Regulators Meeting Offers Mixed Feelings Towards December’s Price Transparency Deadline
Despite the December deadline of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recommendations into price transparency rapidly approaching, many regulators are still uncertain as to how they will implement the changes. The SRA came to the Remedies Programme Implementation Group buoyant with their unpublished findings that small businesses are less price sensitive than was initially reported. […]
DIY Wills Causing Family Disputes
A recent report, carried out by Which?Legal, has found that DIY Wills are damaging to families. At a time when people making Wills is at a particular low point, the research has found that more people than ever are making DIY Wills. Astonishingly, 40% of the respondents, that had made a Will, confessed to using […]
The shortlist for British Wills and Probate Awards is announced!
British Wills and Probate are pleased to announce the shortlist for the awards ceremony to be hosted on 18th October 2018, sponsored by Arken.legal The shortlist is as follows: Category Shortlist Best use of Marketing and Social Media Sponsored by Solve Legal Marketing Wills & Probate Services (Estate Planning) Ltd Stephensons Solicitors LLP Thy Will […]
Chartered Legal Executives Petition Government
A recent petition to parliament has been made asking for Chartered Legal Executives to be given the right to certify General and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). The line of distinction separating Solicitors from Chartered Legal Executive lawyers has become blurred for some time. After all, Chartered Legal Executives can apply for judicial positions with […]
New Legal television show set to air pilot
Have you ever started talking through the latest Lasting Power of Attorney reforms with a client, only to see their faces glaze over in panicked confusion? Well, all of this could be set to change with the imminent release of a new TV chat show aimed at the legal sector. The programme, LawCatz, aims to […]
Las Vegas Gunman’s mysterious estate worth a fortune
The evil notorious Las Vegas gunman, Stephen Paddock, had an enigmatic fortune worth more than $1.3 million held in various separate bank accounts at the time of his shooting spree in 2017. Paddock, 64, launched the deadliest massacre in US history on 1st October last year, killing 58 and injuring an additional 800 innocent victims […]
Court of protection judge orders costs following unfair treatment of patient
The Court of Protection is an unusual place for a judge to make a costs order, but following a catalogue of perceived oversights, the judge insisted that certain events had been handled so poorly, conducted with such oversight and incompetence, that the Court needed to show its disapproval. The case, London Borough of Lambeth v […]
More than half of british adults are following in Aretha’s footsteps and have no will, survey reveals
More than half of British adults are following in the footsteps of the late music legends Aretha Franklin and Prince in having made no will, a new survey has revealed. The study, carried out by Will Aid, the charity will-writing campaign that takes place every November, found that 53% of adults have not prepared this […]
Law firms are being recruited to join free will writing service
Jonathan Brewer, a former commercial solicitor, is attempting to launch a new free online Will-writing business. Additionally, he is recruiting law firms and charities with the vision of becoming the largest “Will-writing brand in the UK.” His business, Bequeathed, looks to blend legal advice with free online Wills. He believes that people should pay for […]
The October event not to be missed
Book now to avoid disappointment. The Society of Will Writers annual Estate Planning conference is getting closer and spaces are filling up. For the last three years we’ve seen record numbers at the event, all drawn in by expert speakers, key topics and great exhibitors. This year promises to be no different. The event will […]
Heartless carer steals over £300k from 102-year-old Woman
A callous carer has been jailed for nine years for stealing more than £300,000 from a helpless 102-year-old woman and ordered to pay back the cash. Edith Negus had meticulously looked after her money her entire life but her carer, Julie Sayles, 60, used her relationship to steal from her. Sayles conned Negus after setting […]
Countrywide Group Talks: Inheritance Disputes
1. The beginning: What are Inheritance Disputes? There are many different types of claims which may come about as a result of a Will, Inheritance or lack of provision. Claims by unmarried cohabitees where there is no Will. Claims for reasonable financial provision by family or dependants. Rectification of errors in Wills. Disputes with, or […]
Will writers often come under fire from regulated providers – how can you demonstrate your knowledge and experience?
Specialists in the Wills and Probate sector face the difficult task of providing a diverse range of services in a bespoke way to suit customer needs. When policies and reforms are constantly shifting, it is more important than ever to remain up to date on the topical issues and legal implications within the sector. Being […]
Introducing the latest edition of Entitlement from Title Research
The summer-autumn edition of Entitlement, Title Research’s quarterly news digest, is now available for legal professionals to download completely free of charge. Entitlement is a digital magazine produced by the genealogy and asset repatriation specialists, Title Research. It is released every quarter and features informative and insightful articles, all written by experts in the legal industry. […]
Are you Embracing digital technology to help grow your business?
Astonishingly, a recent poll, conducted by Arken.Legal, found that 85% of respondents had made no plans to utilise technology to contact clients in a post GDPR world. When a recent report, conducted by McAfee, found that 97% of respondents worldwide now use a cloud-based technology of some description, the importance of your organisation maintaining on […]
Industry professionals share views of overcoming an incapacity crisis
A report was released in July this year by the Solicitors for the Elderley (SFE) which warned of a incapacity crisis and highlighted that over a third of the UK is unprepared for later life as they had not planned for important end of life decisions. Industry experts discuss what could be done to improve […]
Son has permission to ‘gift’ himself £6 million of his dementia suffering mother’s estate
A London judge has allowed a son to make a £6 million ‘gift’ of his 72-year-old mother’s £18.6 million estate in order to cut inheritance task. The 72-year-old woman, who cannot be named, suffered from dementia and needed full-time care. Subsequently, the woman made her only surviving son her lasting power of attorney in 2012 […]
Life Interest rather than capital awarded to cohabitant claimant in necessitous circumstances under the Inheritance Act 1975
In the recent High Court case of Banfield v Campbell [2018], a claim was brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family Dependants) Act 1975 by the Deceased’s cohabitee, Mr Banfield. Mr Banfield who had lived with the Deceased in her home for many years, was set to inherit just £5,000 of her £750,000 estate. Being partly disabled and having no home of his own, Mr […]
Will Aid: 30 years of helping those in need
Will Aid is a thriving partnership between the dedicated legal profession and nine UK charities. Every November participating solicitors waive their fee for writing a basic will and instead invite clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid. The success of Will Aid rests solely on the participation of solicitors across the UK. The Private […]
Aretha Franklin’s estate split equally and R.E.S.P.E.C.Tfully
Last month we reported that the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, tragically died without leaving a Will. Thankfully, the family have accepted Michigan Law and her four sons are due to inherit an equal share of the fortune. There have been no signs of conflict. In fact, following the funeral on Friday, the Franklin family […]
