A Review Of The Wills And Probate Sector In 2018
As 2018 is coming to an end, we can review and re-cap what has happened in the Wills and probate industry. There has been big changes in the past 12 months which will effect the sector going forward which has included key Government related announcements and thought-provoking research papers which could transform the future of […]
House Of Lords Vote For Probate Fees Changes
The House of Lords have overwhelmingly voted against the changes to the non-contentious Probate fees bill. In a recent vote, 187 voted against declining the changes, whilst only 90 peers deemed the current system worthy of remaining in its current iteration. Lord Marks, of Henley on Thames, commented: “That this House declines to approve the draft […]
Working Remotely Could Compromise Cyber Security
According to a 2018 study, 70% of people globally work remotely at least once a week; these statistics have not gone unnoticed by the savvy cyber criminal. 80% of all businesses in the UK have seen an increase in staff working remotely over the past two years according to a recent report by CybSafe. However, […]
Millennials – The Forgotten Generation In Wills And Probate
‘The Will Writing Industry in 2018’ report found that 45% of the UK now have a Will, this has increased by 6% from the 39% recorded in 2017. However, this is impacted by the 75% of people aged over 54-years who do have a Will. However, when you look into the Millennial Generation, only 12% […]
2018 – A Year In Review
2018 has been a year to remember for Countrywide Tax & Trust Corporation Ltd (CTTC Ltd). From featuring in the Parliamentary Review to introducing innovative and ground-breaking features into our legal document drafting Software, Countrywide Legacy. We take a look back at our highlights of the year. Parliamentary Review Pictured above are Countrywide Directors Bob […]
Gaining Expert Understanding on Issues Around Capacity and the Elderly
In November, ‘The Will Writing Industry in 2018’, report found that 6% more of the population made a Will in 2018 than in the previous year. 45% of Britons now have a Will; this figure has increased from 39% recorded in 2017. The trend of older age groups making a Will has also continued to […]
SWW Expands Member Benefits With New Partners
The Society of Will Writers is a non-profit making self regulatory organisation which seeks to protect the public and serve the interests of those men and women who are active professionals in our field. The Society has set itself two main tasks: To promote to the public at large the real need and sense in […]
Four SMEs Will Be Breached By Cyber Criminals Every Two Years
Cyber crime has the potential to cripple a business. Within the last year, data breaches have caused reputational damage to a multitude of businesses including British Airways, Morrisons and the NHS. Additionally, the legal sector has faced record financial losses through cyber crime and attempts to steal data through data breaches are at an all […]
Santander Fined for Poor Bereavement Processes
Customers of Santander were failed for more than three years in regards to the probate services provided by the financial juggernaut. The FCA have consequently fined Santander £32.8 million for the way it dealt with the bereavement process of over 40,000 customers between the years of 2013 and 2016. According to the FCA, beneficiaries were […]
ICO Given Increased Powers To Fine Directors For Spam Calls
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) have been granted new powers which allow it to fine bosses for spam calls. As of this week, starting on the 17th December, company directors and senior officers could be held personally liable for nuisance calls, and be forced to pay up to £500,000 for any breaches. The ICO has […]
Harper Lee’s Estate In Dispute With Mockingbird Stage Production
Representatives from Harper Lee’s estate have forced Broadway Producers of the most recent version of To Kill A Mockingbird to reconsider the way they portray the iconic leading character Atticus Finch. The newest adaptation of Lee’s perception of racist oppression in America’s South, written by Aaron Sorkin, famous for writing The West Wing, portrayed the […]
Excess Winter Deaths Highest Since 1975
The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) recently published Excess Winter Deaths (EWD) data for England and Wales has revealed that England and Wales experienced more EWDs than any other year on recent record. 2017/18 excess winter deaths totalled 50,100. The records would have to go back to 1975/76 to find a year when more EWD […]
Solicitor’s Neglect Conviction Overturned By Court Of Appeal
A solicitor, specialising in elderly care cases, who was convicted of neglecting her mother on the 29th March this year, has had her conviction overturned on appeal. Emma-Jane Kurtz, who held enduring power of attorney, was convicted at Oxford Crown Court for one count of wilful neglect by the donee of a power of attorney […]
The Death Of Emails in Law Firms Within Five Years
An expert has predicted that in only five years law firms will stop using emails to be replaced with a more secure means of communication. Cyber crime is happening all the time and becoming more and more sophisticated. Law firms are particularly targeted due to a lot of sensitive information held on clients and their […]
Attorney On Trial For Acting Dishonestly
Graeme Prance, who formed a rugby friendship with older rugby fan, Ken Elliott, has been accused of fraudulently stealing Mr Elliott’s son’s inheritance. Richard Elliott had a fractious relationship with his father Ken and only found out that he had been overlooked to inherit the family bungalow on the day his father passed away. Ken […]
Discussing High Court Decision In Paull v Paull [2018] EWHC 2520 (Ch)
This article discusses the recent High Court decision in Paull v Paull [2018] EWHC 2520 (Ch) concerning whether a property transfer from an elderly father to his son could be set aside for presumed undue influence. The facts The claimant was Neville Paull. The defendant was his son, Bradley Paull. In 2010 Neville transferred his […]
Supermen Webinar 49: The Countrywide Legacy Software: Where Are We And What’s Coming Next?
Running a business means you are always looking for ways to save time and money, whilst increasing client satisfaction. The Countrywide Legacy Software is continuously being developed in order to help professionals and their businesses do exactly that. Countrywide Legacy is simply more than just legal document drafting software, it assists in running an entire […]
Over 5 Million People Burdened With Wills And Estate Planning Anxieties
Over half of the UK public find the concept of writing a Will a taboo subject. Either they are too worried to confront their mortality, too financially constrained or simply perplexed by the process; this means that over half of us are moving through life without any Will at all. A recent report, by Royal […]
Is Your Business Ready For The Blockchain Revolution?
Today’s world is increasingly digital. We are living in a time of constant change – not least when it comes to consumer expectations – and with this change comes new challenges that require new ways of working. Let’s face it, our communications, media, entertainment and business interactions are increasingly paperless, so why should will writing […]
Contentious Trust And Probate Quarterly Round-Up Autumn 2018
Gelber and another v The Sunderland Foundation and others [2018] The High Court has exercised its discretion under Section 57 of the Trustees Act 1925 to grant additional powers to the trustees of a settlement created by the 11th Duke of Marlborough. The trustees sought new powers (i) authorising them to pay part of the […]
