Education, Collaboration And Networking At Willwriting Academy’s Annual Conference
There is less than a month to go before the most anticipated conference in Wills and Estate Planning takes place! Do you have your ticket organised? On Wednesday 20th and Thursday, 21st March, the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) and Institute of Scottish Professional Willwriters (ISPW) members will receive the priceless benefits only garnered from […]
Inheritance Disputes – The Solution
1 in 4 people are willing to challenge against a loved one’s Will if they disagree with the distribution of the estate, a survey reveals. (survey commissioned by Direct Line) The problem The readiness of family members to oppose a relative’s last wishes is reflected in official court statistics, which show Will disputes are continuously […]
The Late Freda Burgess Will Validity Dispute
This week ‘The Times’ reported on a Will validity dispute recently heard in the High Court where two sisters are said to allege that their late mother, Freda Burgess, did not have knowledge and approval of the contents of a Will executed in January 2013 bequeathing her circa £1.5 million estate equally between her three […]
Scottish Government Launch Consultation On Archaic Succession Laws
Following concerns that succession laws in Scotland are overly archaic, failing to reflect modern society, the SNP government have triggered a public consultation in a bid to ensure that laws regarding succession are modernised, creating a fairer system for all. Consultation point 4.3 focuses on the role of executors and references the case involving the […]
Landmark Case Could Make Access To Digital Assets Easier
The true ownership of digital assets have been difficult to ascertain but a recent case in the USA may have provided some clarity on what a person owns in the digital realm. In the case of re Scandalios (2017-2976/A N.Y. Surr. Ct. 2019), electronic and digital titans, Apple, have been ordered to allow a grieving husband […]
Mental Capacity Amendment Bill Ping Ponging Through Parliament
Having progressed through 5 stages at the House of Lords and 5 stages in Parliament, The Metal Capacity (Amendment) Bill [HL] 2017-19 has been pinged back to the Commons with two proposed amendments from the House of Lords yesterday following their latest consideration of amendments. Most notably, Baroness Tyler of Enfield felt the government’s statutory […]
New Build Homes Should Reflect The Needs Of Ageing Population
72% of the population believe that new homes should be built so that they are accessible for all ages and abilities. Basic requirements for older home owners should be considered by construction companies, especially as the population continues to age and those over the age of 65-years become an increasingly larger percentage of the population. […]
Cyber Security During Mergers And Acquisitions (M & A)
On face value, one may question what company mergers, acquisitions, or takeovers have to do with cyber security. But for law firms charged with overseeing the safe completion of such transactions, cyber security should be a core consideration, for two key reasons. Firstly, there is a risk that during due diligence (the process during which […]
Are Law Firms Becoming More Savvy with Scams?
As law firms and clients wise up to fraud, the cyber criminals are having to find new avenues to use their old scamming tricks to intercept money transfers. Conveyancing scams, which are a type of email modification fraud, are rife due to the significant amount of money passing between a law firm and its client. […]
Memories Locked Within Family Home Too Precious To Leave
Whilst many people (20%) over 55-years-old fear that they are worse off than they had anticipated they would be at their particular stage in life, the majority (62%) have no interest in downsizing. According to the Sunlife Home Sentiment Report, over half (55%) of the 1,000 respondents, all of which were over 50-years-old, are so […]
Will Disputes And Inheritance Feuds Continue To Increase
A recent report has found that the number of Wills and probate disputes making their way to HM Courts and Tribunals system increased by 6% in 2018. The research, carried out by Direct Line Life Insurance, also highlighted that HM Courts and Tribunals received 8,159 caveats to block or amend a grant of probate. As […]
Changes To Wills Notification Service Could Affect Charitable Spend
At the end of January, the Government announced it was to terminate its contract with Smee & Ford, the company that notifies charities of gifts left to them in Wills. This service is invaluable to our members, who rely on it to notify them of any bequests and use the service to help with forecasting […]
Professionals Update On HMCTS’ New Service For Charitable Bequests
Charity representatives are pleased the Government have recognised the service’s importance and fully support HMCTS’ decision to replace the system which will alert charities to donations in Wills. Key professionals from the charity sector are convening to discuss the new service following an open letter to charities from Susan Acland-Hood, HMCTS chief executive inviting them […]
Protecting Estate Funds With Consumer Bank Account Checker
When sending money to beneficiaries under an estate, can you be sure whose account you’re sending those funds to? Unfortunately, for many legal firms, the answer is no. The vast majority of firms do have a tried and tested due diligence process, but what these processes often don’t account for is the level of sophistication […]
The British Wills And Probate Awards Are Returning!
Following the success of the inaugural event last year, Today’s Wills and Probate are thrilled to announce that the British Wills and Probate Awards 2019 will take place on 17th October at the prestigious Belfry Hotel and Resort in Birmingham. We are also delighted that Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal […]
Should Will Writing Be Digital?
Following from the latest news regarding Probates going online – should the formation of Will’s now be digital as well, as part of the ongoing digitalisation of the legal sector? It may be ironic to suggest that Will’s should be digital, given that the majority of people in elderly age who are the most likely […]
Larke v Nugus Requests Are Very Often Used As A “Fishing Expedition” And They Are On The Rise…
It’s becoming increasingly frequent for disappointed beneficiaries or disgruntled family members to approach a solicitor to try and contest a Will, despite whether there are grounds for an enquiry or not. Anyone can contest a Will, and it is not necessarily an indicator of poor practice. If you haven’t received one yet, it’s only a […]
Remaining Competitive In A Price Sensitive Sector
The Wills, Probate and Estate Planning world has been shocked by a number of recent amendments in the law that will increase a client’s sensitivity to price. Last Saturday, new changes to the price of a death certificate came into force, tripling the cost to the consumer. It will now cost £11 per certificate as […]
Property, Brexit And The Executor
The property market. A subject that most people have an opinion on regardless of their experience of buying or selling. A matter that we see on the news and read in the paper on almost a daily basis. Brexit, another subject that occupies a lot of media attention at the moment. With the scaremongering surrounding […]
Karl Lagerfeld’s Cat Set To Inherit £150 Million
Prolific fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, who worked for Chanel for over thirty years, has died aged 85, leaving the majority of a fortune worth a reported £150 million to his beloved Persian cat, Choupette. Although the fashion world is mourning the loss of a fashion great, they were not shocked by the news that his […]
