Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 the COP may direct that an LPA should not be registered if one of the grounds for objecting to registration applies.

The value of our online lives is becoming immeasurable, yet not many people are recording or protecting their digital assets just like their physical ones.

It is safe to say that the current tax regime in this country is far from straightforward. We have Income Tax, to raise funds from employment earnings and savings income, Capital Gains Tax, to tax the increase in value of certain assets and Inheritance Tax, for transfers of wealth after death. And this is without the other numerous taxes involved in our lives.

During Lockdown we have seen various changes in the law regarding how Wills can be finalised during the pandemic, including the use of remote witnesses. However, what has been less well publicised are whether there are any equivalent rules for the remote signing of Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPAs).

You may not be aware that you do not have to pay Capital Gains Tax when selling your home, but the detail of the rules are a little more complex than this though.

A recent Freedom of Information request, published by The Telegraph has shown the confusion over complex Inheritance Tax provisions. The number of estates being investigated by the Revenue is at a four-year high, with numerous families having to suffer scrutiny.

It is only in the early stages, but the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), together with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), has been seeking input from practitioners and other interested bodies as part of a new initiative to modernise the process of making a lasting power of attorney (LPA) in England and Wales.

As the general public isolate under the current government guidelines many are benefiting from connective benefits of modern technology. We know through experience that many elderly and vulnerable people prefer to deal with banking in person rather than online or over the ‘phone and the requirement to self-isolate has brought a stop to your ability to deal with your finances.

The probate service is under pressure due to the number of enquiries checking on the progress of cases and asking general questions. They had been in the middle of a restructuring when the pandemic hit, potentially adding to the current pressure on them.

In all cases, where a Deputy no longer wishes to act, the Court of Protection will consider what is in the persons best interests before making a decision as to whether the Deputy may step down from their role.

The Office for National Statistics have issued their latest analysis of the pandemic which states that the number of deaths involving COVID-19 registered in England and Wales in the week ending 24 July 2020 was 217. This is 2.4% of all deaths in that week, with a total of 8,891 deaths having been registered.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has launched a digital ‘Use a Lasting Power of Attorney’ tool to help make attorneyship administration simpler and safer for those involved.