Disputed will centre of claim to car boot mogul’s fortune
A disinherited son is taking his claim to London’s High Court for a share of his £43m estate after claiming his father was unable to properly execute his final two wills due to dementia. Richard Scott’s estate is at the centre of a battle between his eldest son Adam Scott and Jennifer Scott, Richard’s second […]
Firm writes to Chancellor over ‘alarming’ Bona Vacantia fraud
A southern-based law firm has played its part in identifying and highlighting the disturbing pattern of estate fraud using forged wills, working with the BBC on the recently released “The Grave Robbers” podcast series which started on 9th July. Parfitt Cresswell acted as Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney for a recently deceased intestate […]
£14.5m High Court trust dispute arose over biological status of son
A court battle between between two siblings who found out in adulthood one was the product of an affair are to share a £14.5m trust fund after a High Court judge ruled the intention of their father’s will was to include his ‘children’ regardless of their biological relationship to him. Stuart Marcus had built a […]
How tragedy inspired will writer’s second career and new book
An estate planner has explained how he went from windows to will writing in a new book to be published soon, inspired by the tragic death of his friend in a motorcycle accident. Steve Bish, from St Albans, lost one of his closest friends, Carl, in a scooter accident in 2001. “At the time I […]
Digital vault launches offering ‘value-add’ service for will writers
A new digital platform which says it will give will writers and estate planners a way to support clients and reduce future administration challenges has been launched. SmartOnion is a UK-based subscription platform which stores pension details, insurance policies, bank accounts, investment records and share certificates; as well as the panoply of estate planning documentation, […]
Mutually beneficial – how industry and education collaborate for good
In February 2025, Solent Law Clinic launched in Southampton. An ambitious new community project pioneered by Southampton Solent University and national law firm, Dutton Gregory Solicitors, this free initiative serves three important purposes. In the first instance, it provides access to legal advice to those who need it the most. Second, it addresses – and […]