Futura Planning

15/10/2026

A small detail that can undo a big gift: if someone who benefits under your Will, or their husband, wife or civil partner, acts as a witness, their gift is void. The Will itself still stands, but they lose out. Witnesses need to be independent adults, both present when you sign. Not sure how yours was signed? Happy to take a look.

12/10/2026

Lose capacity without a Lasting Power of Attorney and your family can't just step in. They have to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order, which often takes 6-10 months. Registering an LPA takes around 8-10 weeks when the paperwork's right. One has to be done while you still can. https://futuraplanning.co.uk/lose-capacity-without-an-lpa/

09/10/2026

08/10/2026

Here's one for the wedding to-do list: in England and Wales, getting married or entering a civil partnership automatically cancels your existing Will, unless it was written in contemplation of that marriage. Remarry later in life and your children's inheritance can fall back on the intestacy rules. The Law Commission has recommended scrapping the rule, but for now it stands. https://futuraplanning.co.uk/when-to-update-your-will/

05/10/2026

You legally can't leave money 'to' your pet in a UK Will — animals are property, not beneficiaries, so the gift just fails. The real fix is a pet trust: your chosen carer gets the money in instalments, released by a trustee, for as long as your pet is properly looked after. Worth setting up properly if your pet is part of the plan.

01/10/2026

If someone dies owing money, does their family inherit the debt? Almost always, no — debts are paid from the estate itself, not from a relative's own pocket. The two real exceptions: a debt held jointly with them, or one you personally guaranteed. Worth knowing before grief gets complicated by a scary letter.

30/09/2026

We're delighted to now be listed in the Chew Valley Community Directory — a brilliant, free local resource for finding trusted businesses, events, and services across the valley, run with real care for the community. If you're local (or looking for something local), it's well worth a browse: inchewvalley.co.uk. Thank you for having us, Chew Valley Directory !

28/09/2026

What actually happens to your photos, logins, and crypto when you die? UK law only formally recognised digital assets as property in December 2025 — but access is still the real problem. Without private keys or seed phrases, cryptocurrency can be lost for good, no matter what your Will says. Worth leaving your executor a map, even if the treasure stays private.

24/09/2026

Here's something that surprises a lot of people: your Will doesn't control your pension. Pension death benefits are usually paid at the scheme trustees' discretion, guided by an 'expression of wish' form — not your Will. And from April 2027, new rules mean most unused pensions will count towards Inheritance Tax for the first time. Worth checking your expression of wish form is actually up to date.

21/09/2026

Second marriage. Grown-up kids on both sides. If you leave everything to your spouse outright, your own children could end up with nothing if they remarry or change their Will later. A Flexible Life Interest Trust protects your spouse for their lifetime — then passes what's left to your children automatically. Worth a conversation if this sounds familiar.