All service providers urged to adopt digital death notification options to streamline end-of-life admin
The Estate Registry (TER) which offers a range of end-of-life admin products including NotifyNOW, InheritNOW and LegacyNOW, as well as award-winning bereavement notification service Settld, has welcomed the announcement from His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that open probate cases have been reduced by 49% in the past year. In its annual report for […]
Open probate caseload reduced by 50% in last 12 months – HMCTS
His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) say they have reduced the total open probate caseload by 49% over the past 12 months to just under 35,500 as part of efforts to improve their service. The statistics are drawn from HMCTS Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25 in which HMCTS say the number of probate applications […]
Average IHT bill to increase by £34,000 following inclusion of pensions in IHT calculations
The average Inheritance Tax (IHT) liability is expected to increase by around £34,000 when pension assets are included in the value of the estate according to drafts proposals published by the government ahead of the anticipated legislation later this year. In its proposals the government says the measure is designed to remove what is describes […]
Gearing up for Remember A Charity Week 2025
Remember A Charity is gearing up for its legacy giving awareness campaign, Remember A Charity Week which this year will be hosted between 8th and 14th September 2025, celebrating the impact of charitable gifts in wills across the UK. The week champions the inclusion of legacies in wills, encouraging the legal sector, professional advisers, trade […]
Firm finds £270,000 in ‘lost’ bank account during probate
A firm has uncovered £270,000 held in a previously unknown account during the administration of a probate estate, reuniting the money with their delighted clients. Elite Law Solicitors said the discovery was part of their estate administration services which offers ‘comprehensive advice to clients’ including recommending additional tools and services outside of their scope. The […]
CGT receipts a lesson for IHT as wealthy change their behaviour
A fall in the revenues achieve through Capital Gains Tax, from nearly £17 billion in 2022-23 to £14.5 billion in 2023-24, and £13.1 billion in 2024-25, is evidence the wealthy will simply change their behaviour amid speculation of a ‘wealth tax’ says Shaun Moore, tax and financial planning professional at Quilter. ‘The government’s decision to […]
Dorset paralegal sentenced for stealing £11,500 in LPA fraud
A paralegal has been sentenced to 20 months imprisonment after she fraudulently used cheques and cash withdrawals to take money from clients for whom the firm was appointed attorney. Emma Amey, who worked at law firm in her home town of Poole, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position at Poole […]
Supreme Court judgment impacts on future tax and estate planning
The Supreme Court’s recent decision on Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26 on 2 July 2025 has garnered much interest not only from the UK press but also tax advisers and estate planners for its implications on future wealth planning, in particular in relation to pre-marital assets and inheritances. Whilst the case arose from the […]