Angela Brown
SAS Daniels LLP Solicitors HOW can I stop my ex-wife using my name and those of my son and daughter as references for loans? IF you are being asked to guarantee loans you can obviously refuse to sign the form. But if, as seems more likely, she is simply using your address when signing credit agreements you should make sure the council’s electoral roll is altered so that she is no longer listed as living at your house: to do this, contact the electoral registration officer. The credit reference agencies rely on this information and pass it on to shops which are offering credit. You can also write to the agencies direct. Incidentally, if you are divorced you cannot be held responsible for your ex-wife’s debts. She may be committing an offence if she is providing false information in order to obtain credit. MY wife and I currently have identical wills leaving everything to each other and then to our daughter. However we have just become grandparents so we would like to make some provision for any further grandchildren. We don’t particularly want to leave monies in trust: what is the best and most tax-effective way of doing this? IF your jointly owned assets, including your house, are worth more than £650,000 (twice the current ‘nil-rate band’ for an individual) you should see a solicitor or financial adviser and do some financial planning with a view to avoiding inheritance tax. You may be able to make tax savings while you are alive by making prudent gifts now. It’s comparatively simple to make provision for future grandchildren in a will by leaving a percentage of your assets ‘in equal proportion to my grandchildren’ or a similar phrase.
HOME AND DRY
THE cellar of our house is ankle deep in water. The water company has acknowledged it is responsible but nothing has been done about it in six months, despite numerous phone calls. The damp is affecting the woodwork and the concrete floor feels spongy to walk on. IF you have buildings insurance you should contact your insurance provider and explain the situation. The insurance firm’s loss adjusters will be anxious to stop further damage and may have more success with the water company. They will certainly be eager to get the water company to pay for the damage. If you give the water company reasonable notice you could have the work done yourself and present them with the bill, but this may involve considerable outlay on your part, and if the flooding is caused by a leak, the water company will have to ensure that this has been repaired or your house could suffer damage in future. WHAT is a ‘power of attorney’? Is it advisable to grant this to your next of kin so that your estate and debts can be cleared up when you die? YOU need to give someone power of attorney when, for instance, you’re out of the country and require someone to act on your behalf, perhaps to sign cheques or make a contract. There’s also ‘lasting power of attorney’ whereby you can authorise someone else to act for you if you become mentally incapable of handling your own affairs. However a power of attorney terminates on the donor’s death. What you are actually looking for is an executor: someone you name in your will to carry out your wishes. The main job of your executor will be to distribute your estate to your beneficiaries.
Call SAS Daniels LLP Solicitors on 0161 475 7676 or 01625 442 100. Visit www.sasdaniels. co.uk If you have any legal questions, write to Weekly Law and You, MEN Media, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton OL9 8EF, or email mail@lawQs.co.uk