a specialist who can discuss all of the relevant options with you; give you accurate advice on the implications of each decision and guide you through the process from start to finish.

We are proud to have two solicitors who specialise in powers of attorney, both of whom are Dementia Friends and members of Solicitors for the Elderly.

We offer fixed fees on all power of attorney packages so that you know exactly what you have to pay with no hidden extras. Our office is in Hertford and we have parking available, but if it is more convenient for you we also offer free home visits within a 20 mile radius. If needed we are happy to arrange to see you outside of office hours.

There are different types of power of attorney:

General power of attorney - usually used as a short term measure, for example if you are going abroad for a long trip and need some matters dealt with whilst you are away.
Property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney (LPA) - this is a document that authorises your chosen attorneys to act for you even if you lose mental capacity. You can allow them to do anything with your money and property that you yourself can do, or you can restrict the way in which they can act for you.
Health and welfare lasting power of attorney - this document also allows your attorneys to make decisions for you if you have lost mental capacity. It covers the care and treatment you receive, and you can also decide whether or not you wish them to be able to make decisions in relation to life sustaining treatment on your behalf.
Enduring power of attorney (EPAs) - this was the document used until 2007 to give attorneys authority to act even after you had lost mental capacity. Since 2007 it has not been possible to create new EPAs, but valid documents created before that date are still valid.

For more information or for details of costs please see our website http://www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk/powers-of-attorney-and-court-of-protection.html or call us on 01992 422128 to arrange an appointment.

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Email: info@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.

Friday, 2 October 2015

How old do you have to be to make a will?

Since 1 January 1970 it has been possible for anyone aged 18 or over to make a Will.

Before that date, a Will made by someone younger than 21 years of age was not valid, unless it was a 'privileged Will' - i.e. one made by a soldier in actual military service or mariners or seamen at sea.

Solicitor specialising in wills, Hertofrd

Article by
Sharon Brown

However, many people do not make a Will until later in life. In the event that they died without a Will their estate would be distributed in accordance with the Intestacy Rules.

It is becoming increasingly common for family members to explain the importance of having a Will to younger generations, especially if they are intending to leave them money in their own Wills!

Two of the most common triggers for younger people to make wills is when they buy their first home or when they have their first child. For many people their home is their largest asset, and it is important to specify who that should be passed on to. Once a child is born people often want to ensure that in the event of their death the 'correct' person would be able to step in as guardian. Not everyone wants their parents to take on the role, or more commonly, they do not want their in-laws to take on the role!

If you or someone you know need to discuss a Will please call me on 01992 422128 or email Sharon@ghslaw.co.uk

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www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Remember a charity in your will week, 7 – 13 September 2015

Garden House Solicitors of Hertfordshire

Chris and I were very pleased to support this year’s ‘Remember a charity in your will week’. The week aimed to increase awareness of the importance of charitable legacies, and encouraged more people to think about including a good cause in their Will.

Many of our clients like to include a gift to charity once they have looked after their loved ones. For some it is a chance to give back, perhaps to a medical charity who have supported them through their final years. For others, it is remembering a charity who helped look after a close relative during a difficult time, or simply a charity they believe to be a particularly good cause.

What is a general power of attorney?

Article by
Sharon Brown

There are three main types of power of attorney you may come across:

General or ordinary powers of attorney;
Enduring powers of attorney (EPA); and
Lasting powers of attorney (LPA).

You can find out more about the latter two types on our website, where you can also download our FAQ guide on powers of attorney.

A general power of attorney is a legal document allowing you to authorise someone else to carry out matters on your behalf. For example, if you are going on holiday for a length of time or having an operation that means you will not be able to sign things easily for a few weeks. It is also quite common for people who are going travelling for 6 months or a year.

A general power of attorney can be used for one specific purpose; for example if your car was being sold whilst you were away or if your house insurance policy was due for renewal or it can be to cover all of your property and financial affairs. Whilst they can be very useful, they are only for a set period of time. If you need something more permanent you really should consider setting up an LPA. One of the major advantages of an LPA is that it can still be used if you lack mental capacity, for example if you are in a coma.

