Storrington Neighbourhood Wardens News

Previous and future events and Community Link

August free fun day Supporting the community At the end of August we held a free fun day at As the year goes on and the cost of living rise the leisure centre and it was really good to see starts to bite, be assured that if you need help or all the families and young people that went advice you can talk to us. We will signpost you to along. The climbing wall was the most popular a confidential agency that will be able to help. attraction and there were queues for most of the We are hoping to start our Community Link day. We would like to thank all the agencies for checks again and will be coming round to check their support, the leisure centre, HDC roadshow Link Alarms and smoke detectors. If you know a and everyone who helped to make the day a neighbour that needs a welfare check, give us a success. We are already starting to plan next call, or chat with us when we‘re in the village. year’s and are actively looking for sponsors, so Chris: 07795 046743 / Alison 07789 943201 keep the end of August 2023 free. storrington-sullingtonwardens@horsham.gov.uk Dog behaviourist event We held another dog behaviourist event at Sullington Warren in September. Again, a big thanks to Bone Canis, Gatley’s Pet Stores, the National Trust, The Dog Stylist, Arun Veterinary Group, Sussex Police, Pets at Home, the Kennel Club and Steyning Camera Club. The event was to make people aware of their responsibilities and give advice on issues they might have with their dog. We’re hoping to repeat the event in spring 2023. Alison and Chris

By Will Writer Emma Wells MIPW

As a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Will writers who also sits on the council I thought that it would be appropriate to elaborate on the recent statement on pre-paid probate plans and why the plans are not supported by the professional body. Pre-paid probate plans are sold under the guise of protecting your estate from rising probate costs in the future, however, the plans just appear to be ‘plucking numbers’. In real terms, the cost of setting up a pre-paid probate plan (I’ve seen figures for between £2,500 and £7,500) far exceeds the actual current cost of obtaining a grant of probate and administering the estate and any realistic potential rise. You may remember that the attempt at increasing probate fees based on the size of the deceased estate was shot down in flames back in 2019. I can’t see an attempt at a price hike coming anytime soon and certainly not one of any real significance. The potential savings by using a pre-paid probate plan are often wildly exaggerated by the plan providers when compared to actual cost of the average probate administration fee. When asked by our clients about probate at the Will drafting stage, we highlight to them that if they have chosen a competent lay person as executor, outside of the probate application fee the costs involved in settling an estate should be minimal. The STEP provisions allow lay executors to get help if needed; this means they are able to shop around and obtain fixed fee quotes and avoid a time costs quote. Whilst there absolutely is value in using a professional for probate administration, the costs incurred by the estate should not be excessive if using a professional who knows how to work efficiently, and these costs should be transparent in what they cover. Advising the public to spend thousands on an unregulated barely tested product, cannot be considered best practice. Whilst the funds are apparently ‘ring fenced’, due to the unregulated position the Financial Services Compensation Scheme provides you with no protection, should anything go wrong. Emma.cohen@nsure.co.uk 01903 821010