Dying is not something we like to think about, but it is going to happen to you one day. That is a fact! Dying without a Will is a very bad idea.. However, what if you don’t die? What if you are simply incapacitated and unable to either work and/or make your wishes known in respect of child care or the management of your assets?
Becoming incapacitated through an accident or ill health can lead to very significant problems both for you and your dependents. Many people assume, wrongly, that a spouse or parent will be able to access a person’s bank accounts and deal with financial and personal matters on behalf of a loved one if they become incapacitated. This is not the case.
In order for a loved one to act on behalf of an incapacitated person they must first gain power of attorney. This can be granted by a court, but it is much simpler and cheaper if we make arrangements prior to the event. A power of attorney will allow for specific people to act on your behalf in the event that you become incapacitated.
It is usual for a life insurance policy and/or critical illness, or ‘key man cover’ in the case of a business, to be put in place so that there is a pot of money available to replace your financial contribution in the event of your death or incapacitation. Statutory sick pay at the time of writing is just £88.45 per week. If you are self-employed ESA is just £73.10 a week; not much to live on!
A power of attorney can also make provision for your health care in the event that you are entirely incapacitated and can even make clear your wishes in the event that you are unlikely to recover. This will usually be taken into account by the courts when deciding on your future care or otherwise.
To speak to a Wills and Estate Planning adviser contact us on 01628 507477.
Homebuying reform to cut homebuying times by around four weeks, and save first-time buyers around £650, says the government.
Buying your first home is a huge milestone, but it can also be a complex process. There are several factors a first-time buyer should consider before making an offer on a property, including understanding the difference between leasehold and freehold and checking council tax bands.
We’ve detailed some questions you can ask your estate agent to help you make an informed decision.
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
2 days ago
Remortgaging means switching to a new mortgage deal. This will either be with your current lender or a new one.
Getting advice and moving to a new deal when the time is right can mean lower monthly mortgage payments, better interest rates, or releasing equity from your property.
Here are some signs it may be time to remortgage.
According to Nationwide Building Society’s latest House Price Index, house prices dropped 0.6% month on month in May – the first monthly decline this year.
19 May 2026
Research from Lloyds identifies the most affordable areas in the UK for first-time buyers to be able to get onto the property ladder.
On Wednesday, 13th May, King Charles delivered his speech at the House of Lords, outlining the government’s plans for the upcoming year.
Here is a summary of the housing and energy/environment points.
From 18th May 2026, Halifax (part of Lloyds Banking Group) is launching a ‘£5k Deposit mortgage’ to help first-time buyers get onto the property ladder sooner.