Inheritance Implications For UK Family Businesses
The twenty-first century has seen the popularity of the family business diminish; losing its popularity to corporate conglomerates residing in modern buildings with shiny interactive desks. To a large extent, the Victorian values of the family business being passed down the generations is no longer the popular option. In fact, according to a 2018 research […]
Family Will Disputes – When Property Gifts Go Wrong
As people increasingly live longer, frequently requiring expensive care, gift-giving in wills needs to be approached with caution. A will made years, maybe even decades before old age may become inappropriate as cash reserves dwindle. For example, leaving a property to one child and the residuary estate to another child might have reflected a parent’s […]
The Fascinating Case Of Alexander Wilson: A Contentious Probate Perspective
Actress Ruth Wilson is currently appearing on our screens playing her own grandmother, Alison Wilson, telling the story of her life with her husband, Alexander Wilson, and discoveries made about his life after his death. The programme is based on Alison Wilson’s memoirs and is a fascinating story of bigamy, secret lives and multiple families. […]
AI Could Increase The Major Cyber Threats In 2019
Computer security software giant McAfee has released a report warning that companies face being ‘under siege’ from malware, ransomware and other cyber threats next year. They predict that underground organisations will collaborate to form bigger, more powerful groups, offering off-the-shelf packages to criminals. Cyber threats will no longer consist of one attack, but are likely […]
Dementia, Death and Exploitative Deputies
Although the bright jovial lights we associate with this festive period are now in full swing, the end of the calendar year also provides us with some insight into the mortality rates in England and Wales. Although the figures for 2017 were the highest numbers registered annually since 2003, the death rates for 2018 look […]
Report Claims 5 Million Adults Mystified By Will-Making Process
Recent research carried out for the Royal London Mutual Insurance Society has revealed that 5.4 million adults admit to having no idea where to begin when it comes to writing a will. Over half (54%) of the adult population do not have a will and when it comes to those with children, 59% of parents […]
Legal Ombudsman Opens Online Complaints Service
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) were overwhelmed by complaints this year, finding it extremely difficult to process the requests in an efficient and timely manner. They have therefore set up an online complaints service that should streamline the complaints that are relevant to LeO; the others will be forwarded to the correct regulator. By using complaints […]
A Will Made In The Silver Jubilee Prevents Intestacy
Every day Certainty Will Search prevents estates being distributed incorrectly because an unknown Will exists. In the majority of cases these Wills are unknown to the client and the professional dealing with the estate and without any indication that they exist. In the below probate, two Wills were known about, a homemade Will and a […]
Experts Share Views On Government’s New Increased Probate Fees
The Government’s announcement last month will see many families paying more in probate fees from April 2019. They claimed that fees are vital to funding an effective court and tribunals system and argued that increasing probate fees will enable them to run a fair and efficient court system. The new legislation will raise the estate […]
Executor Denied Property Fraudulently Transferred From Deceased
Becoming an executor of a property can be an extremely challenging job; however, the task becomes even more onerous when you are asked to reclaim property by overturning a longstanding fraud. Through the Court of Appeal Ruling, the victim and subsequently the executor of the victim’s estate cannot seek rectification of the register of a […]
Dementia Sufferer Marries Toyboy 24 Years Her Junior
A shocked family of a 91-year-old dementia sufferer who died months after secretly marrying a man 24 years her junior, are calling for a change in the law. Michael Blass and Sister Daphne Franks were horrified to learn that their mum, Joan Blass had married her live-in carer, Colman Folan, 70, only five months before […]
Legendary Stars : The Cost Of Dying Intestate
Stars dying without Wills is becoming all too common, but why, despite their fortune, are they putting their finances on the backburner, particularly if musicians’ estates can continue to accrue substantial revenue long after their death. While UK Wills experts continually stress the importance of having a Will in place to protect loved ones, clearly, […]
Overcoming Consumer Anxieties And Regulatory Concerns
There are many obstacles, understandable obstacles, that consumers must bypass in order to instruct a professional to complete a Will or Estate Planning work. People do not like to contemplate their own mortality and financial restrictions may dissuade others. However, a new report has claimed that issues regarding regulation may deter others from using expert […]
Probate Fees, Are There Options For mitigation?
Parliament are implementing legislation in April 2019 which means Probate fees will be banded. Currently, Probate fees are fixed at £215 – or £155 for families who use a Solicitor regardless of the estate value. In the written statement to Parliament (5 November 2018) Under Secretary of State for Justice Lucy Frazer QC MP stated […]
Join Certainty’s Last 2018 Webinar On Statutory Wills
Title: Statutory Wills Speaker: Carol McBride, Solicitors for the Elderly Date: Wednesday 12th December 2018 Time: 12.00pm Link: https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1221523&tp_key=d4a96af50b We are delighted to welcome Carol McBride from Solicitors for the Elderly who will be presenting the final instalment of this year’s Certainty Expert Webinars. What is a Statutory Will? When to consider them, and how […]
Thinking Ahead To 2019
The team at the Society of Will Writers (SWW) are planning ahead well into 2019. We’ve set college dates for courses, we’re pleased to announce the conference dates are the 7th and 8th October next year and we have even chosen a new venue – The Hilton Hotel at East Midlands Airport with easy access […]
CMA Research Reveals Exploitative Funeral Sector
Six months ago, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a market study into the funeral sector following concerns that prices have been unfairly escalating for too long. The initial research has indicated epidemic above inflation price rises for over a decade. These rises have applied for both the crematoria services and funeral director services. […]
Success For Farmer’s Wife In Appeal Against Son
The England and Wales Court of Appeal (EWCA) has referred a proprietary estoppel case back to the High Court requesting that the judge change his ruling to award the appellant a lump sum of between £1million and £2million, instead of the £200 per week initially granted to her. The case arose following a dispute between […]
LPA Refund Scheme Failing 800,000 People
In February, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) announced that they had opened a refund scheme for people that had been overcharged for their power of attorney fees. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced that anyone overcharged for lasting power of attorney fees between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2017 are entitled to […]
Consumers Lacking Basic Understanding of Wills Process
A new report has highlighted a serious lack knowledge and understanding of the wills market in the general public. The Wills & Probate Consumer Research Report 2018 found that six people out of ten were unaware that there is no regulation of will writers, although half of those questioned believed that the practice should be […]
