Britney Spears’ father files to end conservatorship
Britney Spears’ father has filed a request to a Los Angeles court to end the conservatorship that has controlled her life and finances for 13 years. The news comes following an announcement last month that Jamie Spears would step down as his daughter’s conservator, allowing Britney to transition into a new legal arrangement. The documents […]
Firms that refuse to step down as executor could face high legal costs
A case that recently reached the High Court has highlighted risks and high costs that can be faced by firms refusing to step down as executor. In the case of WAG Davidson & Co, the deceased left an estate including a property to her grandson and an amount of £832,000 to her daughter. The firm […]
Dedicated motorcycle sale for 10th anniversary show
Silverstone Auctions are returning to The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, for their tenth year as the official auction partner for the popular motoring event. Taking place on the weekend of the 12th – 14th November, a dedicated motorcycle sale will take place on Friday 12th, followed by their classic car and automobilia […]
90% of people reliant on inheritance
The latest research into inheritance has uncovered that 9 in 10 adults are reliant on inheritance to fund retirement and pay off debts. 1 in 5 would use inheritance monies to pay off their mortgage, 16% need inheritance to supplement retirement income with a combined 19% intending to pay off credit cards and personal debt. […]
Archaeologists to digitise burial records following HS2 excavation
Archaeologists working on the HS2 rail link are looking for volunteers to help digitise the burial records of 57,639 Londoners who lived in the city in the 18th and 19th century. The information relates to St James’s Burial Ground near Euston station, where more than 31,000 burials were excavated as part of HS2’s archaeology work between 2018 and 2019. The […]
Taking time out for bereavement
Tower Street Finance’s Dicky Davies on recent survey results around time off work for bereavement, and why it’s important to provide an outlet for those who need it… With more and more people now working from home as the norm it would seem that over the last 18 months employers’ have developed a new trust […]
Effective estate planning: Lessons from celebrity deaths
Regardless of our age, wealth, health or status, we all should know the importance of estate planning, especially creating a Will. When a celebrity dies, the world often learns how well or poorly they have planned for the distribution of their estate. That’s why in Kings Court Trust’s latest blog post, they explore the valuable […]
Exizent seeks new contributors for their Research Community
Exizent are looking for professionals working in wills, planning and estate administration across the UK to get involved and become a Contributor to their Research Community. What is The Exizent Research Community? We’re on a mission to make the bereavement process easier for everyone, and the Exizent Research Community is a panel of professionals who work and support in the field of wills, estate planning […]
SQE: Qualifying work experience will offer trainees greater flexibility
Ahead of the 1 September launch of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), the Law Society has today unveiled guidance to answer common queries for law firms and organisations on qualifying work experience (QWE) for trainee solicitors. Under the SQE, candidates must complete two years QWE in order to qualify as a solicitor, as well as […]
Equality, diversity and inclusion update 2021
For some firms, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has taken a back seat as a consequence of the Covid-19 lockdowns, but now that things are getting back to some semblance of normality it is important that all firms ensure their EDI policies and procedures are fit for purpose and operate effectively on a day-to-day basis, […]
Age UK North Tyneside pilot bereavement notification service
Age UK North Tyneside has joined forces with bereavement service Settld in a landmark agreement which will help to ease end-of-life admin stress for thousands of older people across the region. From Monday August 9th, 2021, bereaved people using Age UK North Tyneside’s services will be recommended by the charity’s 326 staff to use end-of-life […]
‘’It’s NOT okay not to be okay’’
I recently had the pleasure to attend a webinar to discuss the work the Group Transformation Division at Lloyds Banking Group have been doing to support colleague’s mental, physical & emotional wellbeing during this difficult period. The objective was to share experiences from different organisations and industries; at LBG we have a number of different […]
How can firms achieve commercial success in the post-pandemic world?
Commercial success is the driving force for ambitious law firms and, speaking to our clients, it’s no surprise many have a renewed determination to re-evaluate current business practices and strategies in the wake of Covid-19. There has never been a better time to build on lessons of the past year, using technology to support agile […]
Free webinar: ‘Managing risk in estate administration’
Join Title Research’s Technical Manager, Simon Barber, on Wednesday 11th August at 12pm, as he reveals some common challenges faced by legal professionals in estate administration. In addition to case studies to illustrate ways to reduce risk to your firm and clients, Simon will cover: Managing risk and maximising estates with overseas assets The importance of locating all […]
Government rakes it in on IHT but what if you can’t pay?
New figures released by HMRC revealed that inheritance tax payments during 2020-21 totalled £5.4bn – increasing by 4% (£190m) on the last tax year. This has affected 33,000 people who have been hit with a tax bill, which the Office for Budget Responsibility say is up by a third, with the average payment around £160k. […]
Call for evidence to avoid “Unnecessary” litigation
A major call for evidence has been launched by the Government seeking views on the best ways to settle family, business and other civil disputes away from the court room. The Responses will shape future reforms to civil, family and administrative justice, with Ministers determined to help more people resolve their issues without the stress […]
Legal oversight regulator’s arrangement processes are headed in the right direction
The Legal Services Board’s (LSB) proposed new rules and guidance for changes to regulatory arrangements are a significant improvement, the Law Society of England and Wales said today. The oversight regulator is seeking views from the ten approved legal services regulators on how they seek the LSB’s approval for alterations to their regulatory arrangements. The […]
LawTech must comply with highest ethical standards
The Law Society of England and Wales has published the outcomes from its LawTech, Ethics and the Rule of Law discussion paper, unveiling a set of principles and guidance that would be beneficial for the solicitors’ profession. In the face of Covid-19, the justice system moved online, pushing the profession to modernise quicker than expected. […]
Could an increase in equity release clients generate a capacity crisis?
Applicants may be more demanding due to larger sums at stake, but legal professionals must ensure their assessment of a client’s mental capacity is up to the mark Legal professionals may be experiencing more pressure than usual from prospective equity release customers as buoyant house prices and inflation drive record demand. The desire to release […]
Law firms in SRA firing line over AML failures
The fines levied by the SRA on 13 firms in recent weeks continue to demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding around responsibilities when it comes to the money laundering regulations. The firms in question had failed to comply with their procedural responsibilities to provide their firm-wide AML risk assessment and delayed their AML declarations. In […]
