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Estate Planning & Family Articles
The wider planning picture: cohabiting couples and the myth of common-law marriage, blended families, joint property ownership, digital legacy, care fees, pensions and life insurance nominations.
All 107 estate planning & family articles
- Cohabitation Rights Bill in the LordsThe Cohabitation Rights Bill had its House of Lords second reading in July 2026. What the bill proposes for unmarried couples, and why it is not yet law.28 August 2026 · 5 min read
- The Government Just Said It in Plain EnglishThe government's own Easy Read guide on cohabitation states it plainly: if you're not married and your partner dies without a will, you could get nothing.28 August 2026 · 5 min read
- Benefits After Bereavement UKA guide to the benefits you can claim after a death, including Bereavement Support Payment, Pension Credit, council tax help, and key claim deadlines.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Business Asset Disposal Relief UKBusiness Asset Disposal Relief (BADR), formerly Entrepreneurs' Relief, cuts CGT on qualifying business gains up to a £1 million lifetime limit. Who qualifies.9 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Conditional Bequest UK: Gifts With Strings AttachedA testator can attach conditions to a gift in their will, requiring the beneficiary to do something (condition precedent) or restricting what the beneficiary.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Disclaimer vs Deed of Variation UKA disclaimer refuses an inheritance outright; a deed of variation redirects it to someone chosen. Learn which to use and the rules for valid IHT treatment.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Funeral Costs and the Estate UKFuneral costs are a priority debt of the estate under AEA 1925 s.33 and deductible for inheritance tax under IHTA s.172; what HMRC treats as reasonable.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Inherited ISA Allowance UK: Keep the Tax-Free StatusWhen a spouse or civil partner dies, the survivor inherits their ISA allowance as an Additional Permitted Subscription (APS); three-year deadline to use it.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Inherited Money and Divorce UKIs inherited money safe in a divorce? It is usually ring-fenced as non-matrimonial property, but the court can use it to meet the other spouse's needs.9 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Pension Auto Enrolment Death UKIf you die while a member of a workplace auto-enrolment pension, your pension pot and any life assurance benefit will be paid to beneficiaries you have.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Private Residence Relief Inherited Property UKSelling an inherited home can trigger Capital Gains Tax on the gain since death. Learn how Private Residence Relief, the 9-month rule and the CGT uplift apply.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Survivorship Clause in a Will UKLearn how a 30-day survivorship clause in your will prevents double inheritance tax, settles the commorientes rule and gives your executors more certainty.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- What Happens to an Annuity When You Die UKWhat happens to an annuity when you die in the UK: how single life, joint life, guaranteed periods and value protection decide whether any value passes on.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Bank Account Frozen After Death UKWhy banks freeze accounts when someone dies, how long they stay frozen, how to release funds with or without probate, paying for the funeral before probate.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Bereavement Support Payment UKBereavement Support Payment is a DWP benefit for surviving spouses and civil partners: a lump sum plus 18 monthly payments. Claim within 3 months for full sum.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Capital Gains Tax on a Second Home UKWhen you sell a second home or holiday property in England that was never your main residence, capital gains tax applies on any gain over the base cost.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Care Home Fees After Death UK: Who Pays WhatOutstanding care home fees at death are an estate liability paid before beneficiaries; family are not personally liable, and the fees are deductible for IHT.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Child Maintenance After Death UKWhat happens to child maintenance when the paying parent dies? Learn how arrears, court orders and Inheritance Act 1975 claims protect a child financially.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Clearing a House After Death UK: Executor's GuideAn executor should not clear a deceased person's house until probate is obtained, as all personal belongings are estate assets that must be accounted for.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Council Tenancy Death UKWhat happens to a council or social housing tenancy when the tenant dies in England, who can succeed to the tenancy, the one-succession limit.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Death Certificate UK: How to Get Copies QuicklyHow to get a death certificate in England and Wales: how many certified copies your executor needs, what each copy costs, and where to order them quickly.