Know your options when dealing with an estate with no Will nor next of kin
Intestacy is rarely ever straightforward and can often lead to complications including, family disputes, unnecessarily high Inheritance Tax bills or the search for missing beneficiaries, just to name a few. On top of this, being unable to locate a next of kin makes the estate that much more difficult to administer. The latest blog from […]
SRA consults on changes to fining powers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation on its approach to financial penalties for law firms and solicitors with the aim of resolving cases more quickly and reducing the need to refer to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) The consultation will review how the SRA can create more consistency across its regulated entities […]
Could cyber regulation for IT service providers be introduced?
Third party IT service providers could be required to follow new cyber security rules such as the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Assessment Framework as part of new proposals to help businesses manage the growing cyber threat. A consultation by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) looked into the security of digital […]
Silverstone Auctions Celebrate a Phenomenal £9.2m worth of Sales at Their NEC Classic Motor Show Auction
This past weekend, specialist automotive auction house Silverstone Auctions, returned to NEC Classic Motor Show for their tenth time as the ‘Official Auction Partner’. As the final hammer fell, the company recorded a staggering £9.2m worth of collective car, motorcycle and automobilia sales; with an impressive 83% sales rate. The three-day auction commenced on Friday […]
Tower Street Finance adds further strength to the team
Hot on the heels of our announcement last week about new team members, we’re delighted to welcome another two to Tower Street Finance. Richard Dearden joins us from Irwin Mitchell where he was head of marketing innovation and takes up the new position of head of marketing. Says Richard: “I look forward to bringing my […]
Free virtual seminar: ‘Estate administration: Complex estates, challenges and risks’
In their upcoming virtual seminar on Wednesday 24th November at 12pm, Title Research’s Technical Manager, Simon Barber, will cover a range of topics relating to the complexities that can arise from UK estates. The seminar will be delivered live allowing you the opportunity to pose questions as well as take part in polls on various […]
Ground-breaking litigation of s.11, Inheritance Act 1975 could have significant consequences
The first judgment on a reasonable provision claim under s.11 of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (the 1975 Act) has been given in the case of Sismey v Salandron. In the case the testator was a male divorcee who had divorced his third wife in 2017, and at the time of […]
Consultation on Small Payments Scheme
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation to review third party access to funds belonging to those who lack mental capacity without the need to get permission from the Court of Protections. The consultation has been launched following concerns over the “length and complexity” of the Court of Protection process, citing a “disproportionate and […]
4 common ways criminals launder money
Money laundering costs the British economy around £37 billion each year. And with the legal sector under increasing scrutiny (and SRA site visits happening right now) it’s something firms should be placing front and centre of their risk planning. A review by the SRA into law firm AML compliance identified the failure to introduce “proper […]
Capping adult care costs: Further detail revealed
Further details around the planned changes to the social care system have been published in a policy paper following the announcements by Prime Minster Boris Johnson in September. In “Build Back Better: Our plan for health and social care” the government revealed its intention to launch the “Health and social care levy” to invest £5.2bn […]
Equity in UK homes reaches all-time high
Research and analysis conducted by Canada Life, the assurance and financial services organisation, shows that UK homeowners now have over £740 billion of available equity release. Canada Life’s analysis of figures for Q3 2021, taken from the Halifax price index, show that this is the first time that available equity release has reached such a […]
How legal tech is enhancing the probate process
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the legal sector has lagged behind many other sectors in terms of technology adoption across the years. However, in recent times there has been a notable shift in both mindset and practice, with various SaaS-based products coming into play and covering everything from basic practice management through to AI-driven […]
Higgins v Morgan and others – stepson successful in claim against stepfather’s estate
The case of Higgins v Morgan and others [2021] EWHC 2846 (Ch). is a rare example of a contested Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“the 1975 Act”) claim reaching trial. It considers the requirements a Claimant must satisfy to qualify for an award under the 1975 Act, “moral claims” and the recoverability […]
LPAs, Deputyship, Financial Assessments & Challenges
If you have been assisting your clients with their Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney as part of their planning for the future, do you know what could happen next? By attending our LPAs, Deputyship, Financial Assessments & Challenges course, you can equip yourself for the ‘next stage’ of advising and assisting your clients, and […]
Are your middle-income clients getting quietly pushed into higher death duty brackets?
According to several think tanks, thousands of middle-income families are now heading towards the 40pc bracket for inheritance tax (IHT). This is partly due to rising property prices, but is also due to the five year freeze in tax allowances announced in the spring. Whilst more middle income earners find themselves with higher value assets and bigger pots of savings, the IHT allowance will remain steady at £325,000 […]
Flexibility overtakes pay as top priority for practitioners
Flexibility has overtaken pay as the top priority for practitioners entering the jobs market, according to new research by legal recruitment consultancy, Realm Recruit. As part of its annual market research conducted in June 2021, Realm Recruit surveyed more than 100 practitioners on a number of topics, including jobseeker status, employee engagement, wellbeing and pay. […]
Time management for startup law firm owners
When it comes to running your own law firm and serving clients, it can feel like the work is never done. For the sake of your wellbeing, though, and that of every member of your team, finding the right time management solutions to ensure a healthy work-life balance is essential. That’s why, for the tenth […]
Britney Spears’ Conservatorship ended after 13 years
The Conservatorship that has ruled the life of pop singer Britney Spears has been lifted by a judge in Los Angeles. The decision on Friday 12th November 2021 brings to a formal end the personal and financial restriction Ms Spears has been living under since 2008 following her well documented mental health issues. In American […]
Couples that meet online are six times more likely to divorce
A study by the Marriage Foundation has revealed that couples who meet on dating apps are six times more likely to get divorced within the first three years of marriage. The survey of 2,027 married adults aged 30 and over, also found that meeting a partner online now accounts for a third of marriages in […]
Parents not planning to split inheritance equally
Only half of parents plan to leave their wealth split equally between their children, according to a new report. The findings by Netwealth and The Money Whisperer® as reported in the Mirror suggested that there is a lack of openness around inheritance that can leave bereaved families at a loss when it comes to their […]
