In brief: Law Soc warns of house transfer dangers

The Law Society has issued guidelines to solicitors stressing the need for comprehensive legal advice for older people considering giving their homes to relatives or friends. Many older people seek to transfer property to avoid paying the cost of residential or nursing home care in the future. However, the society warns there are a number of potential pitfalls involved, particularly in relation to future liability for care costs and the possibility of losing the property through disagreements with recipients or divorce or bankruptcy proceedings suffered by new owners.