Category: Wills & Probate Market

Retirees Increasingly Reliant On Equity Release To Pay Debts

Retirees are increasingly shackled and fettered to their debt according to an equity release advice specialist. According to research carried out by equity release experts Key, over half of over-55s are using equity release products to pay off their outstanding debts. Overall, a third (30%) are using the money from the equity built up in […]

Bereaved Families Charged Extra IHT Due To Court Delays

Grieving families have endured punitive rates of interest on their Inheritance tax (IHT) bills through no fault of their own. Due to massive delays in courts, families have been required to pay extra death duties because of late IHT payments. Because of overdue IHT, it has meant people are having to pay interest rates in […]

Law Society Keeps Pressure On HMCTS Over Probate Service Issues

Probate service issues continue to be top of the agenda as Ian Bond, Chair of The Law Society’s ‘Wills and Equity Committee’ will attend a follow-up meeting next month to keep the pressure on HMCTS to resolve the probate problems. With the continuous delays over the last few months greatly affecting grieving families, The Law […]

Experts Discuss The Cowan V Foreman Landmark Case

A landmark decision to refuse a widow’s request to contest the Will and Trust of her late husband’s estate because the request was made after the six-month deadline has been overturned by the Court of Appeal. Judge Justice Mostyn’s original assessment during the High Court’s ruling of the Cowan v Foreman case was disapproved on […]

Cowan v Foreman – [2019] EWCA Civ 1336 – Time limits In Claims Under The Inheritance Act 1975

Vlad Macdonald-Munteanu, Associate, and Oliver Black, Solicitor, discuss the Court of Appeal judgement handed down on 30 July 2019 in Cowan v Foreman as well as the implications for parties facing out of time Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims. Background This case concerns a claim brought by Mary Cowan against the estate […]

Hand Writing Expert Enters Aretha Franklin Will Saga

Following the discovery of a number of hand written Wills found stuffed into the cushion covers of Aretha Franklin’s plush sofa in one of her luxurious mansions, a Michigan based judge has allowed a hand writing expert to examine the alleged Wills. This story is rumbling on, epitomising  the disharmony that can be created when […]

Cancer Research UK Teams Up With Leading Online Will Provider

The world’s largest charity dedicated to saving lives through research, Cancer Research UK, has collaborated with a leading online digital will writing service, Farewill. Cancer Research, which receives the largest amount of legacies in the country has launched a free online Will service with Farewill. The unregulated Will writers Farewill, which has enjoyed significant growth […]

Is Your Business Fighting A Constant Battle With Staff Training?

In this tug of war you’ll always win with Countrywide Legacy! Do you find that your businesses legal documents are often completed to differing standards as a result of information being misinterpreted by staff, or perhaps as a result of a lack of knowledge and experience? We understand that training staff can be a very […]

Probate Fees – An Update

This has been a challenging year for probate solicitors and executors, with uncertainty caused by the proposed changes to probate fees, and long delays at the probate registry.  It is important for probate solicitors and executors to keep abreast of what is happening, as all parties involved in an estate will need to be kept […]

More Robust Monitoring Processes Needed To Prevent Pension Fraud

Over £2 billion was pilfered from the pension savings of innocent contributors by unscrupulous advisers in a single year. According to a joint committee’s research into ‘Pension costs and transparency’, too many fraudster masquerading as pension advisers are exploiting older people looking to stretch their pension through investments. Unfortunately, too many pension fraudsters have successfully […]

How to grow your Will Writing business – 7 simple steps

Fortis Law are a relatively new business when it comes to our brand but we’re made up of 19 experienced industry professionals. Many members of our team have been involved in estate planning for many years and between the management team alone we have nearly 100 years’ experience. We’ve joined forces at Fortis to grow […]

Wills And Probate Experts Branch Out

Shropshire law firm is extending their Wills and probate services to cover a wider area to give elderly and vulnerable clients easier access to their services. The professionals from one of the largest legal firms practising in the Midlands region, Martin Kaye Solicitors, will be widening their specialist service by operating out of the firm’s […]

Charities Lose Millions To Fraud

A UK national fraud reporting centre reveals a breath-taking figure of almost £8m lost by charities to fraud. The staggering figures were exposed after Accountancy firm RSM retrieved the data following a freedom of information request to Action Fraud. Broken down, UK charities had submitted 1,057 reports of fraud which totalled £7.85m in the year […]

Additional Income Used To Issue Gifts On Behalf Of Protected Person

Following a recent case, deputies and attorneys representing donor’s in irreversible comas may have increased powers to offer gifts from the estate. What happens if a person unexpectedly loses capacity without making a clear estate plan? Should the deputy, attorney and executor wait until death and accept the full inheritance tax obligation? Or, do they […]

Only 10% Of Brits Have Planned For Death

New research has revealed only 10% have planned for their end of life which suggests there is still a huge stigma surrounding death in the UK. With death potentially causing financial catastrophes as well as grief, breaking the taboo around confronting death is still a big issue among Brits. According to Sue Ryder Charity, who […]

Supermen Webinar 56: The Definitive Guide To The Trusts Offered By Countrywide Tax And Trust Corporation!

Supermen Webinar 56: Agenda Countrywide Trusts, what you need to know; Trusts explored, exploded and explained… Which one? When? and Why! Countrywide Family of Probate Trusts Countrywide Family of Gift Trusts Will Trusts vs Pilot Trusts – compare and contrast Countrywide’s Family of Declarations of Trust – Don’t miss the planning opportunities! Proper Life Assurance […]

Additional Support Needed For Those With Borderline Capacity

A recent study has claimed that more needs to be done to help people with mental health issues to better manage their finances. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute have found that 42% of people who have experienced mental health problems wanted support and guidance with money management from friends and family. However, the […]

Influx Of LPAs Reflects Greater Public Awareness And Its Benefits

The number of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) has increased sharply in the past few years which may be attributed to increased awareness campaigns, highlighting the benefits of such a document. According to the latest Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) report, the number of powers of attorneys registered in England and Wales has doubled […]

Confusing IHT Rules Trigger HMRC To Investigate 23% Of All Estates

23% of all estates liable to pay inheritance tax are investigated by HM Revenue and Customs. According to a recent Freedom of Information request, made by financial planners Quilters, 5,000 of the 22,000 estates liable for inheritance tax last year were forced to endure the inconvenience and indignity of a further investigation by HMRC. The […]

Tax Reforms Incentivises Will Writers To Discuss Legacy Giving

A recent Charity Tax Commission (CTC) report reveals a suite of reforms that will incentivise professional Will writers and increase legacy giving. One of the proposals made by the CTC was that charitable Wills should be exempt from VAT. This has been welcomed by charity organisations as the recommendation will encourage solicitors to discuss legacy […]