Brenda Beveridge Wills & Trusts Ltd.

Brenda Beveridge Wills & Trusts Ltd. Legal support, security & peace of mind for the people you love. Please call me on 07485 619415 for

Living together but not married? Big changes could be coming. 🏡For years, we’ve warned couples about the myth of the “co...
03/09/2026

Living together but not married? Big changes could be coming. 🏡

For years, we’ve warned couples about the myth of the “common-law marriage.”

Currently, simply living together does not give you the same legal rights as being married or in a civil partnership.

But the Government is now considering major reforms to the rights of cohabiting couples in England and Wales.

Under the proposals, couples who have lived together for at least three years, or who share a child, could potentially receive greater legal and financial protection.

One particularly important proposal relates to inheritance.

Currently, an unmarried partner does not automatically inherit under the intestacy rules if their partner dies without a Will.

The Government is considering changing this so that eligible surviving cohabitants could have greater inheritance rights.

💡 But here’s the important part…

These are currently proposals, not law.

So, if you’re living with your partner, don’t assume future changes mean you can forget about putting proper plans in place.

A professionally prepared Will allows you to decide what happens to your estate rather than relying on what the law may or may not provide.

Because whether the rules change or not, having your wishes clearly recorded can provide valuable peace of mind for you both. 💜

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow.

“But my husband or wife can just deal with everything for me… can’t they?”Not necessarily.This is one of the biggest mis...
01/09/2026

“But my husband or wife can just deal with everything for me… can’t they?”

Not necessarily.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Marriage does not automatically give your spouse the legal authority to manage your finances or make every decision on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.

That could affect things such as:
🏦 Managing bank accounts
💷 Dealing with investments and finances
🏡 Property-related decisions
📑 Managing bills and financial affairs

With the right LPA in place, you choose who you trust to act for you should you become unable to make decisions yourself.

Without one, your family may have to pursue a more complicated legal process to obtain authority via the Court of protection

💡 An LPA isn’t just something for later life. It’s something you put in place while you can.

Want to understand your options? We’re always happy to have a friendly, no-obligation conversation.

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

Could you sell your home if your partner lost mental capacity and didn’t have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place? 🏡It’s...
28/08/2026

Could you sell your home if your partner lost mental capacity and didn’t have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place? 🏡

It’s an important question, and a situation that families don’t think about until they’re facing this themselves.

Being married does not automatically give you authority to make every financial or property decision for your spouse.

If your partner loses mental capacity without a Property and Financial Affairs LPA in place, dealing with their finances or their interest in a jointly owned property can become considerably more complicated.

You may need to apply to the Court of Protection for the appropriate legal authority to sell your property, even if you own it jointly.

That can mean:
⏳ More time
💷 Additional expense
📄 More administration
😔 More pressure during an already difficult period

An LPA is about choosing someone you trust while you are able to make that choice yourself.

Don’t leave it until there’s a crisis.

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

26/08/2026

YES or NO… how much do you really know about Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney? 🤔

Some of the answers might surprise you!

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that Lasting Powers of Attorney are only something you need when you’re older.

The reality? An LPA is about being prepared for the unexpected, whatever stage of life you’re at.

💡 It allows people you trust to make important decisions on your behalf if there ever comes a time when you’re unable to make them yourself.

Watch our quick YES or NO challenge and see how many you get right!

And if the video has raised a question about your own planning, we’re always happy to have a friendly, no-obligation chat.

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415
🌐 brendabeveridge.co.uk

Helping you plan for the future with confidence. 💜

Your pension could soon become part of your Inheritance Tax planning. 💷From 6 April 2027, major changes are coming to th...
24/08/2026

Your pension could soon become part of your Inheritance Tax planning. 💷

From 6 April 2027, major changes are coming to the way pensions are treated for Inheritance Tax.

Currently, many unused pension funds sit outside your estate for IHT purposes.

Under the new rules, most unused personal and workplace pension funds will be included when calculating the value of your estate.

That means your pension could potentially:
❌ Push your estate over the Inheritance Tax threshold
❌ Increase the amount of IHT your estate may have to pay
❌ Change how you previously planned to pass wealth to your family

There are important exceptions. For example, pension death benefits passing to a spouse or civil partner will generally remain exempt from IHT, and the State Pension will not be included under these changes.

💡 So, should you panic? Absolutely not.

