Uno flatu: a double process in one breath
Stephanie Kerr, Senior Associate of independent law firm Brabners LLP comments on the two recent occasions on which the High Court has considered the effect of the wording “I leave devise bequeath and appoint”. In 2021, Deputy Master Dray considered the point in Equiom v Velarde [2021] EWHC 1528 (Ch) and the decision on appeal […]
22% of adults will use their homes to fund retirement
22% of people planning ahead for their retirement expect to use the value of their home, according to a survey of 4,000 UK adults conducted by Legal & General Home Finance (LGHF). The findings indicate that a third of all people who aren’t currently retired (35%) own a property but have less than £10,000 saved […]
Dementia cases expected to increase by 75%
More than 153 million people could have dementia globally by 2050, up from 57 million in 2019, research shows. In 2019, an estimated one in 74 people had dementia in the UK but by 2050, this number is projected to increase by 75% to 1.6 million people, which equates to around one in 46 people. […]
CTT Group announces The Advanced Planning Series
Introducing CTT Group’s new courses for those of you with High Net Worth Clients, including corporate and individuals with complex affairs. Spread over 5 monthly sessions, we will be covering the following: Estate Planning for Corporate Clients Planning for clients with Buy to Let properties Planning for clients with an IHT liability (2 sessions) Family […]
WillSuite announce partnership with the University of Derby
We are delighted to announce that WillSuite will now form part of the syllabus for the law degree with The University of Derby. Over the last 16 months WillSuite has been working behind the scenes with a number of universities to offer work-based placements, host career FAQ sessions and to give presentations. And, we are […]
How Exizent is helping Hughes Parry Solicitors save time in a growing sector
When Hughes Parry Solicitors underwent a firm reorganisation, Director Tim Wilson took on the responsibility for probate work across the firm. With a background in Divorce and Family work, Tim needed a simple solution to track all his new probate cases and turned to Exizent to help improve the visibility and accuracy of his clients’ […]
Law firm merger under “house of brands” strategy
A 150-year-old Sussex based firm, Mayo Wynne Baxter (MWB), is the first to join legal and professional services group Ampa under a “house of brands” merger strategy devised to move away from the traditional consolidation merger model. Now labelled as a regional legal anchor brand for the south east, the firm, which offers a range […]
Additional funding will support Tower Street Finance’s ambitious growth plans
Following a successful 2021, Tower Street Finance, the inheritance lending specialist, has successfully closed its latest funding round. The latest round raised £18.2m of debt and equity, to fund growth through 2022. The total raised now stands at £36.2m. 2021 saw Tower Street Finance establish itself as the market leader in the sector, securing relationships […]
Expert webinar from The National Will Register: health and welfare and future reform for financial deputies
Date: Thursday 27th January 2022, 12noon-1pm The National Will Register is delighted to have Barristers Alex Cisneros and Thomas Jones leading our first Expert Webinar of 2022, covering the aspects of health and welfare that those managing a person’s money need to be aware of. This will include deprivation of liberty and reforms in this […]
Deadline for entries to the British Conveyancing Awards closes midnight tonight
Does your firm have a conveyancing department? The deadline for registration to enter The British Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Dye & Durham, is upon us. Registration for this years awards will close at midnight on 11th January 2022. There is still time thereafter to submit the final entry which is due on Tuesday 18th January […]
Private members’ bill seeks to “level up” pensions auto-enrolment
A private members’ bill that seeks to enact changes to pensions auto-enrolment (AE) legislation is scheduled for a second reading on 25th February. The bill, introduced by Richard Holden MP last week, aims to remove the £10,000 lower earnings threshold and extend the eligible age of auto-enrolment from 22 to 18, by 2026. The government […]
Increased number of millennials are now writing wills
In the last two years, the number of millennials drafting wills has increased by almost 10% with many citing the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason. More millennials than ever before are writing their wills in case they die unexpectedly. As 27 per cent of adults aged 18 to 34 now have wills compared to 18 […]
Mishcon de Reya fined for AML failures
London law firm Mishcon de Reya will pay £232,500 over several breaches relating to money laundering rules, it has been announced. The penalty of £232,500 was agreed between the firm and the SRA who said that the fine should equate to 0.25% of the firm’s £155m turnover, minus reductions of 40% for mitigating factors. The […]
How to set your wills & probate firm up for success in 2022
At this time of year, law firms around the country are busy strategising and implementing plans for the coming 12 months. Forward-planning is a crucial part of a firm’s success, but it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we at Clio have devised a two-step process, based on research from our […]
Director of scam will-writing firm faces trial
Trial proceedings against the director of Lincolnshire-based firm, Indeed Law Limited, for offences relating to fraud have begun at Leeds Crown Court. A spokesperson for Leeds Crown Court confirmed today that the trial against Indeed Law Limited director, Alana Benson, and six other defendants including ex-solicitor Jonathan De Vita, Laura De Vita, Christopher Platt, Peter […]
ICAEW announces mandatory publication of transparency information
The Legal Services Board has approved the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)’s application to update its Probate Regulations to mandate the publication of price and service information. The regulations are effective now, but firms have until 1st February 2022 to comply. The move to mandate the publication of price and service […]
Technical Corner: Reminder – IHT reporting changes from January 2022
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has amended the Inheritance Tax (Delivery of Accounts) (Excepted Estates) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 to exempt many estates from the need to submit detailed estate returns via the IHT400 form which could now use the IHT205 form instead. The amendments apply to deaths occurring anywhere in the UK from 1 January […]
Probate fees to increase from January
Probate fees will increase to a single, flat rate of £273 for all applicants, regardless of the size of the estate, from 26th January 2022. An Order published earlier this month amends the Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3120), increasing the fee payable on the application for a grant of probate to £273 for […]
Austria legalises assisted dying
Assisted Dying is now legal in Austria. Parliament approved the new law in December, following a constitutional court ruling on the issue. Austria is the latest nation to legalise assisted dying, where from Saturday any adult with a terminal illness or permanent, debilitating condition can choose to end their life by an “assisted death”. Active […]
Probate delays continue
Probate delays continue to wreak financial havoc on grieving families as further stories surface in the press. Speaking to the Guardian, a distressed and frustrated reader recently described how probate delays had incurred huge financial costs to their family. “My uncle died 11 months ago, and my mother also died, leaving my brother and myself […]