Another time general powers of attorney can be useful is if you have prepared a property and financial affairs LPA and are waiting for it to be registered by the Office of the Public Guardian. We can set up a general power of attorney for you to enable to your chosen attorneys to start acting straight away. This type of general power of attorney is usually limited in time so that it ceases to be valid when your LPA is registered.

If you have queries or questions on any type of LPA please feel free to contact me by telephone on 01992 422128 or by email to Sharon@ghslaw.co.uk

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www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Friday, 27 June 2014

Team Bonding Days

Are team bonding days’ worth it or just ‘forced fun’.

At Garden House they are definitely ‘fun’ and absolutely not ‘forced’!

Our motto is ‘work hard/play hard’ as you can see from this picture.

We believe that team building is a positive exercise that fosters trust and kindness. It creates gelling of the team, pulling together during tough times and sharing the workload which transfers to the workplace.

We certainly intend to have many more and suggestions are very welcomed.

Article by Patricia Ling

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Tel: 01992 422 128

LPA and EPA Registration Fees to be Reduced

Article by Sharon Brown

Every Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) before it can be used. Enduring Powers of Attorney must be registered at such time as the donor (the person who made the EPA) has lost or is beginning to lose mental capacity. The current fee for registering an LPA or EPA with the OPG is £130.00 per document.

On 16^th Jul 2013 it was announced by Helen Grant (the Under-Secretary of State for Justice) that the fees will be reduced. From 1^st October 2013 the registration fee will be £110.00 per document, a very welcome saving for people trying to put their affairs in order. Also, where an application to register has to be resubmitted to the OPG the fee is being reduced from £65.00 to £55.00.

The Government has previously stated that it would like every adult to have an LPA in place and I feel this is a step in the right direction to making that wish a reality.

If you have any questions regarding EPAs or LPAs please feel free to contact me on 01992 422128 or by email to Sharon@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Friday, 2 November 2012

Will Writing Solicitors Hertford

Article by
Sharon Brown

Many people continuously put off making a Will - whether it's through lack of time or not wanting to consider their own mortality. The vast majority of my clients who are making Wills tell me they have been meaning to get round to it for years.

I pride myself on making the will writing process as painless as possible. Many of my clients are surprised at how easy it actually is, and question why they ever put it off in the first place.

Making a Will does not mean you are tempting fate or that you are going to pass away in the imminent future. However, it does mean that you no longer have to worry about doing it, and that you can have the peace of mind knowing you have made things as simple as possible for those you eventually leave behind.

Please don't put off making a Will any longer. Call me on 01992 422128 or email sharon@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk to arrange a mutually conveneint appointment. You can visit me in the office or I can visit you at home, and evening or weekend appointments can be arranged.

I look forward to meeting you soon!

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Connect with me on LinkedIn

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Who Will Look After my Dog When I Die?


Article by Sharon Brown

This is something nobody likes to have to consdier, but is a question I have been asked so many times by clients making their Will. For many people, this is as important as deciding who will act as guardian for their children or who will get their money.

If you have a spouse, close relative or close friend who likes animals you can simply ask them if they would take care of your dog should anything happen. Some people to choose to leave a legacy to the person, as a way of saying thank you and to make sure that the person has sufficient money to pay for future vet bills.

There are also a number of charities who offer free schemes whereby you can register with them during your lifetime and they will take care of your pets when you pass away. Again, you may wish to leave a legacy to your chosen charity by way of a thank you.

Will Aid 2012

We are pleased to announce that we will be taking part in Will Aid in November 2012.

Will Aid is an annual event across the country, where solicitors offer clients the chance to update an existing Will or make a new Will free of charge. All we ask is that you consider making a donation to Will Aid, who support the work of the following charities:

The amount you donate is entirely up to you, but Will Aid have suggested a minimum amount of £90 for a basic single Will or £135 for ‘mirror’ Wills (Wills for a couple).

If you have an existing Will and wish to make a small amendment to it with a ‘codicil’ the suggested minimum donation is £40.

