SRA issues first fixed penalties
On Thursday 16th November 2023 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) published the details of the first fixed penalties it has issued since introducing the new fixed financial penalty regime. The £750 fines that have been published today are in relation to three firms who have not complied with the SRA’s transparency rules. The breaches included: […]
Sunak and Hunt consider IHT cut in upcoming Autumn Statement
In preparation for the upcoming Autumn Statement, sources reveal that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt have been exploring plans to reduce the inheritance tax (IHT) rate from its current 40%, as reported by The Telegraph. This development follows months of downplaying expectations regarding tax cuts. Treasury officials have assessed that such a […]
‘Major issues persist’ two years after pension transfer regulation introduced
Two years on from the introduction of the pension transfer regulations, data reveals that while thousands of people have potentially been saved from fraudsters since launch, significant issues persist. The latest figures from Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) show that more than four out of five (82%) of all amber flags were raised due to […]
Diary of a private client practitioner: 17th November 2023
Does the winner take it all? 2022 and 2023 has been, and this seems set to continue, very active when it comes to probate claims. Time and time again, cases are front and centre in the public arena, helped along by the supporting headlines in the Daily Mail. This has also been helped by the […]
Labour’s Rachel Reeves proposes pension system overhaul to boost UK economy
Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves aims to revamp the country’s pension system. Her proposal involves redirecting retirement savings towards supporting the expansion of UK businesses, potentially increasing the average pension pot by up to £37,000, as reported by The Guardian. Reeves criticises the current government’s 25 tax increases over the past decade as evidence of their […]
Charity Commission urges caution in refusing philanthropic donations
The chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Orlando Fraser KC, has issued a warning to charity trustees regarding the rejection or return of philanthropic donations, as reported by STEP. In a lecture delivered on November 9th, 2023, Fraser emphasised that trustees should not decline such contributions without compelling reasons. While the Charity […]
Women in Wills – Liverpool Lunch
Women in Wills met for the last time in 2023 at the remarkable Municipal Hotel in Liverpool for an afternoon of networking and development with industry peers. The group started the lunch by looking back on the year and recognising the success of the group. In 2023, the group has increased by over 150 members […]
Executry & confirmation; the differences between probate in Scotland, England & Wales
“Two nations divided by a common language” is a phrase often connected to the relationship between the UK and the USA; but it could be just as easily applied to England and Scotland at times, especially when it comes to legal matters like the probate process. Joining Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast host David Opie […]
