Rogers Legal

08/07/2019

Responsible Banking? Maybe it's the red logo?

Why pay out millions on advertising using sport stars and comedy duos then write to a disabled, elderly lady within months of her husband's death threatening action about her mortgage to make her scared? The lawyers had already told the 'Bank' money will come so please don't put the account into forfeiture/arrears, - it will be paid, but the widow is severely disabled and it's difficult. The Bank respond with penalties and threats. Is that responsible banking? Clearly the elderly, disabled or bereaved shouldn't bank with this bank.
Sometimes you need to ask the question - what happens when either of us are left behind - how will the survivor be treated - don't just ask the bank, ask other customers.

08/05/2017

http://www.edp24.co.uk/opinion/business/martin-lewis-this-piece-of-paperwork-is-even-more-important-than-a-will-1-5005115

I strongly recommend Lasting Powers of Attorney to ALL my clients so it's nice to see someone in the media trying to get the message out there. FYI Rogers Legal charge from £350 +VAT + Court Fee £82 for a single LPA tailored to your needs, follow our link for more details:

http://www.rogers-legal.co.uk/powers-of-attorney/lasting-powers-of-attorney-our-charges.html

Martin Lewis of MoneysavingExpert.com explains the simple steps you should be taking now to ensure your assets are handled properly.

10/02/2017

Happy Friday - I'm pleased today because the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) approved the wording of some of my Lasting Powers of Attorney for Finance. The wording relates to additional powers granted to Attorneys. The first set of powers deal with giving your Attorneys authority to deal with computer passwords and your digital 'presence' including you on-line financial matters. The second new power relates to circumstances where you are a Trustee. You might be a Trustee on life insurance/pension documents and not even realise. The new power gives your Attorneys a window of opportunity of up to 12 months to appoint new Trustees to replace you if you lose mental capacity. The power for your Attorneys to appoint the new Trustee to replace you is particularly 'smart' because the normal time restriction of 12 months on this power only comes into effect from the time that the Attorneys initiate the power to find your replacement Trustee, instead of the power only lasting for 12 months from the date of creating the Lasting Power of Attorney which would be a bit short sighted.

All Lasting Powers of Attorney should be tailored for your own circumstances, but you need additional powers and guidance to make the documents work for you and your family. Call or email me if you want to know more about a practical approach to Lasting Powers of Attorney. Trudy (01635 569670) [email protected]

19/11/2016

New publication from Dementia UK about the NHS Continuing Health Care funding and assessment...
http://www.dementiauk.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Continuing_to_Care_Report.compressed.pdf
Lots of ideas from lots of agencies but still the basic problem of not enough money to support the growing needs of an ageing and vulnerable population.

06/10/2016

A case was published this week about ratifying a Will where a testator had used the words 'United Kingdom' in his Will but had assets in the IOM and in Jersey. The Judge amended the Will to say 'United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man'. In so doing he stopped the deceased family from inheriting about £850K & passed the money to a charity. I make no judgement about the competing interests between the family or the charity BUT I AM LIVID that as a professional Icarefully listen and spend time with my clients to make sure that I understand (as best I can) their lives, their families, their circumstances and their wishes. If they live abroad, have foreign property and foreign Wills then I make sure that their UK Will deals with the subject appropriately. SO WHY was this just swept under the carpet and ignored; why weren't questions asked about the preparation and how could this 'accident' occur - ratification is a dangerous area of the law but to take it to the level of changing boundaries of the scope of jurisdiction of someone's Will!!! I'm more than a little uncomfortable with judicial power going crazy rather than doing what should have been done which was putting the Will writer through the mill to do better and put things right. ...... I feel better after that rant.

02/11/2015

Buy to let - the latest tax trap.

As a controversial new tax pases through parliament, our calculator shows how your profits will be affected

14/10/2015

To contest or not to contest? As the lines of capacity blur what are the implications for elderly people making Wills?

Lesley King discusses Ramsay v Ramsey [2015] All ER (D) 32 (Sep), the latest in a long line of wills made by elderly people that has been challenged by one or more of their children on the basis of lack of testamentary capacity

10/10/2014

Robbing Mum - BBC Radio 4
Some frightening facts expressed here by Gary Fitzgerald - CEO of Action on Elder Abuse:
-150% increase on calls this past year received
-in 2006 total assets apparently misappropriated £6m. Fast forward to 2014 - £25m.
-1 in 4 victims reported their house been sold or title deeds changed without their knowledge. Even second mortgages been taken out.
Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) are essential to protect the vulnerable or just to help with day to day living, but you need to make sure that you have the relevant checks and balances in your documents. You don't need a professional Attorney, but it's good to have professional advice when creating the documents.

10/10/2014

At least eight people a day have a legal charge placed on their property to recoup care costs, according to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by NFU Mutual! If you want to know about how the Care Act 2014 and continuing health care from the NHS could affect your family then please give me call.
Trudy Rogers 07787 556 422/01635 569670

09/10/2014

What do you think about the changes to the Intestacy rules as from 1st October?