10 year report reveals that the basic legal needs of many in society are still not being met
A new report by the Legal Services Board (LSB) gives an in-depth review of the legal services sector following ten years of independent regulation. The State of Legal Services 2020 report is informed by data, evidence and conversations with a wide range of individuals and organisations over the last six months and research by the […]
Hear from Oliver & Co, who were Highly Commended at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
400% increase in challenges against historic wills
Law firm JMW Solicitors has reported a 400% increase in enquiries from people wanting to challenge historic wills; often several years after the estate has been settled and, in some cases, as much as a decade ago. Since July JMW has seen a sharp rise in the number of enquiries from people wanting to challenge the wills […]
Certainty Will Search prevents incorrect estate distribution and wins probate work
It is not always possible to know when your client has passed away which raises the risk that the Will that you hold for them may be overlooked and their estate distributed incorrectly. In the below case study, Louise Salisbury, Partner at AST Hampsons explains how a Certainty Will Search helped notify the firm that […]
The adult child’s “wish list”: what will the court consider?
The Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 allows children of the deceased to make an application to court for reasonable financial provision, if the Will of their parent fails to do so. What matters will the court consider when making an order? In the recent case of Re H (Deceased) 2020, the Honourable […]
Hear from Kings Court Trust, winners at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
Professional probate applications must now be submitted online
The most recent blog by Title Research summarises what professionals need to know about the online submission of probate applications. As of 2 November 2020, new rules came into force that mandate the use of MyHMCTS for most Grant of Probate applications. Paper applications will no longer be accepted as of 30 November 2020. This […]
Hear from Tower Street Finance, winners at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
Certainty Webinar – 2020: A year in review
We’re pleased to welcome Ian Bond, Director and Head of Wills and Estates at Thursfields Solicitors who will be presenting our last Certainty Expert Webinar of the year, titled ‘2020: A year in review’ on Thursday 3rd December 2020. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic it is fair to say that professional life for […]
Overview of digital assets and why they should be included in a Will
Traditionally, cash, properties, high value possessions, investments, etc. all formed part of a person’s estate when they passed away. However, in the 21st century, digital assets are becoming more and more common when administering an estate. The objective of this blog is to walkthrough what digital assets are, which ones can and cannot be included […]
HMCTS issue record Grants in 2020
HM Courts and Tribunals Services (HMCTS) latest figures reveal 2020 has seen record breaking issues of Grants. HMCTS data shows an average of over 5,000 Grants issued each week for the year to date. In the last 13 weeks over 70,000 Grants have been issued (averaging over 5,400 per week). Meaning, 2020 may see more […]
Probate practitioners debate solicitor MP’s blast on probate service
Probate practitioners discuss Solicitor and Conservative MP’s strong views on probate service in a Westminster debate recently. Conservative John Stevenson MP spoke at a Westminster Hall debate saying the probate service is overwhelmed with more delays and errors than it was two years ago, even though there are now higher staff numbers and a bigger […]
Free webinar: Reviewing the year in Contentious Probate
The latest in Fraser and Fraser’s popular series of free webinars brings together barrister Hugh Cumber and Moon Beever partners Richard Boulding and Edward Saunders. Together, Richard, Ed and Hugh will be considering recent events in the area of contentious probate. Their discussion will include developments in the law of testamentary capacity, the pros and […]
Charity legacies from wealthy individuals on the rise
A number of wealthy individuals gifting over £1 million to charities has risen by almost a third in 2017/18, according to HMRC data. HMRC revealed that those persons, known as high net worth (HNWs) individuals, who had left legacies to numerous charities, amounting to over £1m had in fact increased by 31%. The number of […]
LPAs and Financial Abuse – Stay Alert
Used properly, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) for property and financial affairs can be an invaluable tool in assisting adults who lose mental capacity with the management of their finances. However, the system can be open to financial abuse and practitioners should be alert to the risks. LPAs were introduced in 2007 to replace the […]
Hear from My Probate Partner, who were Highly Commended at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
Where there’s (not) a will there’s a way
There are many reasons cited as to why people don’t make a will. They range from being uncomfortable talking about death to trusting their families to do the right thing when the time comes. And many say they’ve just not got round to it or are put off by the cost. As a result, around […]
Free webinar all about digital assets
Kings Court Trust is hosting an insightful webinar on the topic of ‘Digital assets: what they are and how they can impact your practice’. It takes place on Wednesday 25th November at 1pm and registration is now open. In under 30 minutes, Kings Court Trust’s Technical Manager, Nigel Merchant, will provide a detailed description of […]
Charities urged to act now to benefit from market growth
A predicted legacy boom worth up to £40 billion over the next decade[1] presents charities with a unique window of time to act and benefit from market growth, according to a new joint report produced by ILM, Remember A Charity, Legacy Foresight and Smee & Ford. Expectations are that the substantial uplift in demand for […]
SFE Annual Online Conference focuses on vulnerable client challenges
The annual SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) Conference – ‘Hoping for the best whilst preparing for the worst’ is taking place online on Tuesday 8th December 2020. This year the programme looks at what clients need to prepare for as they move into later life and the need for care. The event will cover the […]