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Death Notification Service UK: Tell All Banks OnceThe Death Notification Service (dns) is a free UK Finance banking industry tool that notifies multiple banks and financial institutions of a death in one step.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Equity Release and Care Home Fees UKEquity release can fund care home fees in England and Wales, but mind the means test, the LPA requirement, interest roll-up and deprivation of assets risk.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Estate Bank Account UKAn estate or executor bank account is opened by the personal representative to collect estate income, pay debts, and distribute the estate to beneficiaries.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Estate Planning for Single People UKEstate planning guide for single people without children in England and Wales: who inherits if you have no will, the bona vacantia risk, choosing an executor.8 June 2026 · 8 min read
- Estranged Child Inheritance UKCan you disinherit an estranged son or daughter in England and Wales? Learn how testamentary freedom works and how to guard against an Inheritance Act claim.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Heir Hunters UK: Fees, Tactics and Your RightsWhen someone dies intestate without obvious heirs, heir hunting firms trace distant relatives for a fee; how it works, your right to opt out, and bona vacantia.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- How to Avoid Care Home Fees UKWhy gifting your home does not avoid care home fees, how councils treat deliberate deprivation of assets, and which planning steps are actually legal.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- How to Close a Bank Account After Death UKWhen someone dies, their sole bank accounts are frozen immediately. Most UK banks will release funds or close accounts for small estates without a Grant of.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Inheriting Money While on Benefits UKInheriting on Universal Credit or means-tested benefits: what you must report to DWP, the £6,000 and £16,000 capital limits, and discretionary trust options.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Joint Bank Account Death UKA joint bank account passes to the survivor outside probate, yet the deceased's share still counts for IHT. Learn the survivorship and freezing rules.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Leasehold Property on Death UK: What Happens NextWhat happens to a leasehold flat when the owner dies: probate, transferring the lease, and the ground rent and service charges the estate must keep paying.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Prepaid Funeral Plan UKA prepaid funeral plan fixes today's prices and reduces your estate without the 7-year gift rule. Learn the FCA regulation, FSCS cover and inheritance tax.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Rental Property When a Landlord Dies UK: What HappensWhen a landlord dies, their tenancies do not end; the estate inherits the landlord's rights and obligations. What executors and tenants need to do next.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Right to Buy Inheritance UKWhen someone who purchased their home under the Right to Buy scheme dies, the property forms part of their estate and is inherited in the usual way.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Selling Inherited Property in the UKSelling inherited property in England and Wales: when a Grant of Probate is required, the CGT base cost from probate value, and the 60-day CGT return.8 June 2026 · 9 min read
- Siblings' Inheritance Rights UKWhen do siblings inherit in England and Wales? How brothers and sisters are treated under the intestacy rules and under a will, and how to protect them.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Tell Us Once UKTell Us Once is a free government service that notifies HMRC, DWP, DVLA, the Passport Office, and local councils in a single step when someone dies.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Happens to Child Benefit When a Parent Dies UK?Child Benefit stops automatically when the claimant parent dies. The surviving parent must re-register with HMRC's Child Benefit Office to receive payments in.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Happens to Loyalty Points When You Die UK?Most loyalty points are non-transferable on death under programme terms; British Airways Executive Club miles are forfeited. What executors should redeem early.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Happens to a Mobile Phone Contract When You Die UKA mobile phone contract is a personal service agreement that cannot be inherited. How to cancel with EE, O2, Vodafone and Three, and who pays any balance.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Happens to an NHS Pension When You Die UK? DeathThe NHS Pension Scheme pays a death in service lump sum of two times pensionable pay, an adult dependant's pension, and a children's pension.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- What Happens to Pets When You Die UKIn law your pet is property, so plan ahead. Learn how to name a carer in your will, leave money for their care and write a letter of wishes for your animals.