Ending probate delays
Executors and bereaved families will be only too aware of the length of time it has taken during the pandemic to obtain grants of probate. Practitioners will be aware of this too but will also remember a time not so long ago when grants were issued soon after applications were submitted, sometimes in a matter […]
“Delayed homeownership” in under 40s shows changing attitudes to later life borrowing
Nearly half (45%) of mortgaged homeowners under the age of 40 got onto the property ladder “much later” than they expected, compared with 29% of over-40s, according to new research by the Equity Release Council (the Council) which highlights the British public’s changing relationship with home-ownership. A study of 5,000 UK adults’ financial experiences also […]
HMRC publishes new guidance for calculating IHT on gifts
HMRC has published new guidance for working out IHT due on gifts, including how to find out which gifts count towards the value of the estate, how to value them and how to work out how much IHT may be due. To work out which gifts to include in calculations, HMRC suggests following these steps: […]
Widow must “prove” she can use dead husband’s frozen sperm
A widow has been informed that due to an administrative mistake she is unable to use her late husband’s frozen sperm to have his baby unless she takes the case to the High Court. Thirty-five year-old Jade Payne from Northampton has been told by TFP Oxford Fertility that she must first prove that her husband […]
MOJ announces plans to reform Human Rights Act
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has announced a three month consultation as it plans to revise The Human Rights Act. The MOJ says that the proposed new legislation aims to strike a proper balance between individuals’ rights, personal responsibility and the wider public interest, which would be achieved while retaining the UK’s commitment to the […]
Legal Ombudsman must take “radical action” says Law Society
The Law Society has issued a statement saying that the Legal Ombudsman service (LeO) must take “radical action” if it wishes to retain the confidence of both public and profession. The Law Society said that changes made this year by the LeO are starting to show some signs of improvement, but the pace of change […]