But if you have a substantial pension alongside property, savings or other assets, this is a very good reason to review your estate planning before the rules change.

Your Will, pensions, beneficiary nominations and wider estate planning should work together so that your wishes are clear and your family is properly considered.

Because when the rules change, sometimes your planning needs to change with them. 💜

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

Individual circumstances vary. Tax rules can change, so appropriate professional tax or financial advice may also be required.

A Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney are NOT the same thing. 💡It’s an easy mistake to make, they have two very differe...
21/08/2026

A Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney are NOT the same thing. 💡

It’s an easy mistake to make, they have two very different functions.

📜 A Will comes into effect after you pass away.

It sets out what should happen to your money, property and possessions, and who you want to inherit from your estate.

💜 A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is for decisions made during your lifetime.

It allows people you choose and trust to make certain decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make those decisions yourself.

That could include decisions relating to:
🏡 Property and finances
🏥 Health and care

So, do you need a Will or an LPA?
The answer is both.

They do different things, but together they can form an important part of planning ahead and protecting both you and the people you love.

Not sure what you currently have in place or what you might need?

We’re always happy to explain everything clearly, without the jargon.

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. 💜

“We’ll sort the LPA when we need it…”Unfortunately, by then it can be too late.We recently met with a client who wanted ...
19/08/2026

“We’ll sort the LPA when we need it…”

Unfortunately, by then it can be too late.

We recently met with a client who wanted to arrange Lasting Powers of Attorney for her husband, who was living with dementia.

Sadly, we weren’t able to put the LPAs in place for him.

💡 An LPA must be made while the person has the mental capacity to understand what they are doing and the decisions involved.

A diagnosis of dementia does not automatically mean someone lacks capacity, but if they can no longer understand the relevant decision, you cannot create an LPA on their behalf.

That can leave families facing a much more complicated and expensive situation when important decisions need to be made.

The message is simple: don’t wait until LPAs are needed, consider putting them in place now, before it’s too late.

Planning ahead can make an enormous difference for the people you love. 💜

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

17/08/2026

We come to you. 💜🏡

Planning your future is important, but we know that visiting an office isn’t always convenient or comfortable.

That’s why at Brenda Beveridge Wills & Trusts, we’re happy to come to you.

Whether you’re looking to put a Will in place, discuss a Trust or arrange a Lasting Power of Attorney, we can meet with you in the comfort of your own home.

No intimidating offices.
No unnecessary stress.
Just friendly, professional advice in a place where you feel comfortable.

Because planning for the future should fit around you.

🏡 Home visits available
💻 Online appointments also available
💜 Friendly, personal advice

Ready to have a chat?

📩 [email protected]
📞 07485 619415

💜 What does 'keeping it local' really mean?For us, it means investing in the community that has supported us over the ye...
14/08/2026

💜 What does 'keeping it local' really mean?

For us, it means investing in the community that has supported us over the years.

Choosing a local business isn't just about convenience. It's about helping local people, supporting local jobs, strengthening our high streets, and ensuring money stays within the local economy.

As a local estate planning specialist, we're proud to work with individuals and families across the North East, building lasting relationships based on trust, honesty and personal service.

We're also passionate about supporting local charities, community groups and events wherever we can, because we believe successful businesses have a responsibility to give something back.

When you choose to keep it local, you're not just supporting one business – you're helping your whole community to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support local businesses like ours. It really does make a difference. 💜

💜 Giving Back to Our Community 💜Following the recent Workplace Health & Wellbeing Roadshow at East Durham College, we're...
11/08/2026

💜 Giving Back to Our Community 💜

Following the recent Workplace Health & Wellbeing Roadshow at East Durham College, we're delighted to have passed on a £50 donation to Durham County Carers, thanks to the generosity of Durham Rock Choir, of which Brenda is an active member.

Durham County Carers provides invaluable support to unpaid carers across County Durham, helping those who dedicate so much of their time to looking after others.

It was a pleasure to be part of such a fantastic event, bringing together local organisations with a shared focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of our community.

A huge thank you to everyone involved, and to Durham Rock Choir for this generous donation.
Sometimes it's the small acts of kindness that make a big difference. 💜

Address

24 Vindomora Road
Ebchester
DH80PR

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+447485619415

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Brenda Beveridge Wills & Trusts Ltd. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category