The belief that the Queen will take all of your assets if you die without a Will is often raised by those who are not sure how the law works. Whilst there is a rare possibility that this could happen, there is a system in place that must be followed in the first instance.

During the Covid 19 crisis, many more people have been thinking about writing or changing their will. But a major concern has been how to get the will witnessed correctly during a time when we are all supposed to be socially distancing and in some cases socially isolating.

It has been a difficult time this year with many relationships, families and minds being tested as a result of the far reaching impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Whilst we are not out of the woods yet, lockdown restrictions are easing so now is a good time to consider taking steps to deal with those that we have sadly lost in the previous months.

One of the most common questions I am asked by clients is:- what options are available to me once a loved one has lost their mental capacity and does not have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)? I wish to highlight both why it is important for someone to put a LPA in place and to talk you through the options and process involved when one is not.

In the past it was a comfort to know that Registry grant applications would take up to 10 working days to be issued, but following legislation proposed by Government in 2019, this led to an influx of applications being made to avoid this change, causing processing delays of 1-3 months. With this delay believed to be falling at the beginning of the year, the Covid-19 pandemic has cast mystery over the future of applications, how they are processed and how fast they will be issued.