Title Research’s latest blog discusses working with cross-border estates
In today’s modern world, it is increasingly more common to come across individuals who have acquired foreign assets throughout their lifetime. As a result of this, Solicitors are often presented with a whirlwind of challenges during the estate administration process due to a lack of expertise in working with these often-complicated overseas jurisdictions. In their […]
Assisted Dying Bill passes second reading
The private members Assisted Dying Bill cleared its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday. Introduced by Baroness Meacher in May 2021, the bill seeks to provide greater clarification over the issue of euthanasia in the UK. Currently euthanasia is illegal in the UK under The Suicide Act 1961 which makes it a […]
Unbundling has “untapped potential” states LSCP
The Legal Services Consumer Panel has concluded that legal unbundling services should be promoted more proactively in a bid to reduce scepticism and encourage more firms to offer the service. Defined as “the separation of tasks within a package of legal services between the consumer and the legal service provider” in which the two parties […]
Assisted Dying Bill has second reading in the Lords
The assisted Dying bill will have its second reading in the Lords today, giving peers the opportunity to discuss and debate the main principles governing the proposals to change a person’s right to die. Introduced as a private member’s bill in May of this year by Baroness Meacher, a cross bench peer, the bill proposes […]
Grand Ceremony for Grand Awards on Grand Night
The British Wills and Probate Awards returned in style this evening at The Grand Hotel in Birmingham. The great and the good of the industry came together to recognise and celebrate the success of all those involved in the wills and probate sector. The hybrid ceremony was watched by over 800 people between the live […]
LSB Launches survey to explore Will Writing regulation
The Legal Services Board (LSB) are conducting research to better understand the legal services market which is not covered by the regulators they oversee. The survey has been launched alongside the Society of Willwriters (SWW) and explores the services will writers offer, how those services are resourced and the businesses are structured. The survey is […]
CILEx Regulation approved to regulate ACCA Accountants for Probate
CILEx Regulation is delighted to announce that the Legal Services Board has approved its application to provide ongoing legal regulation to ACCA accountants delivering non-contentious probate services. Following the decision by ACCA earlier this year to withdraw as a legal services regulator, this approval will ensure consumers remain able to access probate services from qualified […]
Landmark ruling allow claimant to recover “Success Fee” from father’s estate
A Court of Appeal ruling passed down today has confirmed that the “success fee” element of conditional fee agreements (CFAs) can be recovered as part of an award under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (the 1975 Act). The landmark ruling provides certainty to private client practitioners acting for claimants in difficult […]
Current AML regime “does little to prevent money laundering”
Changes to the money laundering regulations should focus on increasing the effectiveness of efforts to tackle money laundering through a more risk-based and proportionate approach, said the Law Society of England and Wales in response to HM Treasury’s (HMT) call for evidence. The Call for Evidence is now closed and will consider the overall effectiveness […]
From tax planner to Legacy Professional
Having spent two decades specialising in capital taxes planning for a Big Four accounting firm working alongside Private Client lawyers, it was second nature to me to enhance my role within a hospice charity by forging collaborative relationships with local legal professionals, encouraging many to support our Wills Weeks campaigns and to provide free advice […]
Where next for Defendants in the Inheritance Act 1975 litigation world post Hirachand v Hirachand?
The case of Re H (Deceased) [2020] EWHC 1134 (Fam) last year addressed the question “Should a 1975 Act claimant be entitled to recover CFA success fee uplift as part of the claim?” HHJ Cohen’s answer was in the affirmative. This has now been confirmed by the Court of Appeal in the recent inheritance litigation […]
Why carry out a credit bureau check during estate administration?
In the second blog of Estatesearch’s Product in Focus series, we look at Credit Bureau Record checks and why these are a vital part of helping an Executor meet their responsibilities when administering an estate. Some 20 million people have needed to access a loved one’s financial accounts once they have passed away but 38% […]
One in ten over 75’s have not made a Will
New research has found that around 2 million retirees are yet to make a Will. the breakdown covers around 12% of over 75’s and 22% of 65-74 year olds who do not have a will in place according to research conducted by Just Group. Power of Attorney arrangements are much less common than wills with […]
£8 million lost in charity fraud over the last 12 months
The Charity Commission is today warning charity leaders to protect their organisations against fraud and cybercrime, after new figures show charities reported almost £8.6 million of lost funds in the last financial year. This latest data from Action Fraud also shows 1,059 separate incidents of fraud were reported by charities in just one year from […]
Success Fee Recoverability in Inheritance Act Claims
The appeal in the case of Hirachand v Hirachand & Anor (“Re H”) has been eagerly awaited by those who work in the Contentious Probate field; a landmark decision in relation to the recoverability of success fees from opponents under a Conditional Fee Agreement (“CFA”). Following a run of cases where the issue has been […]
Westminster-based Lee Bolton Monier Williams LLP appoint Access Legal
One of London’s oldest law firms is enjoying greater accessibility to data and applications after fully migrating to the cloud, supported by Oosha. The integrated cloud IT services provider, which is now part of law technology specialist Access Legal, was appointed by Westminster-based Lee Bolton Monier Williams LLP (LBMW) to help modernise its legacy IT system. […]
Comfortable retirement now 4.9% more expensive
Pensioners must now spend more to cover basic living costs as funding a comfortable retirement has jumped by more than £2000 per year for couples. An industry report predicts that an extra £40,000 will be needed to fund a comfortable 20 year retirement. This year’s updated Retirement Living Standards (RLS) from the Pensions and Lifetime […]
Financial Conduct Authority issues warning over remote working
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued new guidance to companies operating a remote or hybrid working model asking them to provide evidence that any lack of centralised location or remote working does not or is unlikely to affect the company’s ability to meet the threshold for the regulated activities it undertakes. The guidance states […]
Greener courts initiative
The Government is investing in a £40 million initiative to cut carbon emissions of courts across England and Wales. The investment will see a range of new measures designed to improve the sustainability of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), making it more environmentally friendly, both now and into the future. Proposed measures include a […]
British Wills and Probate Awards: Judges’ Insights Alex Holt and Matthew Lagden
As Champagne Sponsors at this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards 2021, we continue to celebrate with our Judges’ insights series. We will be sharing weekly interviews with the judges themselves to get their views on the future of the industry and what firms need to do to excel. Following last week’s interview with Carrie Caladine, Managing Director at […]
