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 […]
Vaccinating against IHT
In a world where vaccines are front page news, it is important to not only protect against medical pandemic but also to ensure that there is effective protection against the endemic challenges caused by the UK inheritance Tax regime. With the continued growth of net household wealth, which according to the Office of National Statistics, […]
Beneficiary witnesses and void gifts in a Will – new rules needed to include cohabiting couples
With various rules governing who can witness a Will, it’s important that Wills, trusts and probate lawyers and Will writers know how the witness is connected to the testator and beneficiaries to avoid gifts becoming void and Wills challenged. Very little has changed in a long time in terms of signing and attesting Wills, with […]
More than a third of legal professionals considered quitting their jobs due to poor mental health
A lot has changed in the last year, particularly with regards to hybrid working habits and flexible arrangements. To understand the impact of these changes on the wellbeing and stress levels of legal professionals, Exizent conducted a survey to discover how they’re coping with the changes and what employers can do to improve the working […]
MOJ consultation on modernising LPAs comes to an end
A 12-week consultation on the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) proposals to modernise lasting powers of attorney (LPA) is now being analysed following the end of the consultation in October. The MOJ reports that over 300 responses were received through the online hub, post and by email from stakeholders and members of the public. Alongside the […]
Dan and Ben complete the Tower Street Finance team of 2021
As part of our continued growth, we’ve welcomed four new colleagues to the Tower Street Finance team over the last month and this week we’re excited to announce another two have joined us to complete our 2021 team. Dan Holland is the new addition to our business development team and Ben Ivory will be strengthening […]
Rules change on funeral pricing transparency
The Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) has brought in new rules ensuring that all UK funeral directors make their pricing information easily accessible for customers. The CMA new rules require directors to display pricing information, alongside an additional options price list. In the windows of funeral homes, customers will now be able to find a […]
5 things you need to know about the upcoming changes to IHT reporting
The changes to IHT excepted estates rules are vastly approaching and will see the simplification of the administrative burden placed on most estates going through probate or confirmation. Below, we detail 5 key things you need to know about the changes and explain what they are, what they mean for those administering an estate and how Exizent can help legal service firms continue to show value to clients amidst the changes. Why are the changes happening? […]
Inheritance Data is pleased to launch the most comprehensive share search available to market
Inheritance Data has secured exclusive rights to a data set that covers the top FTSE 350 companies, LSE Main, AIM, Aquis Exchange, and Venture Capital Trusts. Our thorough Financial Asset Search request now includes a full search of these. It is reported that the value of the top FTSE 350 companies is circa £2.2TN and […]
A review of 2021 in the wills and probate industry
Genealogy and asset repatriation specialists, Title Research, recap on this year’s biggest headlines in the Wills and probate sector in their new informative content. 2021: The year in review blog Title Research’s latest blog looks at some of the most popular topics within the legal sector that they’ve followed throughout 2021, including: The legal sector […]
MOJ responds to rising demand for free legal advice
A new report from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) demonstrates how government funding has maintained and expanded vital access to free specialist legal advice. Through the Covid-19 Specialist Advice Services Scheme (CSASS), £5.4 million was awarded in 2020/21 by the MOJ and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to the Law Centres Network and […]
Law Society responds to Chatham House AML report
The Law Society of England and Wales has issued a response to London-based thinktank Chatham House’s recent report criticising the UK’s anti-money laundering (AML) laws. The report states that un-policed and often unenforceable anti-corruption laws have made the UK the global money-laundering capital for a post-Soviet Union elite, severely damaging Britain’s international reputation and the […]
Novitas ceases litigation funding to new customers
One of the biggest UK litigation funders, Novitas Loans, has announced that it has ceased lending to new customers. The company, which offers lending for contentious probate, family law and clinical cases, said that it will continue managing it’s existing customer base and cases, and will consider applications for extensions, but will not take on […]
Just 14% of solicitors used remote will witnessing in lockdown
A survey conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales about whether to extend remote witnessing of wills beyond January 2022 has found that only a small proportion of solicitors have chosen to use it for their clients. Under the 1837 Wills Act, two witnesses’ signatures are required in the physical presence of the […]
LSB publishes lawyer competency consultation
The Legal Services Board (LSB) says it finds the legal profession is “out of step compared with other professions”, and that greater focus on assessing and understanding levels of competence is required. To address this, the LSB has launched a consultation on a draft statutory statement of policy on the outcomes regulators should pursue to ensure legal […]
Will writing amongst millennials increases by 10%
A new study has found that more millennials than ever before have written wills as a result of the pandemic. The study conducted by LegalZoom and Caring.com revealed that at least 27% of 18-34 year olds had a will in 2021, compared to 18% in 2019. Of those that had drafted a will, 30% cited […]
Government publishes 10-year vision to improve adult social care
The Department of Health and Social Care has published its 10-year vision for adult social care which, it says, will help provide greater choice for those receiving care and certainty over costs. The white paper is part of the government’s wider social care plans, including the integration of white paper, the Health and Care Bill […]
Spears wins right to execute her estate
Latest developments in the ongoing Britney Spears conservatorship case reveal that the singer has won the right to sign financial paperwork and manage her $50m (£37.8m) estate. In a hearing on Wednesday 8th December Judge Brenda Penny ruled that Spears is now free to execute her own estate documents, allowing her to manage her own […]
