Should executors value chattels themselves — or could it cost the estate?
Should Executors Value Chattels Themselves — or Could It Cost the Estate? When applying for probate executors must report the value of the deceased’s personal possessions, known as chattels. These include furniture, jewellery, artworks and general household items. It can be tempting for executors to estimate the values themselves to save time or reduce costs. […]
Charitable estates make up 16% of all estates at probate
The number of estates leaving legacies has risen by 22% year on year, contributing to a 9% overall growth in the legacy market which is now valued at £4.5bn according to the first Legacy Giving Report. Published through a partnership between Smee & Ford and Legacy Futures, the inaugural report provide ‘the most comprehensive legacy data […]
Axiom Ince crackdown – SRA directed to take action
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been directed to take action by the Legal Services Board (LSB) in the wake of the independent review into the failure of Axiom Ince. In response to the report, in which the SRA was criticised for regulatory failings in the run up to the collapse of Axion Ince, it […]
Communication is key when dealing with delays, says Legal Ombudsman in new guidance
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has set out its expectations for service providers when dealing with third-party delays, which stress the importance of effective communication. The LeO says almost half of the complaints it receives are about communication and delays, with a ‘common feature’ being whether the delay could have been caused or influenced by a […]
‘Lawyer’ now legally protected term in Scotland, as Law Society hails ‘major milestone’
A new bill passed by the Scottish Parliament will prevent anyone who isn’t licensed from using the title ‘lawyer’, following a 10-year campaign by the Law Society of Scotland. The Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill will give the title of ‘lawyer’ the same legal protection as ‘solicitor’, making it an offence for anyone to […]
Law Society urges government not to scrap ‘vital’ solicitor apprenticeships for over 21s
The Law Society of England and Wales has welcomed the government’s decision to partially fund level 7 apprenticeships for young people aged 16-21, but said providing opportunities for those aged over 21 is ‘critical’ to support legal recruitment. Earlier this week the government announced it would be ‘refocusing’ funding away from Level 7 (masters level) […]
Change is coming, so what does this mean and when will it happen?
The Law Commission’s report, Modernising Wills Law, proposes significant changes. This article explores what some of the recommendations could mean for professionals and when these changes might come into effect. Background The Law Commission began its review in 2016, aiming to address the rigidity of formal requirements, inconsistencies around mental capacity, and the failure to […]
Reform of the Wills Act 1837: bringing the law on wills into the modern age or a recipe for increased litigation?
The long-awaited Law Commission Report on modernising the law relating to Wills, published on 16 May 2025, certainly did not shy away from making some radical and (mostly) welcome recommendations. If approved, the proposals will represent the most significant and comprehensive changes to the Wills Act since it was introduced in 1837. The recommendations are […]