Helen Dexter

It is a common misconception that if you have a Will it is not necessary to obtain probate to your estate once you have died. Whether or not probate is needed depends upon the assets owned by the deceased at the time they died. A grant of probate (also...

The Court of Appeal this week disappointed many cohabiting couples. The court did not grant Rebecca Steinfield and Charles Keidan permission to obtain judicial review of the decision by the Secretary of State for Education’s decision, at this stage,...

Last week five judges in the Supreme Court found in favour of Denise Brewster, a lady who claimed that she should receive the pension of her late partner who had died two days after they had got engaged. Ms Brewster’s partner, Lenny McMullan, had...

Agricultural Property Relief (APR) is a valuable relief from inheritance tax (IHT) and can significantly reduce or even eliminate the payment of IHT in the estates of farmers and landowners when they die. Not all land is however eligible for APR. Just...

We recently hosted a drinks reception and private viewing of the YSL exhibition ‘Style is Eternal’ for over 70 clients and contacts of the firm at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. We welcomed our guests to the event thanking them for...

As it celebrates 30 years, our Barnard Castle Office seeks wedding day pictures from its premises’ past! In 2015, Tilly Bailey & Irvine Solicitors Barnard Castle Office celebrates its 30 th anniversary, having taken over law firm Messrs...

There are several types of Power of Attorney and for this reason people can easily become confused about what they need to do to ensure that their affairs are looked after if necessary. A Power of Attorney is in essence a means by which you give someone...

An LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney) can be signed at any time provided you have capacity. The attorney cannot use the power given by the LPA until such time as it is registered with the OPG(Office of the Public Guardian). I’ll explain the reason...