Government Breaches Parliamentary Convention On Social Care Reforms
At the end of last month, we revealed that the Chancellor for the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak received a letter from the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee demanding the delays to social care reform be stopped. However, these pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears. As a result of the lack of response to the […]
MPs Urged To Help Lawyers Who Slipped Through Covid-19 Support Gap
The UK Government has seemingly done its utmost to ensure people’s livelihoods hadn’t been completely destroyed by the coronavirus pandemic. The furlough scheme and coronavirus loans have been one way people have attempted to prevent their businesses from going under. However, in some aspects of the economy, certain sectors feels they have slipped through the […]
Free webinar: The Kings Court Trust specialist services, explained.
On Wednesday 1st July at 1pm, Kings Court Trust’s Corporate Partnership Manager, Jill Clayton, will be hosting a webinar where you can learn more about the different ways in which you can help your clients and their families deal with a bereavement. Jill will take this time to talk all about Kings Court Trust’s four […]
Increases Seen In Equiniti’s Death Notification Service
The Death Notification Service (DNS), a service set up by Equiniti to support UK Finance and Financial Services Businesses, has seen a large rise in the number of customers and notifications it received in the period leading up to 1st June 2020. The service, set up in 2018, allows the representatives of deceased customers, often […]
Famous Faces Taken By Covid-19
The coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world has had a devastating impact around the world, with millions of people sadly losing their lives. Covid-19 will have a lasting impact on everybody, whether they’ve been touched personally or not by the virus. Here at Today’s Wills and Probate, we wanted to take a look at […]
Supporting The Legal Industry Through Lockdown
The UKLTA is pleased to announce a new series of online forums to support our members and the legal industry as we adapt to a new way of working and the challenges and opportunities it brings with it. Our forums will bring firms together to discuss how they are tackling the challenges of the new […]
The IPW’s Sue Ioannou Shares Her Thoughts On The Current Crisis
A previous, unedited version of this interview appeared on this publication on the 19th June 2020 with a number of errors. Today’s Wills & Probate would like to apologise to Sue Ioannou and The Institute of Professional Willwriters for this mistake. The correct version appears below. With the wills and probate community under the […]
Sentiment Survey – One Month On
Following on from our previous sentiment survey in May, we’re gauging the mood in the industry 1 month on to see how things have changed. Whilst we’ve been speaking to people across the industry, we’ve noted frustrations with regards to little or no changes being made, services being disrupted and the service level received by […]
New Resource To Help Complete Probate Applications
The Law Society has worked with HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to produce a new document which will support legal professionals using the probate service. Ian Bond, chair of the Wills […]
Movers and Shakers – 19 June 2020
Here at Today’s Wills and Probate, we wanted to share with you the good news we’ve had within in the industry of professionals joining firms and those who have moved up the promotional ladder. This week we’ve seen the following announcements with regards to appointments and promotions: Zoe Olender – appointed Senior Solicitor at Myerson […]
Modern Practitioners Toolkit #3: Preventing Fraud & Financial Abuse
How can you protect both your clients, and your own, personal detail from fraudulent mis-use? A report by Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau in 2019 identified the vulnerable people were more at risk of falling victim to fraudsters. Fraud and financial abuse can take many forms, with abuse of trust and identity […]
Webinar: Case Studies In Estate Administration Risk Management
With a rise in contentious probate cases, it’s now more important than ever to manage risk in estate administration. That’s why Title Research’s next specialist webinar, taking place on Wednesday 24th June at 12pm, will use case studies to illustrate ways you can reduce risk to your firm during the estate administration process. Title Research’s […]
Are Solicitors Still Unsure About Transparency Rules?
In December 2018, new rules entered the legal services sector which required firms and free lance solicitors to publish their prices on their website, to enable clients to gain an understanding of the cost of legal services. 18 months on, a survey conducted by law firm consultant DG Legal has revealed that 90% of firms […]
Don’t Forget About Data Protection
It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a year that has changed the way people have worked. Although some sectors may have been looking at ways they could work remotely, others have had a rough ride as they’ve attempted to maintain business as normal whilst adapting to these unprecedented times. In recent weeks, more […]
Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation Renews Commitment To Coventry Rugby Club
Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation Ltd has agreed a new deal with Coventry Rugby to remain the club’s main shirt partner for the next two seasons. This is the third such agreement between Countrywide and the club and extends a partnership that has been growing in strength over the past few years. “It has been […]
Banks, Building Societies & Grants of Probate
All practising lawyers understand the sensitivities and difficulties for family members when administering a loved one’s estate. However, over the past couple of decades, we’ve seen the way in which banks and building societies allow access to frozen assets dramatically change. Under the proviso of the Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965 (“the Act”) […]
Legacy Income Shows Signs Of Positivity
Following the coronavirus pandemic, in April charities were advised to prepare for a fall in legacy income. However, now further forecasts have been made, and have provided a glimmer of hope with regards to legacy giving. Legacy Foresight looked at a variety of economic, demographic and administrative information to make its predictions. The performance they […]
Hackers For Hire Target Law Firms
Law firms are still the firm favourites and proverbial jewel in the crown for cyber criminals. It appears, in the latest cyber report that hackers for hire, named ‘Dark Basin’ by researchers, have set their sights on the legal industry. The group is said to have used the notoriously common and most successful cyber crime […]
Still Time To Enter Law Society Excellence Awards
There is still time to enter this year’s Law Society Excellence Awards. The deadline for entry submissions has been extended to the Friday 26 June 2020. You can enter the awards here. The Law Society Excellence Awards recognise the most outstanding legal practitioners in their field. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the decision has been […]
Awareness About Elder Abuse
The number of elderly people abused by relatives or carers during the Covid 19 lockdown has increased by as much as 37 per cent. Victim Support reports it had seen a 17 per cent increase in reports of domestic violence against people aged 65 or over, while Hourglass, the only national charity dedicated to elder […]
