The Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB) was introduced as part of a broader effort by the UK government to alleviate the impact of Inheritance Tax (IHT) on middle-class families, particularly those whose primary asset was the family home. It was first announced in the 2015 Summer Budget by then-Chancellor, George Osborne. The government recognized that rising property prices were pushing more estates over the IHT threshold, and many families were being forced to pay large tax bills on modest estates, especially when passing down family homes to children or grandchildren.

Starting from 9 September 2024 in England and Wales all deaths will have to be referred to Medical Examiners. In this blog, we give a quick overview of the incoming changes and how they are revolutionising death certification.

When it comes to probate and estate administration in the UK, the regulatory landscape extends beyond the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Many organisations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), also regulate these services, ensuring high standards and professionalism.

When considering the role of an Executor, many people underestimate the complexity and responsibilities involved in administering an estate. This oversight can lead to significant financial and emotional burdens, as illustrated in the below case study.

If you missed our social media gifting series from June and July,we've consolidated all our posts and are taking the opportunity to delve deeper into the nuances of Inheritance Tax (IHT) and gifting.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a significant concern for many families in the UK. With frozen thresholds and increasing property values, more estates are subject to this tax. This blog explores the essentials of IHT and offers insights into mitigating its impact. While we are experts in estate administration, we do not provide financial advice. Our goal is to assist you with the probate process and estate administration.

For many families, discussions about death are difficult to initiate. For those who do manage to have the conversation, it’s often an uncomfortable one to have, as it can be difficult to envisage how life will be without a loved one. Unfortunately, it's inevitable that we will all experience a loss at some point during our lifetime, and in many cases, this happens without previous discussion and little planning in place, which ultimately makes a difficult time even more challenging.

When a loved one passes away, there are a number of tasks that need to be considered and it can often be a daunting process knowing where to start. The introduction of The Coronavirus Act 2020 that came into force throughout the United Kingdom in March last year (where most provisions will remain in force for two years with regular reviews by Parliament) has simplified the process of death certification for medical professionals. However, other tasks within the process have experienced delays and ongoing restrictions which have contributed to making a difficult time even more stressful. This blog aims to set out the different stages that need to be considered when a loved one passes away and will explore how COVID-19 has impacted processes.

At Kings Court Trust, we deal with a variety of different estates and we are sometimes faced with complex intestacies when someone dies without a Will. In this blog post, we share two particularly complicated case studies where family tree research has been required to identify the entitled heirs, all of which could have been avoided by leaving a Will.