Rhiwbina Living Issue 54 │ Spring 2022

Introducing Our New
Associate Solicitor:
Hannah Thomas
We are pleased to announce
the appointment of our
new Associate Solicitor, Hannah
Thomas. During her first week
at Harding Evans, we spoke
to Hannah about her career,
her favourite elements of their her estate.
role, and why she chose to join
Harding Evans.
Can you tell us a bit about
yourself?
My career in law began in 2013
when I started my training contract
at Thomas Simon Solicitors,
qualifying two years later. On
qualifying in 2015, I remained at
the firm, which is now called Ince,
working my way through the ranks
until I left to join Harding Evans.
I have joined the firm as an
properly.
Associate Solicitor within the Wills &
Probate department, helping clients
to put their affairs in order.
Is there a particular area
of Wills & Probate law that
you specialise in?
I can assist clients and deal with
all issues relating to Wills, LPAs,
Probate (taxable and non-taxable),
and Court of Protection applications.
If you would like assistance with preparing
What is your favourite
> your hardingevans.com
Will, please call our
element of your role?
experienced What and advice friendly would team you to find out
>
how
hello@hevans.com
we can help you.
give to people who have
The most enjoyable element of the Call not us on got 02922 a Will 676818 / Lasting
role is being able to get to know Email my us Power at info@hevans.com
of Attorney place?
clients and to make a difference to
Sponsored feature
With recent events making many of us anxious and
uncertain about the future, lawyers have seen a sharp
increase in the number of people wanting to put their
affairs in order over the last few months.
Laura Selby, Head of Wills & Probate at Harding Evans
Solicitors, explains why it is so important to plan for the future
their lives. to I aim avoid to any hopefully unnecessary make complications It is really further important down to the have line. a
a sensitive and emotional process properly drafted and up to date
slightly less distressing.
Will, ensuring your estate is dealt
with in accordance with your latest
Can you tell us why you wishes. It will provide peace of mind
were you attracted to the knowing that the ownership of your
personal and business assets are
role at Harding Evans?
protected. Your Will can include
important decisions such as who
Harding Evans has a very good
should look after your children and
reputation in Newport, an area
their inheritance in the event of your
where I previously lived. At my
death.
previous firm, I was based in a small
office in Rhiwbina and I enjoyed As we can
Without
see from the
a Will,
recent
your
case
estate
of Clitheroe
will
v
Bond [2020] be distributed EWHC 1185 (Ch), according not only is to it the
working in such an environment, a
important intestacy to ensure rules the Will which is validly do executed, not provide but
similar location and environment to
it is also for important cohabitees to prove or you step-relationships.
have full mental
that of Harding Evans’s Cardiff office. capacity. In terms of a Lasting Power of
I contacted Harding Evans when I
Attorney, again this is something
was looking for a new role and was In this case, the daughter of the deceased
of paramount importance.
particularly interested in working succeeded in in establishing that two Wills made by
Having an LPA (Lasting Power of
the Whitchurch office as I was used her late mother in 2010 and 2013 were both invalid.
Attorney) allows you to appoint
to working in the area.
The Court found that, following the death of her
other daughter, the people the mother you had trust been the suffering most to from
Furthermore, I was impressed by
a complex make grief disorder important that decisions impaired her on capacity your
the firm’s development plans that
to make behalf. a Will. While Having she had an cognitive LPA can function help and to
were comprehensively explained was intellectually
limit suffering
sound, it
for
was
loved
found that
ones
she
if
had
you
during the interview process. experienced “insane delusions” that “poisoned her
become mentally incapacitated
mind” against the daughter she excluded from her
Will, causing
and
her
can
to
avoid
make allegations
them having
for which
to
there
Are you living locally?
was no rational make basis. an application In circumstances to the where Court there
could be of any protection doubt as to a to person’s get access mental to capacity, your
I do live locally to the Whitchurch we recommend assets obtaining and finances a medical which report. can be a
office. I know the area well as I have very lengthy and expensive process.
worked in the area prior to my role Most commonly, It is worth when pointing clients show out some that form without of
at Harding Evans.
memory loss, possibly as a result of dementia, this
an LPA, decisions regarding your
makes us consider their capacity and we will give the
care will be left in the hands of
most appropriate advice. The case of Clitheroe v
What do you enjoy doing strangers.
Although it is not a pleasant thing to think about, it
is important to ensure you have a properly
prepared Will in place. Having a professionally
drafted Will in place provides peace of mind that
your estate should be dealt with in accordance with
your wishes and is likely to make the process far
easier for those you leave behind when you die.
Yet, there are reports that surprisingly around
60 per cent of the adult UK population do not
have a Will, which effectively means they will be
allowing ancient laws to determine who receives
Making a Will is often not the long, complicated and
expensive process that people often imagine it to
be. Many people have put it off during lockdown,
thinking it would not be possible while social
distancing. At Harding Evans, in accordance with
Government guidelines, we have been operating
throughout lockdown. Our offices are now open to
the public with measures in place to reduce the risk
of spreading the virus.
If you are currently unable to leave your property,
we also offer telephone appointments, video calls
and witnessing of Wills, even via your front window
if required! There are strict rules regarding the
witnessing of Wills to ensure they are executed
Unfortunately, challenges to Wills appear to be on
the rise, so it is more important than ever to obtain
legal advice when preparing your Will, to avoid
lengthy and costly disputes after your death.
when you’re not in work?
When I’m not at work, most of my
time is taken up being a Mum to
my two wonderful children. My
daughter is called Lila and is five
years old, and my son Jude is three.
Bond is a firm reminder that other health conditions
may exist which may not give rise to memory loss
but could still mean that they may be lacking
capacity. It is recommended to keep records of the
will instructions taken; these records may also help
to protect your estate in the event of a challenge.
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