Record IHT Receipts for Treasury
HMRC have released figures which show it’s highest recorded revenues from Inheritance Tax. The spike in Coronavirus deaths at the start of the year and probate delays saw the single largest month ever in July at £571 million. Receipts for April 2021 to July 2021 are £2.1 billion, which is £0.5 billion higher than in […]
IHT analysis shows 6% increase year on year
The financial services firm NFU Mutual has revealed findings of research into inheritance tax (IHT) and regional divisions. NFU Mutual’s analysis found that there were 22,100 deaths in 2018/19 which resulted in an IHT bill, with an average total of £209,502, an increase of 6% from £197,521 in the previous year. The figures highlight a […]
“No jab, no job” could land employers in trouble
Implementing a ‘no jab, no job’ policy brings serious pitfalls for business across England, a leading employment lawyer has warned. While it will be the law in England from November 11 for all staff and volunteers in registered care home settings to show proof they have received both Covid-19 vaccinations to enable them to continue […]
Better Investment in Legal Technology
Legaltech innovation is vital for firms that care about their clients I have spent a long time working in innovating technology successfully. This has been in various sectors and technologies, and I have recently been reflecting on why this is. Questioning why we continue doing something that is often hard, when it doesn’t have to […]
Accountants: Your guide to offering probate
Our latest Accountants blog series has looked at the untapped business opportunities offering probate can bring to many accountancy and tax advisory firms. This final instalment of our series evaluates best practices for introducing probate into your firm and tips on ensuring it’s success, along with a helpful probate guide which can be downloaded here. […]
The British Wills and Probate Awards Goes Hybrid
The 4th edition of The British Wills and Probate Awards, sponsored by Executor Solutions, will be a hybrid event following the decision to host an in-person event in October. With the details of the venue still under wraps, we can reveal that the awards this year, held on 21st October, will consist of an in-person […]
“National investment” plan following FJG acquisition
Private Equity firm Blixt Group has invested in Essex based Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP solicitors (FJG). It is the first foray into the legal services sector for Blixt for whom FJG will “become a springboard for further acquisitions over the next 3 to 4 years.” The Blixt Group has indicated it has access to significant […]
Changing consumer behaviour creates opportunity for probate providers
Consumer shopping for legal services has undergone a sea change over the last year as people young and old have taken to their devices to research and buy everything from home gym equipment to probate services. And it’s a trend that is here to stay according to the UK Legal Services Consumer Research Report 2021. […]
Technical Corner: Negative interest rates may be on the horizon
Our ‘Technical Corner’ brings you information that will help you to continue to grow and develop in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Robert Blech, SRA Sector Specialist Director, MHA Macintyre Hudson If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them using the contact form below. We will […]
Probate Service update shows increase in digital applications and grants issued
The latest quarterly Family Court Statistics, detailing probate service figures for January to March 2021, have been published. Figures show that there were 61,696 applications for probate grants, with 57,620 probate grants issued in the same period. Figures also show an increase in the proportion of digital applications and grants issued for probate with 77% […]
LSB pushes legal regulators to put consumers first following BSB governance review
Today, the Legal Services Board (LSB) published the findings of its review of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) under the ‘Well-led’ standard of the LSB regulatory performance assessment framework. The oversight regulator found concerns about leadership and governance at the BSB and little evidence of a focus on the needs of consumers and the public interest. In response, […]
Never before seen estate planning platform launches
A Shropshire-based business has launched a completely self-service estate planning solution, believed to be the first of its kind. The system, known as HoneyPro, has been launched by Honey Legal; one of the fastest growing and largest estate planning companies in the UK. HoneyPro enables businesses to effortlessly expand their business portfolio with their white […]
Dying Matters Awareness Week: The role of an Executor
Deciding who will be responsible for carrying out the instructions of a Will should be a task considered wisely and is a topic that is encouraged to be discussed more openly. Unfortunately, many families experience the passing of a loved one without this discussion and with little planning in place. Kings Court Trust’s latest blog, in […]
The National Will Register announces their Free Will Registration Month
Throughout May, The National Will Register are holding their annual Free Will Registration Month which runs from Tuesday 4th May until Friday 4th June. In 2020, the legal profession saw a sharp increase in the number of Wills being made. One of the many effects of the outbreak that Covid-19 had was that many members […]
Ochresoft responds to Chancellor’s Budget: “SDLT holiday is a tale of two halves”
With the Chancellor’s budget statement today announcing a further extension to September of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday, Ochresoft’s managing director, Rob Gurney provides his views on the impact this is likely to have in the property law industry: “When the SDLT holiday was first introduced, it created a rush in demand that […]
Retro Race Live Online Auction – from Silverstone Auctions
BEST OF BREED MODERN CLASSICS GOING UNDER THE HAMMER IN THE RACE RETRO LIVE ONLINE AUCTION The Race Retro Live Online Auction will showcase a significant number of beautiful modern classics, all of which will be offered on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th March 2021. Modern classics from recent decades are confirmed for Race Retro […]
Accessing Medical Records to Contest a Will
There are a few reasons why a family member may want to access the medical records of a loved one after they’ve died. This might be to determine whether a medical diagnosis was missed, for example if someone died of cancer, or because you have a potential claim after the person’s death. But there are […]
WillSuite to release another industry report
Leading software provider – WillSuite is currently collating data and feedback from a wide range of industry practitioners to understand the impact that Covid is having on the estate planning sector. Working with hundreds of estate planning businesses and solicitors firms in the private client sector, and being the software provider to both the SWW and the IPW, […]
The First Ever Digital LPA Has Been Registered By The OPG
With great excitement we can announce that a registered LPA from the Office for the Public Guardian (OPG) which had been signed electronically was received today by WillSuite and Love Legal director, Seb Shakh – around 5 months since the document was posted, possibly paving way for further improvements and innovation. Pressure placed upon the […]
The Signs Of Contentious Probate And Why A Specialist Is Needed
Article by Mark Terrar, Partner at Meridian Private Client LLP and listed specialist in the Certainty Contentious Probate Hub & Area What is Contentious Probate? Contentious Probate can be defined as a dispute arising out of someone’s estate after they have passed away. There has in recent years been a considerable build-up of wealth for […]
