Author: Besi

A local legal consultant Nick Betteridge and his gay son Adam have established an LGBT-friendly Will and Lasting Power Of Attorney service called Sussex Wills And Attorneys.

Nick, a recently retired legal consultant, has over 45 years experience in the preparation of and advising on Wills and Lasting Powers Of Attorneys. After doing some research with his son Adam, they realised that there were not many LGBT-friendly and cost-effective options in the area for this kind of service.

Adam Betteridge, said: “With equal rights for same sex marriage becoming law as of March 29 here in the UK, its a useful reminder to everyone (whether single, civil partnered or married) of the crucial benefits of getting organised. We’ve come across so many cases where people have overlooked the importance of having an up-to-date Will until it’s too late. I’m sure everyone has heard the horror stories, and so we’ve decided it was the right time to set up an affordable LGBT friendly service to help people protect both themselves and their loved ones.”

Nick Betteridge added: “It is a good idea to review your Will whenever key events in your life occur, such as civil partnership, marriage or divorce, or an expanding family, or even a new business venture. Without an up-to-date Will in place, the rules of intestacy would apply and you would have no choice in who the beneficiaries of your belongings would be. This can cause upset and unnecessary friction at an emotional time for your loved ones. A Lasting Power of Attorney can also help should you be at risk of becoming unable to make decisions for yourself and wish to appoint someone close to you to safe-guard your well being by making important decisions for you.

“As this is a limited cost-effective service Sussex Wills And Attorneys highly recommend you seek independent tax and accounting advice should you require it when considering your affairs.”

Colin Rimmer, a recent client of Nick and Adam’s, said: “As a gay man I would highly recommend Sussex Wills and Attorneys. All it took was a phone call, an email and a couple of witnesses. All done for a total fee of only £100. Very easy. Much clearer than my last one which Nick reviewed and revised. Go ahead people!”

Based in East Sussex, the Sussex Wills team offer a telephone/email based service to everyone in any location, and in addition can travel to your home or office if you are located in the Sussex area or sometimes even further afield such as in London. They can also help you set up a Lasting Power of Attorney relating to your property and financial affairs should you become incapable physically or mentally of making your own decisions.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

To like their page on Facebook, CLICK HERE:  

History was made yesterday as the first marriage of a same-sex couple in a UK church took place at Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Bournemouth.

While many same-sex couples have married since the law first allowed them to do so on March 29 this was the first ceremony to be conducted in a religious building.

The couple, Jan Tipper and Barb Burden who are long time members of the church were legally married in the church’s building on Hannington Road in the Bournemouth suburb of Pokesdown. The building which has long been registered for heterosexual marriages was registered for same-sex marriages when the recent changes in the law took effect at the end of March. The priest and pastor, Reverend Dwayne Morgan, officiated at the ceremony as an authorised person by the General Register Office.

The Rev Morgan, said: “We have been offering wedding services for same-sex couples for many years in our church because we believe that God blesses the love of two people no matter what their gender.”

“But to finally have the government fully recognise their love by giving them complete legal status as a married couple is a blessing for everyone. We are extremely pleased that the government didn’t just listen to those churches that wanted to completely block same-sex couples from the right to have their marriage consecrated in their place of worship, but heard the voices of the minority of people of faith who believe that God doesn’t discriminate. We are grateful to all those who have struggled for the rights of gay people for so many years that has led us to this historic day.”

Barb added: “We were surprised when Rev Morgan told us we’d be the first in a church. As it’s been approved since March 29, we assumed there had already been others who had taken advantage.”

“Unfortunately it shows the lack of effective ministry by most churches to gay people in so many ways.”

Jan concluded: “We’re lucky that we found MCC 15 years ago.” 

“It’s been an important part of our lives and our relationship. To get married in our church was very significant to us. Even though we’ve been together for almost 19 years it didn’t feel right for us to have just a blessing or even a Civil Partnership. We’ve hoped for years for the opportunity to legally marry and once it became possible we knew it was time for us to tie the knot and to do it before God in our church with our friends and family.”

MCC was established in Bournemouth in 1979 and is associated with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches which has churches in over 40 countries. The first MCC in the United Kingdom was founded in London in 1973 and there are now 11 MCCs in the UK.

Rev Morgan, said: “We have been blessing gay couples for over three decades since our beginnings in the 1970s so we’re glad the government has finally caught up with us.”

“Through years of homophobia and oppressive laws against gay people, MCC has taken pride in celebrating diversity and striving to include everyone. We do our best to get the word out that while many of Jesus’ followers discriminate, Jesus himself does not. It’s a message that we first took to the gay community but now we are finding many who come along as they are looking for a church that preaches an inclusive message. And not only will we fully include you in our worship, but we’ll marry you too!”

If you wish to have your marriage solemnised in a church, CLICK HERE: 

Or telephone 01202 430888.