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- What Happens to State Pension When You Die UK?The State Pension stops when you die and is not automatically inherited. What a spouse or civil partner may claim, and how to notify the DWP after a death.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Happens to Utility Bills When Someone Dies UKWhat to do with gas, electricity, water, broadband, and council tax bills after a death in England and Wales: who is responsible, how to notify suppliers.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- What to Do When a Parent Dies UK: Step-by-Step GuideWhen a parent dies in England or Wales, the immediate steps are: register the death, use Tell Us Once to notify government departments, find the will.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- What to Do When Your Spouse Dies UKA step-by-step guide for when your spouse or civil partner dies: registering the death, claiming Bereavement Support Payment, pensions, joint assets and ISAs.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- When Someone Dies at Home UK: What to Do ImmediatelyWhen someone dies at home in England and Wales: who to call for expected or sudden deaths, when the coroner steps in, the death certificate and the next steps.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Deed of Disclaimer UK: How to Refuse an InheritanceA deed of disclaimer lets a beneficiary refuse an inheritance before accepting it. Used within two years of death, it is treated as if never entitled.15 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Inheriting a House UK: Tax, Ownership and Next StepsWhen you inherit a house in England and Wales, you need to understand inheritance tax, CGT on later sale, probate, and your options, keep, sell, or rent.15 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Insolvent Estate UK: Creditor Priority OrderAn insolvent estate is one where debts exceed assets; learn the strict creditor priority order under AEA 1925 s34 and whether family members inherit the debts.15 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Capital Gains Tax on Inherited Property UKWhen you inherit a property in England or Wales, CGT is not charged at the point of inheritance, but if you later sell it for more than the probate value.14 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Life Tenant Rights UK: What a Life Tenant Can DoA life tenant has an interest in possession: income or occupation of trust property for life, but not the capital. Rights, duties and tax. 2026 guide.14 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Business Succession Planning UKWhat happens to a sole trader, partnership or limited company when the owner dies, and how LPAs, shareholder agreements and BPR protect business continuity.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Care Home Fees and Property UKThe council cannot simply seize your house, but your property will be assessed for care fees if you move into residential care and no qualifying relative.13 May 2026 · 10 min read
- Deed of Gift UK: Giving Property Away in Your LifetimeWhat a deed of gift is in England and Wales, when you need one, and the gift with reservation of benefit (GROB) rules that can undo the inheritance tax saving.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Deed of Variation UK: Redirect an Inheritance Tax-FreeA deed of variation lets beneficiaries redirect an inheritance within 2 years of death; HMRC treats the change as if the deceased made it. 2026 guide.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Donatio Mortis Causa UK: Deathbed Gifts ExplainedA donatio mortis causa is a conditional gift made in contemplation of death that takes effect without a will. The strict conditions and the IHT effect.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Excepted Estates UK: Skip the Full IHT AccountMost estates in England and Wales are excepted estates that skip the full IHT400 form; the three categories, thresholds and what executors actually need to do.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Expression of Wishes Pension UKA pension expression of wishes tells your scheme trustees who should receive death benefits. Why it matters, how to keep it current, and common mistakes.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Family Provision Claims UK: Who Can Claim and WhenWho can make a family provision claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, what the court considers, and the six-month limit.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Foreign Property in a Will UK: Getting It RightHow to deal with overseas property and foreign assets in an English will: which country's law applies, double taxation treaties, the two-will strategy.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Paying Funeral Expenses from an Estate: UK RulesFuneral expenses are the first charge on the estate in England and Wales: who pays, what is recoverable, and what happens if the estate cannot cover it.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Gifting Property to Children UKGifting your home or investment property to your children: the CGT on the gift, IHT within 7 years, and the gift with reservation of benefit (GROB) trap.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Inheritance Act 1975 UK: Claiming From an EstateThe Inheritance Act 1975 lets certain family and dependants claim reasonable provision from an estate even when a valid will excludes them; 6-month deadline.