Economic meltdown is making thousands of wills out of date

THE credit crunch is making wills written in healthier economic times out of date and in urgent need of updating, says the Law Society.    With home values plummeting and other investments struggling, many assets in a person’s will have lost value, says the Law Society.

Paul Marsh, President of the Law Society, says:- “Those wanting to leave friends and family in a secure position after they pass away might find that what they have left in their will has considerably less value than when their solicitor wrote it.  With homes losing value people may need to look again at their wills especially if they have included tax planning provisions which are no longer appropriate. 

The same goes for shares and other assets.  The value of the assets in a person's will might have fallen significantly since it was drafted and so the will may need to be rewritten.

It is essential that anyone with a will who has not looked to update it recently goes to their solicitor to review it and, if needs be, change it to reflect their current financial situation.

A solicitor is best placed to advise on any necessary amendments, as well as provide guidance on tax planning.  Reducing the tax burden on the assets you wish to leave in your will has an even more relevant benefit for your family and friends in the current economic climate.

If you do not have a will, now would be a good time to write one or risk leaving friends, families or other intended recipients of your assets with nothing.”

SOUTHPORT-DEVELOPED DEMENTIA SUPPORT PACKAGE MADE AVAILABLE TO CARE GROUPS

AN innovative dementia care service developed in Southport is to be offered to other care homes and related organisations, both in the UK and internationally.  Dan Lingard, who owns Birch Abbey care home in Southport, has packaged up the key facets of a dementia support service which he pioneered and developed, and created:- "iPersonally" (www.ipersonally.co.uk).     "The iPersonally approach is aimed at transforming the services available to people and families living with dementia.  At the heart of iPersonally is the belief that technology must be better harnessed to support people with dementia, their carers and wider support network.   iPersonally is seen in the wider healthcare world as being a new and different approach and attitude towards dementia care and support, and our own dementia care centre, Birch Abbey, is leading the way in implementing it.  It is a care service that will provide different dementia-impacted groups with different things, but, in each case, provide them with options.  But this also about the providers and commissioners of dementia care.  We do not want to create more of our own care homes, we want to help others grow and enhance the dementia support services they can offer by licensing iPersonally." said Dan Lingard.

BRITISH TOILET ASSOCIATION

THE Government Response to the Communities and Local Government Committee Report on the Provision of Public Toilets was published last week.

The Government accepted that:- "the report reinforces the importance of good quality public toilet provision for all members of society, and recognises the work already undertaken by many local authorities to improve the situation in their areas."  Regrettably however, the Government has failed to accept the recommendation of the Committee.

Committee Chairman Dr Phyllis Starkey MP said:- "It is extremely disappointing that the Government has rejected our major recommendation that local authorities develop a public toilet strategy for their area, in consultation with the local community, to ensure that more toilets are available to the public.  The Committee will be considering the Government's response in detail, in due course and will decide what further action it wishes to take."

This means that not only does it fall short of the BTA's demands for the Government to place an obligation on Local Authorities to provide adequate public toilet facilities (the Public Health Act 1936 gives Local Authorities the power to provide public toilets, but imposes no duty to do so), but this report also fails to ensure that all who need to use public toilets in England - males and females, families with babies and young children and those with physical or mental disabilities, that need accessible toilets, will be provided with the facilities that they require, and deserve.

Despite the fact that the overall number of public toilets has declined in recent years, and the lack of reliable data makes it impossible to track the decline, the Government has also failed to accept the Committee's recommendation that:- "the Government seeks a means of collecting this data, either through requiring local authorities to provide figures from their own areas or by charging the Audit Commission with resuming its collection of accurate information on the provision of public toilets."

The Government also failed to accept the Committee's recommendation...  "that there should be standard public toilet signage across the country (possibly using symbols rather than text to allow for universal recognition, irrespective of language)."

The BTA urges all Local Authorities to produce a strategy on the provision of public toilets in their areas, so that the British public, and the increasing numbers of visitors to this country, can enjoy the availability of public toilets, when and where they are needed.  BTA added that it "can provide assistance to those councils that may need it."

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