The Charity Commission suspends independent school charity trustees
The bank accounts of two independent school charities have been frozen by The Charity Commission, a charity regulator for England and Wales. The commission has opened a class statutory inquiry on The Martin Foundation (registered charity number 1110184) and The Collegiate Charitable Foundation (registered charity number 1012924). The charities have been examined by the regulator […]
Unmarried mother wins landmark WPA Supreme Court Ruling
Siobahn McLaughlin, mother of four, and recently widowed, has won her Supreme Court case that allows her to claim a Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA). Despite living with her partner, John Adams, for 23 years, Ms McLaughlin was denied this precious relief that would have helped lift the financial burden left in her partner’s absence because […]
Breaking News: The Law Commission says Electronic signatures are as valid as handwritten ones…
and Countrywide Legacy is one step ahead. An electronic signature should be considered just as legally binding as a handwritten one, even when it is just a typed name or a single click of a button, the Law Commission has said. Individuals should be able to use digital devices to sign legal documents that once […]
Embrace digital technology to help grow your business
Think about your typical day and the interactions you have with technology. We ask Alexa to switch on our lights or control the heating before we get out of bed. Blurry eyed, we stumble through our phones and have instant access to the world’s news. You can catch a tube and find the entire outer […]
Case Analysis: A cohabitant’s claim for reasonable financial provision.
Case Analysis: Banfield v Campbell [2018] EWHC 1943 (Ch) A cohabitant’s claim for reasonable financial provision. On 24 July 2018, judgment was handed down in Banfield v Campbell. The case concerned the estate of Sarah Campbell who tragically died at the age of 63 on a holiday flight to the Canary Islands in 2015. A […]
Solicitors warn making inheritance promises without a Will can destroy families
Private sector legal professionals are warning clients that ‘promises are not enough’ when it comes to farm inheritance as it could tear families apart if a Will is not written. Farming families have been advised on how they can avoid a costly inheritance battle by stressing the importance of making a will – and not […]
Michael Jacksons’ estate provides remarkable provision for dependants in death than when he was alive
Marking Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday this week, new court papers showed that his estate has made extraordinary recovery after he died. Jackson now earns more money in death than he did when he was alive, after stacking up a huge £57 million in 12 months. Following his death, the legendary ‘King of Pop’ had debts […]
Ambiguous wording must be viewed in context of surroundings
The Supreme Court in Marley V Rawlings and Another has ruled that words in a Will that could be considered contradictory or confusing must be considered by the context of the time the Will was written. Our English language can be complex and is constantly moving and evolving. Words that have a clear meaning in […]
The High Court Orders Trustees to give more information to beneficiaries
The High Court has ruled on the extent to which a beneficiary is able to request information from a trustee in relation to a trust and the application of legal professional privilege to any requested document. This story involves a couple that bought a farm as beneficial joint tenants. Sensibly, Mr and Mrs Tamplin made […]
Oxfam’s Legacy Windfall: The Legal Implications
Gifts in Wills are a vital source of income for many charitable organisations. Many rely on this income to sustain provision of their services for often the most vulnerable in our society. According to ‘Legacy Trends 2018’ published by Smee & Ford, charity legacy income reached a record high of £2.8bn in 2017, up by […]
Professor Lesley King – Judge’s Spotlight
A leading professional, author and lecturer in Wills, Trusts and Probate, Professor Lesley King, is on the judging panel for the first unique British Wills and Probate Awards 2018. Lesley is a member of the Law Society’s Wills & Equity Committee and the Probate & Estates Committee of STEP and an honorary member of the […]
High Court rules in favour of trustee selling employee benefit trust
Unforeseen market conditions have helped an employee of a benefit trust to overrule the provisions of the trust deed. An offer was made to buy the entire share capital of the trust in 2017. After researching the seller, the trustee leaned in favour of the sale as it would significantly benefit the members of the […]
The Law Commission states electronic signature as valid as handwritten one
According to a consultation paper from the Law Commission of England and Wales, electronic signing of legal documents should be considered just as legally binding as a handwritten one – without the need to change the law. The Law Commission further states that the electronic signature can even be valid when it is just a […]
Is your legal document drafting software this flexible?
Whether you are a solicitor, a large or a small company or an independent professional, Countrywide Legacy is right for you! Running a business also means you are always looking for ways to cut costs and save time. A paperless system will allow you to do just that! View our new paperless features here: https://www.countrywidelegacy.co.uk/our-packages/paperless-package […]
How do companies deal with digital assets post death?
How do large digital companies deal with subscriptions and/or accounts post death? What happens to the public’s copious amount of photos, videos, messages and documents on social media? In as little as two years (from 2012 to 2014), the public have produced more data than in all of human civilisation before that – and is […]
BTWC Later Life Planning Conference
Beneficial Trust & Will Company Ltd (BTWC) are pleased to announce they are holding their Later Life Planning Conference on 18th September. This dedicated conference will be focusing on Later Life Planning for financial professionals and those in legal services. The keynote speakers will be providing the latest insight into topics relevant to ensuring your […]
The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin died ‘Intestate’
Legendary American singer Aretha Franklin tragically died without leaving a Will, according to reports. The late singer died this month, aged 76, after suffering from pancreatic cancer. It was revealed in court papers obtained by celebrity news website TMZ that Aretha died ‘intestate’ which means she did not have a Will. The 18-time Grammy Award […]
WillSuite to make a big announcement
Will writing software provider WillSuite push further to develop services bringing benefit to estate planning professionals across the industry and their customers. Our team have been working tirelessly on partnerships, planning, and development behind a new product and we’re about to make a big announcement to bring huge benefits to WillSuite’s current users, and also […]
100% of first probate accountancy students ACCAurately complete course
The ACCA Probate and Administration course, delivered through Kaplan Altior’s online system, has been completed and assessed for the first time this July. ACCA were determined to provide a probate course for accountants following a 2016 survey of 448 responses that highlighted an overwhelming desire to train in probate legal services. 81% of respondents indicated […]
The Law Society continue to condemn SRA amendments and proposals
Following The Law Society’s recent condemnation of the Solicitor Regulatory Authority’s (SRA) transparency reforms, The Law Society have now opposed the SRA’s plans to amend the Solicitors’ Handbook. In a recent letter to the Legal Services Board and a press release this morning, The Law Society have argued that the ‘Looking to the Future’ reform […]
