Tag: seaham

Court Battle Is Stark Reminder To Update Wills

By on 15th February 2016in Lifestyle

Joy Williams has learned the hard way what happens when Wills aren’t kept up to date…

 

Simply updating his Will would have ensured that a former dentist’s share of the family home passed to his unmarried partner of 18 years, rather than to his estranged wife, avoiding the legal battle which raged in court last week, according to a North East solicitor who specialises in Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning.

Andrew Simpson, a Lead Panel Solicitor with Seaham-based legal and financial planning specialist Ensure Inheritance, says that although Joy Williams, 69, lived with retired dentist Norman Martin as his partner for nearly two decades, they never married, nor did Mr Martin change his Will. As Mr Martin and Ms Williams owned a three-bedroom home as tenants in common, on his death Mr Martin’s share of the house was not automatically transferred to his partner, but to his estranged wife.

Ms Williams launched a legal challenge against the terms of the Will last week.

“Unfortunately Mr Martin was in the same boat as around 12 million of us who have Wills, but who have not updated them for more than five years to reflect their changed family circumstances,” says Mr Simpson.

“Simply taking advice from a Solicitor and changing his Will would have ensured that his partner’s financial future was secured, and Ms Williams would not risk losing her home.

“If you want to ensure your loved ones benefit from your hard earned efforts after your death, not only do you need to make a Will so that your wishes are carried out, you need to keep it updated to reflect any changes in circumstances.

“The costly and lengthy legal case of Ms Williams, and the possibility of her losing her family home, should be a reminder to us all to review our Wills every five years,” concludes Mr Simpson.

Based in Seaham in County Durham, Ensure Inheritance provides a range of legal and financial planning services which help protect financial assets to provide their clients and their loved ones with peace of mind. In addition to Wills and Estate planning, services include long term care planning, funeral planning, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, court of protection deputyships, and probate.

Ensure Inheritance can be contacted on 0191 338 5143, via email at info@ensureinheritance.co.uk or via its website www.ensureinheritance.co.uk.

Seaham Community Coming Together For Clean-Up Operation

By on 14th November 2015in Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

Community groups are planning to come together to help rid Seaham streets and shores of rubbish…

 

Durham County Council is joining forces with a range of organisations to stage a community clean-up event in the town.

It will get underway with Durham Heritage Coast and staff from Lloyds Bank who will be carrying out a litter pick at Red Acre Beach on Monday 16th November.

There will be a further volunteer litter pick at the popular walkway at Seaham Harbour, through Dawdon and Parkside leading to Cold Hesleden, on Tuesday 17th November.

Flytipped items and large piles of rubbish will also be cleared and taken away from the path.

Cllr Brian Stephens, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We are pleased to be linking up with a number of other organisations and volunteers to address concerns about litter.

“Failing to dispose of rubbish properly is unsightly and an offence. Cleaning it up takes up valuable resources which could be put to good use in other areas.

“We would urge people to take pride in their communities and dispose of waste and litter correctly, and please ensure any rubbish or flytipped items that you spot are reported to us.”

Any groups wishing to get involved in environmental improvements can contact the council by emailing civicpride@durham.gov.uk or calling 03000 261 000.

Flytipping can be reported at www.durham.gov.uk/flytipping or by calling 03000 261 000. Litter can be reported at www.durham.gov.uk/litter or by calling 03000 261 000.

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