Laura Stuart

After all of the speculation, the UK Government announced the Autumn Budget on 30th October 2024. Within the budget there were a number of inheritance tax changes which may affect you and your estate planning. These include: The Nil Rate Band and...

Unfortunately it can take a significant amount of time from deciding to separate to receiving your decree absolute/final order. During this time you are still considered to be married – this can be beneficial in terms of things like pension rights if...

Instructing a solicitor to prepare your Will is usually seen as the expensive way to do it but using a solicitor can save a lot of stress for you and your family, as well as giving you peace of mind and potentially saving you additional costs in the future. ...

According to research undertaken by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the number of people with dementia is projected to increase rapidly. It is predicted one million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025 and this will increase to two million by 2050*. It...

Dementia Action Week is a national event which runs from 17 th May to 23 rd May. It is a time to raise awareness of dementia and encourage individuals to take action to improve the lives of people living with dementia. At Brethertons, we are supporting...

A Deputy can be appointed by the Court of Protection to manage a person’s financial affairs when they are unable to manage them themselves. The person whose financial affairs are being managed is called the protected party. The Deputy can be a...

There are many parents across the country whose children suffer from a birth or acquired disability, such as a brain injury or learning difficulties. As they grow older, these children continue to require support to help them to be independent. When you...

Close family relationships often mean that the donor - the person who grants the Power of Attorney - choses a family member to be their Attorney. With Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Finance once they are registered at the Office of the...

When you are appointed as an Attorney for someone under an Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney to deal with finances, it can be confusing to understand when and how you can start helping the donor (the person who made the Power of Attorney) with their...

Laura Stuart is an Executive Lawyer and Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts and Probate team in Rugby . We caught up with her to get an insight into her role and her time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? My key priority...

According to the Alzheimer’s Society there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK and 225,000 people will develop dementia this year. With 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 having dementia, a number of those individuals will need assistance from...

The invaluable contribution made by carers cannot be underestimated. With the number of unpaid carers on the rise, it is essential that they receive help and support. The sandwich generation can find themselves not only looking after their children but also...

Whilst there is an increase in the awareness of Lasting Powers of Attorney and a better understanding of the importance of the documents, some people still do not understand the consequences of not preparing them. A Lasting Power of Attorney is a...

According to research undertaken for Dementia UK there were 816,000 people with dementia in the UK in 2013. In 2015 that’s risen to an estimated 857,000. One in six people aged over 80 suffers with the disease. It makes sense, then, to plan for the...

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has launched a public awareness campaign to encourage people to plan for their and their families' futures. With the strapline “Choice not Chance” and a suite of rather uninspiring black & white posters and...

On 8 July, Chancellor George Osbourne announced the 2015 budget and among the headlines was a fairly hefty change to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) regulations which will affect increasing numbers of property owners as house prices continue to rise. And...