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Normal Expenditure Out of Income UKThe normal expenditure out of income exemption (s21 IHTA 1984) allows unlimited IHT-free gifting from surplus income. The conditions and how to record it.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Per Stirpes Meaning in a Will: UK GuidePer stirpes means a deceased beneficiary's share passes to their children; what it means in a will, per stirpes versus per capita, and how to draft it.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Proprietary Estoppel UK: Broken Inheritance PromisesPromised property but left out of the will? Proprietary estoppel may give a claim: the assurance, reliance and detriment you must prove, per Thorner v Major.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Reasonable Financial Provision UKThe Inheritance Act 1975 allows close family members and dependants to claim 'reasonable financial provision' from an estate even when excluded by a will.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Renouncing an Inheritance UK: How to Say No ProperlyYou can refuse an inheritance in England and Wales using a deed of disclaimer or variation. How it works, the tax effects, and where the gift goes instead.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Severance of Joint Tenancy UK: Why and How to Do ItSevering a joint tenancy converts co-ownership to tenants in common, by written notice under s196 Law of Property Act 1925, so each owner controls their share.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Stepchildren and Inheritance UKStepchildren have no automatic inheritance rights in England and Wales and receive nothing under intestacy unless adopted; how to provide for them in a will.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Tenants in Common on Death UK: What Happens to a ShareWhen a tenant in common dies, their share does not pass by survivorship: it passes under their will or the intestacy rules, forming part of their estate.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- What Happens to Debt When You Die UK? Credit CardsDebt does not die with you in England and Wales; it falls on your estate, not your family. How credit cards, loans and mortgages are handled, plus the priority.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- What Happens to Your Pension When You Die UKPensions bypass your will and go to whoever you nominate on an expression of wish form. From April 2027 unused pension pots will be counted for UK IHT.13 May 2026 · 10 min read
- What Is Estate Planning? UK Basics in Plain EnglishEstate planning means organising what happens to your assets and healthcare if you die or lose capacity. The five documents every UK adult should consider.13 May 2026 · 12 min read
- Cohabiting Couples Rights UK 2026Common law marriage does not exist in England and Wales, so cohabiting partners inherit nothing without a will. Your rights, property and proposed reform.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Next of Kin UK: Who Inherits and What Rights They Have'Next of kin' has no fixed legal meaning in England. Without a will, intestacy rules decide who inherits, not assumptions about family. Plain guide. 2026.12 May 2026 · 6 min read
- What to Do When Someone Dies UKStep by step: register the death within 5 days, locate the will, apply for probate, pay debts and distribute the estate. Plain-English executor guide.12 May 2026 · 9 min read
- What Happens to a Bank Account When You Die UKSole bank accounts are frozen on death until probate is granted; joint accounts pass to the survivor. The full process, small estate exceptions and the will.11 May 2026 · 7 min read
- What Happens to a Mortgage When You Die UKMortgage debt does not die with you: it stays attached to the property and is repaid from your estate. Sole versus joint, and what your will must say.11 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Joint Tenants vs Tenants in Common UK, Key DifferencesJoint tenants vs tenants in common: two very different ways to co-own property in England and Wales, with very different consequences for your will and estate.23 April 2026 · 6 min read
- Appropriation of Assets UK: How Executors Use ItHow executors appropriate estate assets to satisfy a legacy or share of residue under section 41 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925, and consent rules. · 9 min read
- Cohabiting Couples Property Rights UKProperty rights for cohabiting couples in England and Wales: how constructive and resulting trusts work, TOLATA 1996 claims and how to protect your position. · 8 min read
- Cohabitation Agreement UK: Protect an Unmarried PartnerA cohabitation agreement is an enforceable contract setting out unmarried partners' financial rights: what it covers, its legal effect and why you need a will.
- Commorientes Rule UKLearn how the commorientes rule decides who inherits when two people die together, what section 184 LPA 1925 says, and how survivorship clauses protect you. · 8 min read
- Disclaiming an Inheritance in the UKDisclaiming an inheritance in England and Wales: when you can disclaim, why acceptance ends the right, where the gift then goes, and the effect on IHT and CGT.
