Unsuccessful claims by an adult child under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Independents) Act 1975
Ames v Jones & Ors [2016] EW Misc B67 (CC) (19 August 2016) Danielle Ames has been unsuccessful in her claim for provision from the estate of her father. Michael died with an estate worth £1.09 million. His entire estate was left to Danielle’s step mother Elaine Danielle claimed that her father’s failure to make […]
Happy 3rd Birthday WIQS
It is 3 years since the Law Society unveiled its latest Quality Standard – the Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme – WIQS for short.
The next level of funeral cost management
Wills, estate planning and probate are intimately connected, after all they are concerned what happens after we die, and yet there is something we tend to forget about in terms of financial obligation. There is little point in imaging a bells and whistles funeral with a large wake and a handmade oak coffin if there […]
Use accountants over solicitors for probate, say experts
A solicitor from a leading accountancy body has recently stated that clients would find it less stressful and more inexpensive to instruct any probate work using their existing accountant, rather than a solicitor. This statement was recently featured within Legal Futures and is a notion that was also touched upon by a senior partner, Lynton […]
Gordon Brown achieves prestigious quality standard
Gordon Brown Solicitors, who already hold a number of accreditations including Lexcel and CQS, have achieved another in the form of the Legal Eye Quality Standard. The Legal Eye Quality Standard, accredited by Legal Eye a subsidiary of ULS Technology is recognised to be the only assessment scheme to address the rules and regulations which […]
Birchington Boys & Maughan appoints wills specialist
East Kent solicitors Boys & Maughan has expanded its team of wills and probate lawyers with the appointment of Wendy Macarthur at the firm’s Birchington office. A Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, Wendy’s specialisms include the preparation of wills and lasting powers of attorney, and assisting clients with probate. Wendy Macarthur […]
Next generation pays for farming succession
Farm succession is causing major financial issues for the succeeding generation, according to experts. The complex rules within agricultural inheritance means professionals are required to provide more catered and detailed advice to their farming clients, to help avoid surging tax bills from the Inland Revenue. With 60% of farmers not having a plan in place […]
Is your will bank an untapped resource?
With combined experience of 50 years within the management team, we spoke to Mark Mattocks and Steve Lawton, Directors at Law Lead Media (LLM) about marketing and business development within the legal sector and surprising results from their recent pilot test. So tell me a little about the background of Law Lead Media “LLM is […]
Supermen Webinar No. 22
Flexible Life Interest Trusts (FLITs) the good, the bad and the ugly plus who should be my Executors and Trustees? Should they be the same people?
East Midlands accountancy firm enhances probate service offering with solicitor hire
Leading independent chartered accountants and business advisors, Duncan & Toplis, have appointed solicitor Graham England to work for the Probate Services arm of the company. With more than three decades’ experience and a long term practice presence in the region, Graham will handle Wills, assist with Powers of Attorney and offer expert advice on Probate, […]
Chief Coroner’s recommendations echo interim statement proposals on DoLS
We are only three months away from the results of the Law Commission’s consultation on The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The interim statement released in May this year proposed some amendments to the law surrounding mental capacity and deprivation of liberty. Notably, the statement refers to the involvement of a coroner being unnecessary when […]
Think before Caveats
Elliott v Simmonds [2016] EWHC 732 (Ch)
Expanding wills & probate team welcomes three new recruits
Nelsons Solicitors Derby wills and probate department has expanded following the acquisition of long-established Derby firm Moody and Woolley last year, welcoming three new staff members to the growing team. Paralegals, Samuel Amer and Lorna McHale, have joined the Derby-based solicitors along with solicitor Natasha Dobson – who brings with her six years’ experience in […]
Seven-year-old Dachshund left $100,000 trust fund
Winnie Pooh the Dachshund was set up with a six-figure trust fund 6 years ago by Winnie’s late owner, Patricia Bowers. Subsequently, in recent months, a lawsuit has been filed by the caregiver claiming the executor of the estate has distributed almost none of the money to cover the pup’s expenses, including emergency medical care. […]
We’re a month away from another Succession Law Conference
The Society of Will Writers hold an annual conference and have done for the last 20 years. This year it is on the 10th and 11th October and will be held at the Abbey Hotel and Country Club. The event is open to members and non-members alike and is a great opportunity for active professionals […]
Sports, hobbies & ever increasing wills
The Paralympics are upon us, and Marieke Vervoot was quick to highlight that sport was her main reason for living, and also spoke of the suffering she endures because of her chronic, degenerative condition. Vervoot said she was “…still enjoying every little moment. When the moment comes when I have more bad days than good […]
Fraudsters in the family – increasing abuse of the LPA
The end of last month saw the gov.uk website publish some valid examples of LPAs – why would they have done this? Perhaps it is because, according to a 2015 survey published by KPMG, the level of fraud within families grew by a shocking 384% last year with elderly people most at risk. In the […]
Remember A Charity aim to make charitable will writing the social norm
Charity consortium, Remember A Charity is calling on the general public to ‘pass on something legendary’. The campaign which will return for its seventh year on 12th– 18th September 2016, and hopes to encourage generations to follow suit using the hashtag #MyWisdom. The 170 strong consortium is calling on more charities to join up and […]
One in three rely on inheritance for future stability
A third of working Brits – 35%, are relying on their inheritance to secure their financial future according to research carried out by insurer LV=. It was revealed that the most common thing UK residents would do with an inheritance is to pay off their mortgage and clear other outstanding debts. 16% of those polled […]
Work and Pensions Committee call for State Pension Hotline service
The Work and Pensions Committee have urged the Government to write to those individuals it projects will reach pension age with fewer than 10 qualifying years and thus fail to qualify for the new state pension. The Government has agreed to write directly to some 100,000 people who do not meet the Minimum Qualifying Period […]
