‘Car boot king’ inheritance dispute ends with high court dismissal
A seven year dispute regarding the estate of so-called ‘Car Boot King’ Richard Scott has come to an end with the high court dismissing both a proprietary estoppel claim, and challenges to the validity of the final two Wills drafted by my Scott. A third claim, relating to tenancies granted to his son during the […]
Over 85’s set to be fastest household type as ‘Great Wealth Transfer’ nears
Demographic trends suggest households where the oldest economically active or inactive person (household reference person, or HRP) is aged 65 or older are set to grow at nearly twice the rate of household where the HRP is under 65 according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The numbers are based on demographic […]
Costs decision a reminder of the importance of striking a balance between proper scrutiny and unnecessary litigation
A costs judgement highlights the importance of early disclosure, genuine settlement efforts, and the limits of the probate exceptions in modern litigation. This case concerns the disputed will of Yeamon Keith Care (Keith), a disabled Cornish farmer who died in March 2020, leaving behind a rare breed herd and a contested estate. The claimant, Luke […]
Victims of romance scams receive just 61% of lost monies back as cases rise
The latest figures from UK Finance suggests despite efforts to educate the public on fraud and scams, criminals have stolen £629m in the first half of 2025, with an increase of 17% in confirmed cases (2.1m). UK Finance says it is particularly concerned by the rise of so-called roman scam cases; where fraudsters persuade victims […]
High court removes warring family as executors of mother’s estate
A warring family has seen their roles as executors to their grandmother’s estate removed by the High Court in London after being told they were ‘not able (to) fairly and conscientiously to carry out the administration of (the) estate in a proper manner.’ The case relates to the estate of Dorothy Jahme, who died aged […]
Normalise later life lending to top up pensions shortfall – Equity Release Council
Property wealth could ‘unlock’ as long as ten years of additional ‘comfortable’ retirement if 40% of equity were to be released from homes to make up the shortfall between current pension income and recommended ‘moderate’ retirement standards set by Pensions UK. A report from Fairer Finance, commissioned by the Equity Release Council suggests, depending on […]
What can be done to improve mental health and wellbeing in legal services?
As more than half of lawyers say they anticipate leaving their role within the next five years because of poor mental health and wellbeing, the latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast tackles the issue head on with a wide ranging discussion on what organisations can do to protect their staff. Joining the podcast are Trish […]
Why personality is helping to build trust in the Will-writing sector
In an industry built on sensitivity, legacy, and trust, personality has become the quiet revolution reshaping how people choose their will-writing partners. For years, the will-writing sector has leaned on professionalism and reliability – qualities that remain essential, but they are no longer enough on their own. In a digital age, where consumers crave authenticity […]