Free webinar: 2023 in review with Kings Court Trust

On Wednesday 13th December at 1pm, join Kings Court Trust for a recap of the key changes, topics, and industry movements in the Wills and probate sector over the past year. Technical Manager Nigel Merchant and Marketing Manager Sarah Lawrence will cover: The 2023 Autumn Statement Updates to the Statutory Legacy sum on intestacy The […]
Legacy income likely to have reached £4bn for first time

Charity legacy income is estimated to have reached £4bn and bequest numbers almost 140,000 in the year 2022/23 — an annual income growth of 6.5%. The record growth is estimated based on this year’s Legacy Monitor from Legacy Foresight – the sector’s annual benchmarking research programme, which gathers data from over 80 charities, accounting for […]
The Guardian: King’s estate allegedly profits from unclaimed inheritances

The Guardian has uncovered a controversial practice in which King Charles III is allegedly benefiting from the deaths of thousands of people in the north-west of England. The Duchy of Lancaster, a land and property estate that generates substantial profits for the king, is said to have collected tens of millions of pounds through an […]
Decline in desire for funerals, study reveals

Less than half of individuals in the UK express a desire for a traditional funeral upon their passing, according to a study conducted by Theos, a religious think tank. The findings have raised concerns, with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby, warning that society is losing its ability to “cope with loss.” […]
Resolution calls for more rights for unmarried couples

New research from family justice body Resolution has found most people back a change in the law to give cohabiting people more rights. Currently couples have few or no rights in the event of a relationship breakdown meaning that unlike married couples there is no mechanism for splitting assets and no ability to claim help […]
Rising fraud concerns in charities during economic hardship

As 2023’s Charity Fraud Awareness Week begins, the latest Charity Fraud Report reveals that fraud in the charity sector is on the rise. Nearly two-thirds of UK charities report that the cost-of-living crisis has heightened fraud risks, with a third experiencing more fraud incidents this year than in 2022. This upsurge in fraudulent activities comes […]
PIMFA to work with FCA on proposed ‘polluter pays’ model for personal investment firms

PIMFA has noted that proposals from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), for personal investment firms to hold additional capital to pay for consumer redress, as the first stage towards a “polluter pays” model of consumer compensation. Liz Field, Chief Executive of PIMFA, commented: “We note the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposals on extending capital requirements […]
New STEP research on loss of mental capacity

STEP continues to focus on the significant issues that surround loss of capacity particularly in light of a recent report stating that dementia cases are set to triple by 2050. Therefore supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, we wanted to determine the impact of the increasing numbers of capacity-related issues experienced by members and their clients. […]