Elderly Client Services
ELDERLY CLIENT SERVICES
Many people have worries about the management of their affairs as they reach advancing years. In particular clients can develop anxieties over matters such as :
- Whether they have made a Will;
- What will happen if they lose mental or physical capacity and are unable to manage their own affairs;
- Whether they will have to sell their home to pay for nursing home fees.
At Askew Bunting we have many years experience in providing specialist advice to our elderly clients. In particular we can advise you on the following:
Wills and Inheritance Tax planning
You are never too old or young to make a Will. In making a Will you are ensuring a degree of certainty as to what will happen to your assets when you die. Please click onto the link to our dedicated Wills page.
Lasting Power of Attorney
Many people have concerns about what will happen to them if they lose mental or physical capacity. The Mental Incapacity Act 2005 replaced the previous regime of enduring powers of attorney with the wider ranging Lasting Powers of Attorney. The Lasting Power of Attorney means that you can appoint someone to act on your behalf in relation to both your financial affairs as well as your personal welfare.
At Askew Bunting Solicitors we have dedicated solicitors who can give specialist advice on this area of law to enable you to make an informed decision. If you do wish to appoint someone to be your attorney then we can guide you through the procedure from start to finish.
Many of our clients make the decision to appoint someone to be their attorney to ensure their affairs will be properly looked after in the event of being struck down by illness or suffering serious injury in an accident.
If you don’t appoint someone to be your attorney and you are unfortunate to lose mental capacity, it will be necessary for your next of kin to apply to the Court of Protection to take over the managing of your affairs. This can be an arduous, complicated and expensive process. In appointing someone to be your attorney it can save considerable expense and it means that you decide who will look after your affairs in the event of your incapacity.
Court of Protection Applications
If a close family member has not appointed someone to be their attorney and is unfortunate to lose their mental capacity, they will not be able to manage their own affairs. In such a case it is necessary to apply to the Court of Protection to become a receiver. This can be a complicated procedure and at Askew Bunting we have Solicitors who can provide you with the specialist advice to guide you through this procedure.
Gifting Property
When getting older some people have concerns about what will happen to their property if they have to go into full time care. Others have concerns about whether Inheritance Tax will have to be paid when they die. As a result many people consider gifting their home and other assets to their children to avoid their estate being diminished in the future.
We can give specialist advice on whether:
- Gifting your property will achieve the objective you desire;
- The potential pitfalls which exist in relinquishing control of your main assets.
WHY COME TO ASKEW BUNTING?
We have qualified Solicitors with years of experience in providing specialist advice on the above matters. Further we pride ourselves with treating our clients in a caring and sensitive manner. If it is more convenient we can arrange to meet with you in your home.
WE OFFER AN OUTSIDE APPOINTMENT SERVICE
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