“Solicitors should not be allowed to have too much skin in the game” in landmark damages-based agreement decision
A costs judge has dismissed the appeal of a firm seeking £1.6m in fees under a damages-based agreement (DBA) after the agreement did not comply with the strict rules regulating DBAs as no ‘payment out of sums recovered’ was due given the matter was challenging the validity of the Will. The case concerned costs relating […]
More firms named as Legal Ombudsman publishes second tranche of complaints decisions
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published the next round of its public interest decisions as part of efforts to create ‘greater transparency and accountability’ in legal services. In the latest naming and shaming, complaints relating to pricing transparency, poor advice, holding on to client monies, and a barrister who had failed to provide an outline […]
Post mistress’ son wins battle for Post Office scandal posthumous award inheritance
A son and brother have fought over the posthumous inheritance of their mother and sister caught up in the Horizon computer scandal with the case reaching the high court last week. Dawn O’Connell had an exemplary record as post mistress at a Post Office branch she had managed in Northolt, north west London before she […]
Majority of probate professionals find discrepancies between how much money bank will release from a deceased’s estate and to whom
A standardised process for banks to deal with deceased estates is high on the list of wants for probate professionals in a survey conducted by regulator the Council for Licensed Conveyancers; whose work also covers regulating probate. A survey of 88 professionals has revealed the vast majority (87%) had experienced discrepancies between different banks as […]
Government consider move to regulate officiants rather than buildings in weddings shake up
Changes to the regulation of weddings away from buildings and onto individuals and officiants running the ceremony could be introduced in what the government is describing as the ‘biggest overhaul to marriage law since the 19th century.’ The proposals are based on the work of the Law Commission, whose report ‘Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings […]
Further strategic growth for TikTok’s ‘Asset Protection Guy’
Estate planning and asset protection firm Strategic Asset Protection (SAP) has announced a number of further hires as it targets continued growth and innovation in the sector. Launched by Mike Hiner, the business has successfully developed its social media presence on TikTok with Hiner’s handle “@theassetprotectionguy” amassing over 120.000 followers. In July of this year […]
How to protect yourself from the rise of undervaluing estates claims
The probate industry is under increasing pressure to demonstrate practitioners have acted in the best interest of the estate, particularly as beneficiaries become more financially dependent on inheritances. The Probate Registry has done much to ease the pain of delays and now private enterprise is playing its part in helping law firms and probate professionals […]