Does no claim actually mean no claim? Chekov v Fryer suggests not!
The recent case of Melita Jackson; where the court ordered her a payment from her late mother’s estate, despite that she had been expressly disinherited; demonstrates an individual’s testamentary freedom can be limited by the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The subsequent decision in Chekov v Fryer demonstrates that claims can also […]
Client protection discussion paper: still time to comment
There is still time to comment on the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s discussion paper dealing with client financial protection issues. Published in July, the paper deals with professional indemnity insurance, compensation arrangements and how they work together to strike the right balance between reducing unnecessary regulation and protecting clients’ financial interests. It aims to kick-start informed […]
Kings Court Trust helps to develop Government framework for new probate apprenticeship
Kings Court Trust, one of the UK’s leading estate administration specialists, has played a key role in the creation of a new probate apprenticeship that aims to provide increased career opportunities for young people within the legal services sector. As part of the Government’s aim to develop additional apprenticeship opportunities, Andrea Pierce, Legal Services Director […]
The probate wait (Will they, or won’t they?)
This week’s tweet highlights the delays that are being caused with applications to the Probate Register when issuing grants of probate. This means the process is extended even further for bereaved families. What needs to be done to alleviate this issue – can anything be done? Will the Government ever put investment into later life […]
DUAL Asset Underwriting appoints Mark Dennis to lead new division
DUAL Asset Underwriting, the specialist asset protection division of The DUAL Group, is delighted to announce the appointment of industry veteran Mark Dennis, who will be joining this month (August 2015), to lead its new DUAL Residential Risks division, based in Norwich. Mark has led the growth of the UK legal indemnities market since the […]
Your will – your choice
The UK has recently opted out of EU succession rules — how will this impact your clients with assets abroad? The 17th of August this year marked a significant change in succession rules for those with assets in Europe. The European Succession Regulations, referred to as Brussells IV, state that a person’s assets will be […]
New Inheritance Tax rules discriminate against the childless say North East lawyers
Darlington law firm, Latimer Hinks, have sent an open letter to the Chancellor, George Osborne stating the changes to the Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules discriminate against the childless. Currently, where an estate is worth more than £325,000, it is subject to inheritance tax; this means 40% of the value of the assets above the £325,000 […]
Can you afford to die?
As will writers, probate practitioners and legal professionals, you are well used to dealing with the shock and grief that bereavement can bring. You know too that it is often a difficult time to broach the needful and urgent issues of probate and inheritance. So you probably also understand how difficult it can be for […]
Over 55s reject pension advice
A recent survey by comparison website money.co.uk 669 people over the age of 55 were asked if they would, or did they, pay for financial advice before making a withdrawal of their pension. Only 19% answered yes, whereas 32% did not know and 50% answered that they would not pay for advice. Over 55s who […]
HSBC letter causes great concern for will writing customers
The sale of the HSBC will writing service that has subsequently left many customers confused has been responded to by an open letter. This response to a letter the bank issued in July to those who made a will with them and appointed HSBC as executor, exposes a number of faults in the explanation of […]
10% of new legal enquiries `missed’
Latest data released by telephone answering specialist Moneypenny, has revealed the staggering number of new enquiries `missed’ by law firms so far in 2015 — 10.4% of the overall total number of calls handled by the company’s legal receptionists. The figures are based on calls answered by Moneypenny on behalf of firms large and small […]
Karen’s charity cycle venture
Karen Babington of Today’s Wills & Probate is dipping a toe in the Irish Sea before venturing on a coast to coast cycle ride across the north of England. The fundraiser challenge that’s been set is to cycle 140 miles from Whitehaven to Tynemouth in order to raise money for Rainbows Hospice for Children and […]
The country life (Will they, or won’t they?)
What are your thoughts on farmland succession – is it such a minefield or do you have effective ways to overcome common issues? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comment section below. Is an amicable #farmland succession impossible? Julie Butler doesn’t think so: http://t.co/wtiZ4Qzuk8 @Butler_and_Co #legalnews – privateclientadviser (@pca_legal) August […]
Crystal-clear website gains recognition for probate genealogists Anglia Research
The legal services industry has something of a reputation for confusing and bemusing clients with long, tortuous sentences and jargon. However, one specialist genealogical and people-tracing firm, which works closely with the legal sector, is bucking the trend. The Plain English Campaign has recognised probate genealogists Anglia Research under its Internet Crystal Mark scheme, for […]
Will writing services support charity fundraiser
Local solicitors and the York Teaching Hospital Charity (YTHC) are joining together in October for a charity fundraiser, offering will writing services and advice to local people. The campaign hopes to encourage more local people to write their will, while promoting the services of the local solicitors involved. The campaign has been arranged to run […]
From the bottom to the top!
A leading Essex law practice has recently announced the addition of a new partner to their firm. The appointment of solicitor, Caroline Dowding as partner at Birkett Long is even more intriguing as she is a long-standing member of the firm, having started there 15 years ago as a Legal Executive. Caroline, who heads up […]
Will writers jailed for incorrect advice regarding asset protection trusts
In June of this year, eight people were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court due to a failure to advise clients correctly on the use of, so called, asset protection trusts. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has made the headlines. Will writers need to be aware of the implications of mis-selling and how […]
Does the probate research industry need a watchdog?
If this question had been asked 10 years ago the short answer would have been no. However in recent years there has been an abundance of changes within the probate research industry to suggest there is now a definite need for some form of control. On 6th April 2009, BBC 2 televised the first episode […]
Why LPA uptake should be higher for drawdown clients
Current data shows that the correlation between drawdown clients and LPAs could be stronger. Recent changes to pension access demonstrate the importance of future planning for those managing their finances. As previously reported by Today’s Wills & Probate, in April this year, greater pension freedoms became available for those age 55 and over. However, there […]
Stocks & Shares Update For Estate Practitioners: ‘Ketchup and Cheese’
6th July 2015 saw the launch on the stock exchange of a merger of two US giants of the savoury foods world: Heinz and Kraft Foods Group, Inc now trade on the NASDAQ as Kraft Heinz Company. Kraft Foods Group Inc stock is no longer traded Instead, shareholders receive an identical number of shares in […]