- Disinheriting Someone in a UK WillEngland and Wales allows freedom of testation, so you can leave someone out of your will. How to do it, and the 1975 Act claims that can challenge it.
- Distribution of an Estate UK: Order and TimelinesHow personal representatives distribute an estate to beneficiaries: the order of payments, the role of an assent, and avoiding personal liability for mistakes. · 9 min read
- Estate Duty History UK: From Death Duties to IHTTrace the history of death taxes in England and Wales, from the Finance Act 1894 Estate Duty through Capital Transfer Tax (1975–1986) to the Inheritance Tax. · 9 min read
- Inheriting the Family Home UK: Tax and OwnershipOptions when several beneficiaries inherit a family home in England and Wales: sell, buy out or rent, CGT and SDLT, and what to do if you cannot agree. · 8 min read
- Gifts Inter Vivos UK: Lifetime Gifts and the 7-Year RuleA gift inter vivos is a lifetime gift that may face inheritance tax if the donor dies within 7 years: taper relief, the exemptions and how the rules interact. · 10 min read
- Grandchildren and Inheritance UKDo grandchildren inherit in England and Wales? Under intestacy they inherit only if their parent has predeceased; a will lets you leave to them directly.
- The Hotchpot Rule UK: Equalising Lifetime GiftsThe hotchpot rule requires a beneficiary who has received an advancement from the deceased to bring it into account before taking a further share of the estate.
- Inheritance Act 1975 Claims UKThe Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 lets spouses, children, cohabitants and dependants claim reasonable provision. 2026 guide.
- Notice of Severance UK: Splitting a Joint TenancySevering a joint tenancy converts co-ownership from joint tenants to tenants in common: how the notice of severance works and how to register the change. · 8 min read
- Overreaching UK: How Trust Interests Are ClearedOverreaching is the mechanism by which equitable interests in land are swept off the title and onto the proceeds when a purchaser pays capital money to two. · 8 min read
- Personal Representative Duties Timeline UKA practical month-by-month guide to the duties of an executor or administrator in England and Wales, from securing assets on death to final distribution. · 10 min read
- Rule in Howe v Earl of Dartmouth UKThe rule in Howe v Earl of Dartmouth (1802) requires trustees of a residuary estate to convert wasting assets and apportion income between beneficiaries. · 8 min read
- The Rule in Strong v Bird UKHow appointing a donee as executor can perfect an incomplete lifetime gift, the four requirements, the Re Gonin limits, and estate planning implications.
- Saunders v Vautier UK: Ending a Trust EarlyThe rule in Saunders v Vautier lets adult beneficiaries of full capacity end a trust early: the conditions, the consequences and when trustees can push back. · 8 min read
- Stamp Duty Inherited Property UK: SDLTInheriting property in England does not usually trigger Stamp Duty Land Tax, but there are exceptions. How SDLT and the surcharge affect inherited homes.
- Survivorship and Deeds UK: How Joint Property PassesWhat a survivorship deed, or notice of severance, does: how to sever a joint tenancy, register the change at Land Registry, and use it for IHT planning. · 7 min read
- Joint Tenancy and Right of Survivorship UKJoint tenancy means property passes automatically to the surviving owner, outside your will. How survivorship works and how to sever it if you need to.
- Time Limits for Inheritance Claims UKInheritance claims in England and Wales are subject to strict time limits. The Inheritance Act 1975 gives claimants 6 months from the grant of probate. · 9 min read
- Vesting of an Estate UK: When Assets Legally TransferUnder section 1 of the Administration of Estates Act 1925, all real and personal property of the deceased vests in the executor at the moment of death. · 8 min read
- What Happens to Shares When Someone Dies UK | GuideDealing with shares in a UK estate: the quarter-up valuation rule, transfer versus transmission, ISA wrappers, probate and the inheritance tax reliefs. · 8 min read
Self-help information only. Articles on this blog are for general informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. WillSafe UK is not a firm of solicitors. For complex estates, blended families, business assets or foreign property, please speak to a qualified solicitor.