Contentious probate up by as much as 56% according to freedom of information request
A freedom of information (FoI) request has confirmed what many contentious professionals anecdotally believe to be the case; that the number of contentious probate matters is on the increase; and by as much as 56%. The data obtained by Taylor Rose under an FoI request from HM Courts & Tribunals Service, reveals that there were […]
Funding sought for new open source searchable database of UK probate records
A free, charity-funded genealogy search service is launching a new probate service and is looking for financial support for the venture. Free UK Genealogy is a registered charity dedicated to making historic UK family history records freely accessible online. The current websites, which include FreeBMD, FreeCEN, and FreeREG, provide access to historical records to help […]
Calls for renewed digital focus on “vital” LPA reform
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed neither the Ministry of Justice, nor HM Treasury has allocated any investment for the digitalisation or reform of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) process in the June 2025 Spending Review. The FOI, submitted by PowerofAttorneyOnline.co.uk, confirmed the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is fee-funded and […]
Solicitor struck off for ‘widespread and fundamental non-compliance’ with AML regulations
A solicitor has been struck off and ordered to pay costs of £29,775.84 for multiple breaches of Money Laundering Regulations that the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal said represented ‘widespread and fundamental non-compliance with critical regulations’ amounting to systemic failures. The judgment was issued against William Joseph Harris following an application by the Solicitors Regulation Authority detailing […]
Birth rate falls to levels not seen since 2002
The birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since mid-2002 according to the latest Office for National Statistics population estimates, with an estimated 596,000 births in the year to mid-2024. The number represents a fall of 2,400 from the same time mid-2023. The number of deaths has also fallen compared with 2023. There were […]
Consultant firm sees five-fold increase in headcount over last five years
Against a backdrop of employees being encouraged back into the office according to the latest KPMG CEO Report, a consultant-style law firm has reported a five fold increase in the number of consultant solicitors in the last five years AIIC Group (AIIC), the legal group behind Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, says it […]
The Estate Registry says inclusion of unused pension pots in inheritance tax could fundamentally change estate planning for future generations
The Chancellor’s plans to bring unused pension pots into Inheritance Tax scope is likely to distort retirement planning and diminish incentives to save in future. That’s the warning from The Estate Registry, which provides Inheritance Tax (IHT) Loans to bereaved families through its UK service, InheritNOW. Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax paid on the […]
Evolving attitudes to wealth
As we progress through the largest intergenerational wealth transfer ever seen, the concept of the responsible stewardship of wealth has become ever more relevant to high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) around the world. The beneficiaries of this wealth transfer come from a generation that increasingly seeks to align their work and wealth management with their values and […]