Murray Beith Murray is a leading Scottish private client law firm.
For over 170 years we have specialised in meeting the legal, financial and administrative needs of individuals and families, family trusts, charities and private companies.
Giving a gift is a common occurrence that most of us carry out several times a year, such as giving birthday and Christmas presents to friends or family members. In the vast majority of cases these gifts will be given without any thought to possibility legalities and will be received with gratitude. However, there are some situations where the giving of a gift, particularly a large sum of money, can result in a dispute between the donor and receiver.
Andrew Paterson, a Partner with Murray Beith Murray, writes in today’s Scotsman (11 June 2018) about the flaws of self-made wills:
This blog follows on from my recent article in The Scotsman detailing the standard procedures in Scotland for changing your name, most commonly by way of Statutory Declaration. It provides an overview of ‘alternative’ yet equally important methods of changing your name, focusing on the historic role of the Court of the Lord Lyon in Scotland, as well as the English equivalent of the College of Arms.
As family businesses are such an important part of the overall economic health of Scotland it is only right and proper that we, as professional advisers, should ask our clients what more we can do to help them illuminate and solve their complex needs. Part of the answer lies in redefining the way that different professional disciplines can meaningfully collaborate, becoming a resource for change by creating a systemic approach to advising family business clients.
When someone dies it is the responsibility of their executor to wind up their estate and distribute their assets in accordance with the deceased’s will (or the laws of intestacy if there is no Will).
