I am writing to advise you that my domain registrar has gone out of business and, as a direct consequence, all DNS records and nameservers associated with barnetwills.co.uk have been deleted.
As a result my main website is currently offline and all email services linked to the domain are not functioning.
This issue was entirely outside my control and I am taking immediate steps to regain control of the domain and reinstate the DNS records as quickly as possible.
In the meantime please contact me using [email protected] and you can access my backup website at www.barnetwills.uk. Please also be aware that any emails sent to addresses ending .co.uk may not be received during this period.
I apologise for any inconvenience this causes and will provide an update as soon as services are restored.
Kind regards
Eli
23/05/2025
Inheritance Tax Bills Are Rising. Here's Why Planning Ahead Matters
In April 2025, the UK government collected £800 million in Inheritance Tax (IHT) that's up £97 million on last year. This big jump is part of a growing trend, mainly caused by two things: rising property prices and tax thresholds that haven’t changed for years.
Because the tax-free allowance (known as the nil-rate band) has been frozen for a long time, more families are finding themselves having to pay IHT, sometimes unexpectedly. As house values go up, so does the value of people’s estates, which means they can end up over the tax threshold without even realising it.
It’s becoming clear that the government is relying more on IHT as a way to bring in money. There are even signs that some tax breaks could be reduced or removed entirely in future budgets.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to plan ahead. Whether it's through gifting, setting up trusts, or simply being aware of your estate’s value, taking action early can help reduce the amount your loved ones might have to pay.
The rules around IHT can change, but with the right planning, you can make sure your money goes where you want it to, not just to the taxman.
08/05/2025
Top 5 Estate Planning Myths — Busted!
Too many people are still getting caught out by these common misconceptions:
❌ “If all my assets pass to my spouse, probate won’t apply.” (it’s not true.)
❌ “If I don’t have a will, everything will automatically go to my loved ones.” (it doesn’t.)
❌ “Making a will is a one-time job.” (life changes, and so should your will!)
❌ “Marriage or re-marriage doesn’t affect my will.” (it absolutely does.)
❌ “My partner will inherit everything even though we’re not married.” (sadly, that’s rarely the case.)
Don’t let myths put your family’s future at risk. Make sure your estate plan is up to date and based on facts.
25/10/2024
Claims against executors in England and Wales have risen sharply, mostly due to complicated family setups and rising property values.
Executors, who are responsible for handling estates after someone dies, are facing more challenges as families become more blended, with partners and children from different relationships.
These disputes often happen when family members feel that executors aren’t fairly handling the estate, like not following the Will’s instructions or taking too long with probate (the process of sorting out a Will).
Other common issues include:
• Inaction by Executors: Executors may delay or avoid their duties, sometimes even using estate assets before the Will is fully settled.
• Reluctance to Leave: Family members who live in an estate property may refuse to move out, leading executors to possibly take legal action to regain the property.
• Untrained Executors: Some executors may not fully understand their role and responsibilities.
• Outdated Wills: If Wills aren’t updated to reflect new family situations, it can lead to confusion, especially if an executor has passed away.
• Conflict of Interest: When executors are also beneficiaries, it can be hard for them to stay neutral, creating conflicts with other family members.
The key advice from legal experts is to think carefully about who to name as an executor.
Executors should also remember that they can be replaced if they aren’t doing their job properly and may even have to cover costs if legal issues arise because of their actions.
23/10/2024
Disgusted 92 year old sparks feud by ripping up Will on deathbed
Carry Keats was only strong enough to tear three-quarters through the document – her cousins say that means it is still valid
22/10/2024
FREE SEMINAR
There are a number of ways in which your Will may let you down resulting in your money ending up in the wrong hands.
