IPW experiences a membership and training boom
The Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) has experienced an influx of new memberships and training activity over the last 12 months. The wills and probate regulator has seen a growth in those wanting to become Full and Associate members of IPW and a demand for training courses since the start of the pandemic. Since 2018, […]
How Technology Can Assist in Managing Risk
Written by Pippa Shepherd, Head of Customer Engagement at Arken.legal One of the most effective ways to manage your risk is to invest in technology that improves processes and implements a consistent, controlled way of working. For the private client sector, enabling a solution that supports the accuracy and consistency of documents across a team, lessens the chance of manual errors that could later lead to scenarios such as contentious probate. A negative […]
Salutary Lessons for Will Writers : Lessons from the Courts
Claire Cox, a solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team at Hedges Law, has a special interest in inheritance disputes and discusses how Will writers can protect themselves from potential claims. Inheritance claims and probate disputes continue to rise, and with that, so does the cost of professional indemnity insurance. So how can will writers protect […]
Ensuring the deceased’s wishes are followed
Every day genealogists and probate research professionals conduct Certainty Will Searches to ensure that there are no unknown Wills in existence when tracing the next-in-line to inherit. The consequences of any unknown Wills not coming to light can lead to the incorrect distribution of an estate with the wrong beneficiaries inheriting. In this case study, […]
How can financial services companies help legal firms with costs?
Recent research by PwC found that reducing costs has leapt from being last in a long list of priorities for legal firms to number four – ahead of critical challenges including reducing cyber threats. This might be down to the fact that a recent survey by the Law Society found that firms are forecasting a […]
Rapid register search helps vulnerable people
A new service launched by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), will help local authorities, social care, police and the NHS, help vulnerable people in their communities quickly. Members of staff from the above organisations can request information from the OPG register to help them to make urgent decisions about someone who may lack […]
Free webinar: ‘Digital assets: what they are and how they can impact your practice’
Kings Court Trust’s experienced Technical Manager, Nigel Merchant, will host next week’s webinar on Wednesday 21st April at 1pm. Nigel will take this time to explore digital assets in detail and explain how they could impact your practice. The webinar will also cover: Digital records Digital property rights and interests Online accounts Cryptocurrency: what it […]
Digital ID checks – why Alpha Legal is part of a new identity checking future
April 12 was another COVID milestone here in the UK. You might have had a haircut yesterday or even a drink in a pub garden (if you were wrapped up warm)! The relaxation of measures we all felt yesterday was another sure and steady step towards normality. But will everything be as it was pre-COVID? Here at Alpha […]
Bereavement Index reveals probate process is ‘slow and inefficient’
88% of legal professionals think the bereavement process is ‘slow and inefficient’ Professionals say waiting for financial institutions is biggest cause of delays, causing 64% of their clients to become stressed 40% of those who recently lost someone say their mental health was affected by dealing with the administrative side of their death The estates […]
Wills – a delve behind the stats
By Ann-Marie Shine-Newton, Will Writer, Stanford Legal Services We recently had Census day, which takes place every 10 years. According to the Government it gives them the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. The Census asks questions about us, our household, and our home. In doing so, it […]
Law Society Group publishes gender pay gap report
The Law Society Group (the Group) has published its gender pay gap report for 2020. The report details the combined results of the Law Society of England and Wales and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which are one legal entity but operate independently. Our 2020 median pay gap between women and men is 11.8%, which is […]
Certainty Will Search locates lost 33-year-old Will
When a loved one passes away, it is not uncommon for clients to find themselves in a position where they are either unsure as to whether the deceased had written a Will or if they had, where it is stored. Although a copy of the Will is often provided to a client, the passage of […]
Introducing Automotive Auctions; an additional route to market from the UK market leading classic car auction house, Silverstone Auctions
A new, online-only platform from the Silverstone Auctions Group Completely free to sell Expert advice available from the UK market leaders Additional route to market for customers both old and new Brand ambassador Mike Brewer to host new podcast Automotive Auctions is an exciting, new online-only platform brought to you by the trusted and prestigious […]
Flexibility is key for complex probate cases
One of the advantages of Tower Street Finance being FCA regulated as a direct lender rather than a broker is that it has control over the products it offers. Both Inheritance Advance and IHT Loan were designed to be simple and straightforward – but for times when the customer’s situation is anything but, there’s the […]
Prince Philip has died aged 99
Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, has sadly passed away aged 99. The prince married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen, and was the longest-serving royal consort in British history. A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen […]
Spotlight: Categories highlight the importance of helping others
The British Wills and Probate Awards are taking centre stage once again this October, and we’re excited to shine a spotlight on some of the returning categories for this year’s awards. Alongside our headline sponsor, Executor Solutions and Champagne Sponsor, Exizent, we look forward to recognising achievements, highlighting progression and championing innovation. Charity Legacy Team […]
Leave a breadcrumb for digital assets or risk them being lost forever
Since 2018, a growing number of clients have been including digital assets into their wills. Naturally, these assets are more common in the younger generation, however all clients should consider the implications of not including these details in their will. 32%* of people have included details of digital legacies in their will or would include […]
Government reacts to CMA’s funeral market investigation
The Government has responded to the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) market study into the funeral sector. In their response, the Government “recognised the issues raised by the CMA’s market investigation report”. The response said: “The funeral sector, in one form or another, has provided a valuable service to the country for centuries. The funeral […]
Honey Legal leads the way in growth, legacy and career development
As the demand for well-drafted Wills and expert estate planning increases, Honey Legal is responding with a combination of cutting-edge technology and legally qualified experts. From its start providing Wills, Honey Legal quickly built on this to offer a full suite of estate planning services including Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney and probate. Dedicated to […]
Why Flexible Life/Life Interest Wills are a RISK to your client’s wealth!
Register for ‘Superhero Webinar 76: Proper Trusts VS Life Interest Trusts’ to discover why Flexible Life/Life Interest Trusts aren’t the best solution and how you can provide the strongest estate plans for your clients. Topics include: When are Flexible Life/Life Interest Trusts the best solution? When are Flexible Life/Life Interest Trusts not the best solution? […]
