Maplebrook Services Cyprus

02/11/2026

Should you leave your estate equally to your children? Read our latest article to explore the dilemma of equal versus unequal inheritance and how thoughtful estate planning can help ⬇️

Should you leave your estate equally to your children? Explore the dilemma of equal versus unequal inheritance and how thoughtful estate planning can help.

30/10/2026

An inheritance doesn't always have to remain exactly as it was originally distributed.

An English Deed of Variation can provide a way to:

✔️ Consider Inheritance Tax

✔️ Provide for the next generation

✔️ Address unfairness or the effects of Intestacy

✔️ Redirect funds towards charity

✔️ Help balance financial differences within a family

It can provide a lawful and efficient way to reconsider how an estate is distributed after someone has died.

Read our full article, “Understanding the English Deed of Variation: A Flexible Tool for Estate Planning”, to learn more.

28/10/2026

My initial contact with Mr. Wayne Barnett was very informative. After providing him with details of my assets, he compiled both UK and Cypriot wills to meet my needs. His team were extremely efficient in dealing with the necessary paperwork, and always ready to answer any queries I had. I am happy with the outcome and say a big thank you to all involved.

My initial contact with Mr. Wayne Barnett was very informative. ★★★★★

27/10/2026

A Deed of Variation needs to contain specific information and legal wording.

A robust deed should include:

1️⃣ Clear identification
Details of the deceased, their date of death, the original Will or intestacy details and the executors.

2️⃣ The variations
A precise description of the assets being redirected and who the new beneficiaries will be.

4️⃣ The tax election clause
A formal statement invoking the relevant provisions of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 and the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992.

The wording and detail matter when creating a legally robust Deed of Variation.

23/10/2026

A Deed of Variation isn't simply a case of changing your mind about an inheritance, there are strict requirements that must be met.

The key rules include:

📅 The deed must be executed within two years of the deceased person's date of death.
✍️ Anyone whose entitlement is reduced or removed must consent and sign.
💷 A beneficiary cannot be financially compensated to give up their inheritance.
🧠 All signing parties must be adults with the mental capacity to understand the changes.

If a minor's inheritance is affected, court approval is required.

20/10/2026

When someone dies without a Will, the rules of Intestacy determine who inherits.

But those rules don't necessarily reflect what the deceased person might actually have wanted.

For example, unmarried partners, stepchildren or close friends may be left with nothing.

A Deed of Variation can allow surviving beneficiaries to redistribute the estate and include people who may otherwise have been unfairly left out.

It can therefore provide a way to address an outcome that doesn't reflect the family's wishes.

19/10/2026

Wayne and his team have been extremely helpful to us in explaining the differences in the Cyprus inheritance system and I would not hesitate in recommending them to advise and prepare anyone's will here in Cyprus.

Wayne and his team have been extremely helpful to us in explaining the differences in the Cyprus inheritance system and I would not hesitate in recommending them to advise and prepare anyone's will here in Cyprus. . ★★★★★

15/10/2026

Family circumstances can change considerably over time.

Imagine a grandparent leaves their estate to their adult children, but those children are already financially secure while their own children are facing university costs or trying to buy their first home.

The adult children may be able to use a Deed of Variation to pass their inheritance directly to their children.

This can provide financial support to the next generation at a time when they need it most.

12/10/2026

Receiving a large inheritance isn't always straightforward.

If someone already has an estate above the Inheritance Tax threshold, accepting a further inheritance could increase their future tax liability.

An English Deed of Variation can allow a beneficiary to skip themselves and pass assets directly to their children or a trust.

Because the law treats the variation as though it came from the deceased, rather than the original beneficiary, the article explains that this avoids the Seven-Year Rule for potentially exempt transfers.

Tax efficiency is one of the most common reasons for using a Deed of Variation.

09/10/2026

What if an inheritance no longer makes sense for the person receiving it?

An English Deed of Variation provides a way for beneficiaries to alter the distribution of a deceased person's estate.

One of its unique features is its retroactive nature.

For tax purposes, the law treats the changes as though they had been included in the deceased person's original Will.

That means a Deed of Variation can provide what our latest article describes as a valuable “second chance” to optimise an estate plan.