Kelly Duke - Legal Executive

Areas of Specialism

General private client work, powers of attorney (including enduring, general, and lasting), affairs of the older and vulnerable person, Court of Protection matters, Will drafting, administration of lifetime, charitable, personal injury and will trusts.

Career

Kelly Duke is a Legal Executive within the Private Client Department and has over ten years experience in dealing with all aspects of private client work. 

Kelly uses her in depth knowledge of trust administration to deal with all aspects of the daily management of lifetime, charitable, personal injury and will trusts. She is involved at all levels from dealing with daily correspondence, to preparing accounts and returns, advising clients in connection with tax efficient management and changes to the terms of the trust and drafting all required documents. Kelly advises in relation to all taxation issues arising from trust administration.  She deals with relevant property regime, immediate post death interest, settlor interested, charitable and personal injury trusts.  Kelly's experience includes trust assets ranging from cash to investments, residential property, rental property and farming interests.  She is involved with the trustees and beneficiaries from the day the trust is created to the day it is closed and distributed.

Kelly also specialises in advising the elderly and vulnerable.  She can advise on all powers of attorney,  capacity related issues and Court of Protection applications.  She can discuss will drafting to protect the elderly and vulnerable.  Kelly regularly deals with the daily administration of the personal affairs of the elderly and vulnerable which encompasses advice on benefits, nursing home and domiciliary charges and continuing care.  She has a very practical approach to this field and can regularly be found shopping in local stores for her clients.

Kelly has a particular interest in dementia related illnesses and head injuries. She advises families on the practical things that can be done to mitigate the financial and legal problems caused by dementia and works closely with associated charitable and support organisations in this field. She is a regular attendee at Kent Acquired Brain Injury Forum meetings where she is kept abreast of developments in this field.  Kelly regularly advises on the creation of personal injury trusts to protect payments of damages and deals with the management of damages for those with long term conditions.

Kelly is a member of the Care Sector.  She advises nursing and residential homes on issues relating to residents’ capacity, the use of powers of attorney and Court of Protection issues.  Her practical and easy to understand explanations provide a framework of knowledge for the whole home that are relevant on a day to day basis.

Memberships

Member of Solicitors for the Elderly.
Student member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners [STEP].