Wills and Probate – Are you in the know?

Like many areas of the law, Wills and probate can appear to the lay person to be a muddle of archaic language. At LCF Law we pride ourselves on cutting through the jargon and explaining everything to you in plain English but why not spend a fun five minutes taking our quiz to see how much of the jargon you already know?

For the following ten questions simply pick the correct answer from the three alternatives:

1. A person making a Will is called a:
(a) Testator
(b) Legator
(c) Willator

2. A person given the job of sorting out someone's affairs under their Will is called an Executor. The female equivalent of an Executor is:
(a) Executess
(b) Executine
(c) Executrix

3. A document by which small amendments can be made to a Will is a:
(a) Canticil
(b) Codicil
(c) Windowsill

4. Where a person does not leave a Will the document obtained from the Probate Registry to enable the estate to be dealt with is:
(a) Letters of Administration
(b) Letters of Association
(c) Letters of Abbreviation

5. The basic inheritance tax allowance ("Nil Rate Band") which can be deducted from a person's taxable estate (as at 10th July 2017) is:
(a) £325,000
(b) £350,000
(c) £445,000

6. A document under which beneficiaries of a Will can alter its terms after the person making the Will has died is:
(a) A Deed of Variation
(b) A Deed of Application
(c) A Deed of Estimation

7. The fee payable to the Probate Registry on an application for a Grant of Probate (as at 10th July 2017) is:
(a) £15
(b) £155
(c) £1,500

8. The rate of inheritance tax payable on the taxable part of an estate is:
(a) 25%
(b) 40%
(c) 50%

9. The time limit for claims against an estate by dependents who have not been provided for under the terms of the Will under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 is:
(a) 2 months
(b) 6 months
(c) 2 years

10. Which of the following is not a separate legal jurisdiction:
(a) Scotland
(b) Wales
(c) Northern Ireland

Answers

1.(a), 2.(c), 3.(b), 4.(a), 5.(a), 6.(a), 7.(b), 8.(b), 9.(b), 10.(b)

This article was written by Mark Jones. Mark is an Partner in our Personal Law Department and is based in Harrogate.

Mark specialises in the creation and administration of trusts, tax planning and wills as well as probate work, particularly those where the family has fallen out and contentious issues have arisen.

Further advice please contact Mark Jones on 01423 502211 or ku.oc1715130056.fcl@1715130056senoj1715130056.kram1715130056