To find out exactly how you can protect your wealth, I would like to invite you to our forthcoming Seminar, which will provide invaluable information on:
• Intestacy
• Basic wills (the problem)
• What is a trust
• The 5 Threats to wealth (divorce, bankruptcy, Marriage after death, Care fees, IHT)
• How a trust helps
The Seminar is free of charge, with no obligation, and is to be held at 7:00pm on 7th November at Carlton Court Care Home, 112 Bells Hill, Barnet EN5 2SQ
Judgment has now been handed down in Langley v Qin
PARANOID DELUSION, UNDUE INFLUENCE AND PREDATORY MARRIAGE:
It was found that Ms Qin came to control Mr Harrington’s finances and exercised a ‘guiding hand’ in ‘shopping around’ local solicitors and Will Writers until a firm could be found that was prepared to make a Will for Mr Harrington.
Although, at first glance, it seems like a win for Mrs Langley, this case reminds us how powerless courts are in the face of predatory marriage (a marriage engineered by a party to inherit the estate of an older and / or more vulnerable spouse).
The Court cannot set aside a predatory marriage after death. As a result, Mr Harrington’s marriage to Ms Qin endures, despite the Court’s findings about his health and Ms Qin’s conduct.
Ms Qin stands to inherit, under the laws of intestacy, the fixed net sum (£270,000 in this case) and half of the remainder of Mr Harrington’s estate.
Jill Langley (pictured) says her father Robert Harrington was lured into a 'predatory marriage' by his carer Guixiang Qin and lacked full 'testamentary capacity' to cut his only child out of his will.
08/05/2024
Law firm worker jailed for £634,000 charity fraud from estates of deceased
Friends Laurna Porter and Julie Atkins defrauded the beneficiaries of 23 wills over 13 years.
08/05/2024
Nottinghamshire pensioner murdered in house fire for inheritance, court hears
Elizabeth Vamplew, 77, died from burns and smoke inhalation during a fire, a jury was told.
08/05/2024
In a recent High Court ruling, a firm of solicitors was instructed to cover 60% of legal expenses regarding a case involving the rectification and interpretation of a Will.
Firm not 'solely responsible for the whole problem' - but judge finds 'serious shortcomings' in the way instructions were taken.
Kerry Ann Stevens claimed she had already paid the kebab shop online but this was a lie and the innocent driver had the cost deducted from his wages, a professional tribunal heard.
26/04/2024
IHT hits record £7.5bn, escalating concerns over frozen thresholds
The latest IHT figure is the third record annual haul in a row. We explain why the tax take is rising and what people can do.
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1. You’ve worked hard all your life to save for your retirement. Now that your money has outlasted you, wouldn’t it be great to see how the government divides your assets. Governments always make amazing decisions on behalf of other people.
2. Having a Will is overrated. Why would you deny your family, or loved ones, the opportunity to have a fight over who gets what. They’ve probably been looking for an excuse to not talk to each other anyway.
3. It’s a tough decision to decide who will look after your children if you die and should be avoided. It’s much better to let the courts make that decision. We have a good care system so the courts can take their time. Your kids will understand.
4. All solicitors are earning a fortune writing Wills. The rumour that they earn more money representing feuding families in court because there was no Will is simply rubbish.
5. When you write a Will you will appoint executors to carry out your last wishes. This will deny your family the opportunity to debate the merits of burial vs cremation. This is a fun debate and best done when everyone is grieving. Great families thrive on anger and regret. A clear Will undermines this principle.
6. If you write a Will you may set high expectations for your family or loved ones. It’s better to keep them in the dark. Strong families are built on secrets. Dying intestate and pitting your children against each so they can fight it out will toughen them up and prepare them for the real world.
7. If you write a Will and tell your intended beneficiaries how much you’re leaving them, they will probably give up work the next day.
8. If you die (unless you’re the first person to live forever) don’t let your family or loved ones just grieve. It’s so much better to send them on a scavenger hunt through your files and possessions. Imagine the fun they can have fighting over who gets more.
9. If you’re not married, why should your long term partner get anything. It’s fairer that your estranged family get your money instead.
10. People are superstitious. If you write a Will, you’ll almost certainly die soon after. People with a Will are practically uninsurable. Writing a Will, like healthy eating or exercise, is bad for your health.
