Health Secretary Wes Streeting to vote against assisted dying bill
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed he will vote against a proposed change to the law on assisted dying, despite previously supporting it, as reported by The BBC. Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has introduced a bill aimed at giving terminally ill adults the right to choose a medically assisted death, but Streeting expressed doubts about […]
IHT receipts for April 2024 to September 2024 £0.4bn higher than same period last year – HMRC
Inheritance tax receipts for April 2024 to September 2024 are £4.3 billion, which is £0.4 billion higher than the same period last year. In the last set of tax revenue statistics before the Budget, HM Revenue and Customs revealed that gross tax and NIC receipts for April 2024 to September 2024 are £406.3 billion, which […]
Nonagenarian’s partially torn will sparks £800k court battle between relatives
The relatives of a determined 92-year-old woman, Carry Keats, are embroiled in a £800,000 court dispute after she partially tore up her will on her deathbed, as reported by The Times. The incident has led to a legal battle between her five cousins and her younger sister, Josephine Oakley. While hospitalised, Keats ripped through three-quarters […]
Just over half of UK adults consider planning for their digital legacy in their wills, poll reveals
Millions of UK adults risk leaving grieving loved ones without access to cherished memories and vital information by neglecting to plan for their digital legacy, a new survey by Will Aid shows. The national Will-writing campaign has revealed 42% of respondents overlooked the critical need to include digital assets in estate planning – meaning friends […]
Equity Release market sees growth in Q3, driven by increased loan sizes and rising property values
The latest quarterly Equity Release report revealed a 2% increase in new plans agreed, bringing the total to 5,370 for the quarter. This marks the first time since the Autumn 2022 mini-Budget that the equity release market has seen two consecutive quarters of growth. Between July and September, homeowners over the age of 55 withdrew […]
HMRC warns businesses against claiming tax deductions for hypothetical GDPR penalties
HMRC has issued a warning to business owners against claiming tax deductions for hypothetical future penalties under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as reported by STEP. The tax authority has identified that some tax agents have been advising companies to claim corporation tax refunds or reductions by setting aside funds as a precaution for […]
Free wills month case study: Grandad leaves family instruction on how to fix leaky tap in his will
CASE STUDY Alisa, 30, Marketing Professional My Grandad’s ‘For When I’m Gone’ file changed my life. After her grandfather passed away on Christmas Eve, we discovered a folder he had created titled “For When I’m Gone.” The folder included everything from practical matters like his will and life insurance policy, to sentimental items like messages […]
Law Society’s new AI strategy: The three I’s
The Law Society of England and Wales has announced its new artificial intelligence (AI) strategy based on three pillars: Innovation, Impact and Integrity. AI is already driving Innovation across the legal sector. At the core of the new strategy is Integrity to ensure AI is used in a responsible and ethical way. The Law Society’s […]
Law Society urges SRA to focus on its core role, as new report shows insight into perceptions of the regulator
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published findings from its corporate strategy benchmarking research, which examines key audiences’ perception of its performance, despite continued warnings from the Law Society of England and Wales to focus on its core role. The report has found that the existence of legal regulators enforces confidence and trust. However, low […]
Six ways the Budget could raise inheritance tax or CGT at death
Possible moves to increase taxes on the transfer of wealth at death continue to feature in speculation as to where ‘painful’ Budget measures will land. As pre-Budget leaks start to trickle out, it has been reported that the Chancellor is backing away from reform of tax reliefs on pension contributions because of the probable impact […]
Harness tech to eliminate ‘unacceptable’ probate delays, wills specialist warns
Delays to probate applications have declined in recent months according to new statistics, but as the industry celebrates Free Wills Month, one wills specialist insists officials are still not doing enough to eliminate the “unacceptable” backlog. Six months after lambasting “appalling” cuts to phone lines services at the probate office, Carl Christensen, founder of online, […]
Case Review: The Lessons of Leonard v Leonard
Today’s Wills and Probate Host David Opie is joined by Birketts’ Head of the Private Wealth Dispute Team Bernadette Baker and Partner in the team Kate Harris to discuss the case of Leonard v Leonard; a convoluted and disputed probate case concerning the estate of Jack Leonard and the validity of two separate Wills. Bernadette […]
