Financial literacy means making preparations for when you’re no longer here
As Benjamin Franklin once said: “nothing in life is certain – except death and taxes.” With that in mind, The Estate Registry, which offers a range of end of life admin products including NotifyNOW, InheritNOW and LegacyNOW, as well as award-winning bereavement notification service Settld, argues that one of the most important things you can […]
Anglia Research showcased through latest BBC podcast series on Bona Vacantia fraud
We are proud to announce that the BBC has released a compelling new podcast, Grave Robbers, following an in-depth investigation led by the team here at Anglia Research. Anglia Research was closely involved in bringing this story to light, with company founder and Managing Director Peter Turvey having alerted the journalist Sue Mitchell to our […]
No timeline for unclaimed Estates list to be re-published
The Government Legal Department have said there is no timeline on when the Bona Vacantia list will be available again online on GOV.UK after it was taken down earlier this week. On Monday, the unclaimed Estates list published by the government was taken down following an expose detailing how fraudsters are exploiting gaps in the […]
Entry deadline today; British Wills and Probate Awards 2025
Entry to the British Wills and Probate Awards 2025, sponsored by Arken.legal, closes tonight (Friday 11th July) with a further one week to finalise submissions before they are submitted to the judging panel. Following the closing of submissions on Friday 18th July, all the awards entries will go to the expert and independent judging panel […]
Delays could leave infected blood scandal victims liable for IHT on compensation payments
Delays in compensation payments to victims of the infected blood scandal means some families are facing unexpected inheritance tax bills in a technicality known as ‘secondary transfer’ after payments to families of victims who have died are treated as part of their estate. The issue was flagged by the Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL) and […]
Ombudsman to publish more examples of complaints failings in drive for greater transparency
Efforts to help the legal sector better understand the role of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) and provide insight into their decisions are to be redoubled under a ‘renewed commitment to using statutory powers to publish final decisions where it is in the public interest to do so.’ The Legal Ombudsman, established in the wake of […]
High court rules will was forgery to disinherit daughter
A disputed will has been found to be a forgery in a high court decision after the death of Mr Monir Jaman Shaikh in April 2020 sparked a series of events which ultimately saw his only daughter disinherited. The case was brought by Mrs Mosammat Shapna Khatun whose father, Mr Shaikh, had apparently disinherited his […]
Outcry after firm appoints its parent company as professional executor
The appointment of a will writer’s parent company as the executor of a will has been heavily criticised in a widely publicised case involving a family from Bolton, Lancashire. Nigel Smith died of a brain tumour in 2024 and had written his will online through a now-dissolved company, Nine Minute Wills, offering their drafting services […]
Inheritance tax changes and reform of the Wills Act: What will they mean for charities?
Professionals in the charity legacy sector are preparing for significant legislative developments in two key areas. First, the Autumn 2024 Budget has introduced major changes to inheritance tax (IHT), including the treatment of pensions. Second, the Law Commission’s May 2025 report has set out proposals for modernising the Wills Act 1837. Both of these changes […]
Hammer time for probate property
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie explores the evolving world of probate property sales through the lens of auctions. He’s joined by Russell Taylor, Managing Director and Auctioneer at probate.auction, and Corin Holness, Corporate Relationship Director. Together, they unpack how the auction process is helping executors, legal professionals, and […]