High profile cases highlight national wills issue
Only Fools and Horses star, Roger Lloyd-Pack, died intestate leaving an estate worth £1.4 million, highlighting the problems that can arise from not creating a will. The issue of not creating a valid will is a common occurrence within the wills and probate industry, and one that has previously been reported by Today’s Wills and […]
The Society of Will Writers amend Code of Practice
The new amendments that have been made to the Society of Will Writers (SWW) Code of Practice, certainly has the intentions of solidifying the current rules and guidance for Society members. Despite will writing being widely criticized for being an unreserved activity, bodies such as the SWW aim to protect consumers as well as the […]
Law firms team up with charities to increase legacies in wills
Many charities are now being supported by law firms in campaigns and events to encourage clients to remember charities in their will. One successful case of such partnerships has arisen in Lincolnshire, where hundreds of thousands of pounds have been gifted to charity from wills. Ringrose Law has been supporting Cancer Research UK for the […]
Working up an appetite (Will they, or won’t they?)
It seems dining and delving work well together when it comes to probate, according to this week’s tweet. In addition, the font of probate records has changed over time – is this something you had noticed? Could the industry develop a more effective way of searching for records – is there a way to achieve […]
SRA Compensation Fund pays out over £23 million
The SRA Compensation Fund paid out over £23,800 million in the year to 31st October 2014, latest figures reported to the SRA Board meeting reveal. Grants are primarily paid from the Fund to compensate those who have lost out financially as a result of money not being accounted for, or in some cases misappropriated, by […]
Thousands of people’s later life plans put in jeopardy
Two thirds of people reaching retirement age next year will receive less than the full flat rate pension, reveals a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Sunday Times. Whilst many people approaching retirement are speculating on receiving a weekly payment of £148, it is expected that only 37% will actually benefit from this […]
Raft of changes to cut red tape and open up the profession
A raft of changes that will further cut red tape and provide new ways of becoming a solicitor has been approved by the SRA Board. The changes focus on eight separate areas of the Handbook. They will reduce duplication in administration for many, and improve regulation. The proposals approved by the SRA Board were: Simplify […]
Complicated family circumstances necessitate complex will writing
It no longer seems enough for a client to simply exclude a family member, in particular a young or adult child, from their will. Concerns have been raised that a parent must be able to be proved justified and reasonable in their decision to disinherit a child, otherwise it may be overruled. The law of […]
Apprenticeship Standards in Conveyancing and Probate ready to roll
New apprenticeship standards in conveyancing and probate published following approval by the Department for Business, Industry and Skills Developed by practitioners with the support of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers Assessment bodies going through approval process so that apprenticeships can begin Innovative apprenticeship standards creating accessible new pathways to recognition for legal professionals have been […]
How to make your will writing business saleable
Many will writing businesses are classed as lifestyle businesses – that means they support the owner and when he or she decides to retire the business has little or no value. Most business owners would like to have a business that is saleable and so this short article looks at some of the aspects of […]
Apprenticeship standards will benefit the legal profession, says the SRA
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) says the Apprenticeship Standards in law, confirmed as ready for delivery this week by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), will drive up quality and improve access to the legal profession. The Apprenticeship Standards to qualify as solicitors, paralegals, or chartered legal executives are part of a package of […]
Recent court decision demonstrates difficulties of lifetime gifts
In 2014, Today’s Wills and Probate published an article setting out guidance for solicitors when clients choose to leave a particular gift to their solicitor or someone affiliated to either the solicitor personally or the business generally. The recent case of Malcolm Scott v HMRC (2015) has provided new insight into the area gifting in wills. […]
See you there!
The team from Today’s Wills & Probate are delighted to be attending the upcoming Society of Will Writers (SWW) Conference this October. We will be getting the inside scoop and letting you know what happens throughout the two-day event. Co-owner and PR & Advertising Manager, Karen Babington will be at the event across the two […]
Online, on the line (Will they, or won't they?)
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, this week’s tweet raises the issue of online and digital assets. Your clients may not consider the value of certain accounts, photographs, messages and other forms of media. Such technological assets often form a large part of someone’s memories and forms a record of their lives. Will […]
Single person estates
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) latest data showed that 51% of people in England and Wales are single — half the population.* In reality, as we know in will writing circles, the definition of “single” is people who are not married. Therefore this demographic will include cohabiting couples, single parents, those divorced or widowed […]
Interview with former and new Chairman of Will Aid
Will Aid 2015 takes place in November and organisers are currently looking for solicitors to get involved. Former chairman Chris Millward — now Chief Executive at the ILM — told Today’s Wills & Probate why it’s such an important event and is still going strong 27 years after its inception and new chairman James Huitson […]
