News & insights My aunt is becoming increasingly unable to manage her affairs, what can we do? 2 minutes of reading - Written by Roche Legal If a loved one is getting to the stage where he or she is having difficulty managing their affairs, it is important to make sure that they have measures in place to enable a family member, friend or professional to help them should the need arise. Perhaps they already have an Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney in place – or perhaps this needs to be attended to. If at all possible, it’s best not to leave things to the last minute. Make sure that your relative has a say in what happens should they become no longer able to look after themselves or their finances. We can provide you with legal and practical advice if you are faced with having to manage the affairs of a loved one How Roche Legal can help We are reassuring experts who can help you with a wide range of legal matters. Please get in touch if you need legal support with: Trusts and Estate Planning Wills Probate and Estate Administration Contested Probate and Will Disputes Powers of Attorney Court of Protection matters Presumption of Death Applications Missing Persons Guardianship Applications Further Reading When is the value of your home disregarded for nursing home fees? The Walford, R v Worcestershire County Council (2014) decision resulted in a daughter successfully having her mother’s home value disregarded in calculating residential care home fees. The court ruled that the property could not be considered in the means assessment because it was her “home,” taking into account both physical and emotional attachment. Our promise to you when writing your Will excerpt in 2 sentences from below: There has been much written about the adequacy of Will writing services around the UK in the last 12 months. As a firm of solicitors authorised and regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority you can be confident that we will prepare a Will for you which is both in accordance with your wishes and legally sound. Our promise to you: We will at all times act in your best interests We will provide a proper standard of service We will, at all times, behave in a way which maintains your trust Appointing us as your executors: In some instances, our clients wish to appoint us to act as their executors and trustees – this is usually in circumstances where there is no obvious family member to take on that role or the person making the Will would prefer to appoint someone independent. If you decide to instruct us to act for you in this role we will always: Explain the options available to you Ensure that you understand that executors do not have to be professionals; that there may be a family member or a beneficiary under the Will; and that non-professional executors can choose to instruct a solicitor to act for them if this proves necessary and will be indemnified out of the estate for the solicitors’ fee Document the advice given concerning the appointment of executors and your decisions Ultimately, the decision is yours as to the content of your Will and who you chose to be your executors. We will always discuss the options available to you so that you can make an informed decision. There has been much discussion about the adequacy of Will writing services recently. As a regulated firm of solicitors, we ensure your Will is both legally sound and aligned with your wishes, and we offer options for appointing executors to suit your needs. A helping hand with Probate Dealing with the death of a loved one is challenging enough without the added stress of legal formalities. While executors or next of kin can apply for the Grant of Administration themselves, using a solicitor can smooth the process, reduce family disputes, and provide clear guidance on practical steps. View all insights Ready for clear, reliable legal advice? Contact us for straightforward advice that makes things easier, saves you money, and gives you peace of mind. Contact us