For more details of the scheme please see the Will Aid website. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment please telephone 01992 422128 or email Sharon Brown – Sharon@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Appointments are available throughout November but are booking up fast.

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Can my Spouse Change Their Will After I Die?


Article by Sharon Brown

The simple answer to this question is yes. A Will is an individual document, which can be changed at any time (provided the testator has capacity to do so).

However, if two people have made “Mutual Wills” they have agreed not to amend their Will without the consent of the other person.

Many people confuse Mutual Wills with Mirror Wills, which is the term given when two people make very similar Wills at the same time, for example, everything to their spouse followed by their children.

Who Should I Appoint as My Attorney?

Article by
Sharon Brown

Once you have decided to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) it is important to spend some time considering who you want as your attorney or attorneys.

Your attorneys will have legal authority to act on your behalf if you lack mental capacity.

You can choose to have more than one attorney, and indeed this can be a good idea. However, having too many may prove impracticable. The main factor is that your attorneys are people you trust. Whilst it is not essential, it would be helpful if your attorneys know each other or are at least willing to work together. If there is an existing rift between them it could cause unnecessary delays in your affairs being dealt with.

You should also consider how realistic it is for your attorneys to be able to assist you, for example, if they often spend long lengths of time in remote parts of the world, it may be sensible to choose another attorney who is more local.

You can also name one or more replacement attorneys in your LPA, in case your first choice can no longer assist you.

There is no obligation on you to have the same attorneys for your financial LPA as your health and welfare LPA.

To discuss your decisions and next steps, telephone me on 01992 422128 or email Sharon@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

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Connect with me on LinkedIn

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Monday, 13 August 2012

Who Needs a Power of Attorney?

Article by
Sharon Brown

Anyone who would like to have a say over what health care and/or treatment they receive in the future, or who has assets in their sole name should make a Power of Attorney.

There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA); one to cover health and welfare issues and one to cover your property and financial affairs.

Many people are not aware of what a Power of Attorney is and, even those that are often assume it is only elderly people or those suffering from illnesses such as dementia, who need to make an LPA. This could not be further from the truth.

There are many health conditions that can leave you without sufficient mental capacity to manage your affairs. Furthermore, you could be the victim of an accident at any time, regardless of how old you are.

What is a Mutual Will?

Making a Will in Hertfordshire, mutual Wills

A Mutual Will is when two or more testators (the legal name given to someone making a Will) make separate Wills or a Joint Will, and agree to give each other reciprocal benefits. Alternatively, they can agree to confer benefits to the same named beneficiaries.

For Wills to be mutual, there must be an express agreement between the two parties that both Wills will remain irrevocable and unaltered. Normally, this agreement is incorporated into the Wills so as to avoid confusion and problems at a later date.

What is the effect of a mutual Will?

If one testator dies, and the deceased testator had not revoked or altered his Will then the surviving testator will be bound by the mutual Will. They will hold the property and assets of the deceased person “in trust”. If they try to revoke or alter their own Will, they would be committing fraud and a Court would be unlikely to grant permission for the change to be made.

Can I Leave Money to Charity in my Will?

Article by
Sharon Brown

In one word, yes! However, before you make any changes to your Will, or indeed set about making a new one it is important to seek advice to ensure that your intentions are recorded correctly else your wishes may not be met when you pass away.

Before proceeding, I recommend that you consider the following points:

Free Wills Storage

Article by
Sharon Brown

Here at Garden House we believe in giving you the best service possible. We are happy to store your Will in our safe storage facility free of charge for your lifetime. This gives you the peace of mind that no matter what happens, your Will can be found when it is needed.

Are you currently paying for storage?

If so, you needn't be! Regardless of who prepared your Will, we are still happy to store it free of charge for you. At the same time, why not take advantage of our free Will review service? That way you can be ensure that the document being looked after still meets your current needs and circumstances.

Networking in Bedfordshire


Sharon Brown

Here at Garden House we have clients spread across many counties. In order that we can recommend other businesses local to you we actively network in different regions.

