Bromley Solicitors

Bromley Elderly Client Services FAQs

I cannot make it in to your offices.  Can you come and see me?

Yes, absolutely.  Bromley solicitors are happy to arrange visits to your home as well as care homes.  Please contact Bromley solicitors for more details regarding this service.

Why bother making a will?

Making a will is not that expensive and it allows you make your intentions legally enforceable after you have passed away.  Making a will is beneficial for your loved ones.  It pre-empts inheritance disputes.  Your loved ones may not have to pay inheritance tax.  You can decide on your own funeral arrangements.  Indeed, the benefits far outweigh the only real drawback, which is the legal costs.

When should I change my will?

You should change your will if your intentions change or there is significant changes in your family circumstances.  If new grandchildren are born, for example, you might want to include them on your will.

How can I legally appoint someone to look after me in the event I cannot do so myself?

You can create a Lasting Power of Attorney, which can be used in the event you lose your mental capacity.  An Attorney is someone who legally has the power to make decisions on your behalf.  There are two types of LPA – financial & property LPA and personal & welfare LPA.  A financial & property LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your financial affairs, which could include paying your bills, managing your bank account and selling your property.  A personal & welfare LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your personal care.  They can make decisions regarding medical treatments, your day-to-day living arrangements and how you will be cared for.

My grandchildren are not old enough to inherit a portion of my estate.  What can I do?

For children under 18, you can create a trust.  In a trust, the money you decide to give to your grandchildren will be held by the trustees, who are persons appointed to use the money for some purpose decided by you.  You may, for instance, give the trustee’s the instructions to hold the money until the grandchildren are 18 and invest the money to maximise its returns.  Or, you could give instructions to the trustees to use the money for the benefit of your grandchildren’s education.

Given that there are two types of LPA, will I have to appoint two people?

No, you can appoint one person and give them both types of LPA powers.  However, appointing two people might make more sense in some circumstances.  You might want to appoint a trusted person with financial acumen to take care of your financial and property affairs, and a family member to take care of your personal affairs.

I am not being allowed to see my grandchildren as one of the parents objects.  What can I do?

Grandparents do not have a legal right to see their grandchildren.  You can, however, apply for a contact order, which is an order of a court stating the terms on which you are allowed to see their grandchildren.  A family reporter may be appointed by the court to assess the nature of the relationship you share with the grandchildren (before the parent’s divorce if relevant) and what is in the best interests of the grandchildren’s welfare.  The court’s value the role that grandparents play, so you have a fairly good chance of the order being granted.

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