Inheritance tax receipts on course to hit new heights
Inheritance tax (IHT) contributed £7bn to the Treasury between April 2024 and January 2025, a rise of £700m on the corresponding period for the previous year. The rise has been attributed to the ongoing freeze in IHT thresholds, coupled with rising property and asset values, and wider inflationary pressures. Following last Autumn’s Budget, the Office […]
UK death rate hits record low, but experts warn of concerning trends
The UK death rate fell to a record low in 2024, according to exclusive analysis conducted for BBC News. Mortality experts examining death certificates found that the number of deaths per head of the population returned to pre-pandemic levels, slightly below the previous record set in 2019. However, experts caution that this only reflects a […]
Son wins £700k will dispute after video shows sister forcing dying mother’s hand
A son has successfully challenged the validity of his late mother’s £700,000 will after a court ruled that she was unable to sign it independently, as reported by The Telegraph. A crucial video showed his sister placing a pen in their dying mother’s hand and physically moving it to sign over her entire estate. Margaret […]
Bitter family feud over £85m estate sparks High Court battle
A long-running feud within one of Britain’s most distinguished aristocratic families allegedly began when the Marquess of Hertford urged his son to abandon his bride at the altar, as reported by The Times. Despite this, William Seymour, Earl of Yarmouth, proceeded with his marriage to Kelsey Wells, a former Goldman Sachs banker, in June 2018. […]
Private equity firms have invested over £1.18bn into UK law firms since 2019
Since 2019, private equity firms have invested over £1.18 billion into UK law firms, with a record £534 million injected in 2024 alone, according to research by Acquira Professional Services. Traditionally resistant to external ownership, many firms are now reconsidering their stance, enticed by the potential for growth, digital transformation, and strategic expansion. The research […]
Nearly half of UK uncertain their families can amicably split their inheritance
A recent survey conducted by JMW Solicitors has revealed that almost half of UK respondents are unsure whether their family members would be able to distribute their inheritance fairly and amicably in the absence of a will. The survey, conducted among 1,097 respondents, found that 22.8% of people are uncertain whether their families could divide […]
Rising fraudulent wills threaten heirs as authorities fail to act – Fraser and Fraser
Fraser and Fraser are raising the alarm over a concerning rise in fraudulent wills – an emerging threat that is systematically depriving rightful heirs of their inheritances. While will forgery is not new, the frequency and sophistication of these cases are reaching alarming levels, compromising the integrity of the English and Welsh probate system and […]
How careless will drafting can tarnish a legacy
The most perfectly drafted will becomes invalid, and therefore worthless, if it is improperly executed. A recent case illustrated the vital importance of following the correct procedures when executing a will. It also raises wider questions about the quality of some unregulated will writing services in the UK today. An unregulated will drafting business, Legal […]