I am a member of Business Connections in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, an independently run networking and referral group. This not only enables me to have a network of other local businesses to work with but also keeps me up to date with local news and events that may be of relevance to my clients. You can find out more about the group on our website: http://www.business-connections.biz/index.htm

There's More to Law than a Bore!

The legal world changes every day, so we try and give you as many ways to keep up to date as possible. We also think it's important you get to know us - after all, you wouldn't buy a car without a test drive so why instruct a solicitor before you get to know them!

As well as being able to subscribe to our blog you can 'Like' our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/GardenHouseSolicitors

You can also follow our team on Twitter:
Kevin Timms - https://twitter.com/#!/KevinTimms_GHS
Patricia Ling - https://twitter.com/#!/TishLing_GHS
Sharon Brown - https://twitter.com/#!/SharonBrown_GHS
Nidhi Chopra - https://twitter.com/#!/NidhiChopra_GHS
Dave Koon Koon - https://twitter.com/#!/DaveKK_GHS
Chris Lucas - https://twitter.com/#!/ChrisLucas_GHS
Marsha Schwartz - https://twitter.com/#!/Marsha_GHS

If you're a fan of LinkedIn you can also follow the firm there:
http://www.linkedin.com/company/garden-house-solicitors

If you have any specific questions please telephone 01992 422128 or email info@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk and one of the team will be happy to help.

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Saturday, 5 May 2012

FAQ's on The Court of Protection and Deputy Orders

Article by
Sharon Brown

What is the Court of Protection?

The Court of Protection is an institution based in London. It helps to look after vulnerable adults who lack sufficient mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Is the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) the same as the Court of Protection?

The two institutions are separate but both work with vulnerable adults. The simplest explanation is that the Court of Protection makes decisions whilst the Office of the Public Guardian handles registration of powers of attorney and ongoing administration matters.

Article by
Sharon Brown

Have you ever considered who would look after your finances if you couldn't look after them yourself? Many people assume that this is something only the elderly need to consider, but due to strokes, heart attacks, and other debilitating illnesses or accidents mental incapacity is something that can affect anyone of any age.

If you lack sufficient mental capacity your spouse, children, friends or other family members will find it extremely difficult to look after your finances on your behalf. Banks and other financial organisations are legally not allowed to give them any information or discuss your finances with them.

Article by
Sharon Brown

Since starting work in Hertford I have assisted a number of clients take control of their future by preparing both Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA's) and also Health and Welfare LPA's.

If you or someone you know in Hertford or the surrounding area requires assistance with a power of attorney I would be happy to help. Being local to you means I am on hand when needed and can offer home or hospital visits at a time to suit you. At Garden House Solicitors we believe in providing a service tailored to you and therefore we do not charge extra for visiting you at home.

Please take a look at our Wills and Power of Attorney page for more ways in which we can assist you look after your loved ones or telephone me on 01992 422128 to see how I can help you with your LPA. Alternatively, you can email me - sharon@gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

www.gardenhousesolicitors.co.uk

Tel: 01992 422 128

Pages

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Power of Attorney Solicitor Hertford

Friday, 2 October 2015

How old do you have to be to make a will?

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

Remember a charity in your will week, 7 – 13 September 2015

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

What is a general power of attorney?

Friday, 27 June 2014

Team Bonding Days

Tuesday, 6 August 2013

LPA and EPA Registration Fees to be Reduced

Friday, 2 November 2012

Will Writing Solicitors Hertford

Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Who Will Look After my Dog When I Die?

Monday, 22 October 2012

Will Aid 2012

Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Can my Spouse Change Their Will After I Die?

Thursday, 30 August 2012

Who Should I Appoint as My Attorney?

Monday, 13 August 2012

Who Needs a Power of Attorney?

Monday, 9 July 2012

What is a Mutual Will?

Monday, 25 June 2012

Can I Leave Money to Charity in my Will?

Monday, 11 June 2012

Free Wills Storage

Friday, 1 June 2012

Networking in Bedfordshire

Monday, 14 May 2012

There's More to Law than a Bore!

Saturday, 5 May 2012

FAQ's on The Court of Protection and Deputy Orders

Help! I Need Somebody...

LPA Solicitor in Hertford