Wills

Have you made a Will? If not, please contact Maureen Heraghty. In any event, it is important to ensure that your Will is kept up-to-date and that all relevant tax and inheritance matters are reviewed regularly. If you feel that your current Will needs to be looked at we can advise you on any alterations necessary or draw up a new Will.

Power of Attorney and Guardianship

A Continuing Power of Attorney appointing relatives, friends or professional advisers to manage your financial affairs can be helpful to the older client or those suffering from a disability and release them from the burden of dealing with their finances either now or in later years.

Your ill health may, however, prevent a Power of Attorney being drawn up and a guardian may, at the instance of the family, be appointed by the Court to manage your affairs. A Welfare Power of Attorney may also be drawn up either in addition to the Continuing Power of Attorney or as a separate issue to permit relatives or friends to take decisions on your personal health care or welfare when you no longer have the capacity to take such decisions yourself.

We will prepare either the Continuing or Welfare Powers of Attorney or arrange for a guardian to be appointed through the Court. If you feel that family and friends should not act in this capacity for you, one of our Partners may be willing to act in either capacity if this was felt to be suitable. The contacts in our office here are Maureen Heraghty or Ronnie Munton.

The Family Home

Inevitably the elderly have to consider whether they can remain in their own home and retain independence or whether, for safety or other reasons, they require to give up their home and go into care.

If staying at home is an option it is possible to release capital from the home with a view to boosting spendable income.

If eventually a decision is made that staying at home is no longer practical we can discuss with you the manner in which your house may be marketed for sale and the sale proceeds invested. The contacts in our office here are Maureen Heraghty and Murdoch Beaton.

Investments, insurance and taxation

Our independent financial adviser and investment manager, Stewart Wilkinson, is available to advise clients on a wide range of savings, investment and insurance choices to ensure that your assets are put to best use. This may be investment for income, for capital appreciation, an element of both these or for nursing care planning. We can also advise on personal income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax and may prepare your tax returns on your behalf.