Looking ahead: A message for 2026
And so begins another year at The Society of Will Writers (SWW). With 2025 now behind us, I find myself reflecting on what felt like one of the most ‘normal’ years in my almost ten years with the SWW. With everything happening around us outside of our profession in recent times, the lack of major […]
MoJ sets out plans to fund justice system with interest on client accounts
The government has set out proposals to use interest on lawyers’ client accounts as “a crucial source of funding” to support and enhance services in the justice system. Funds would be directed to “areas of greatest need”, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. The Interest on Lawyers’ Clients Accounts Scheme (ILCA) will see […]
Agents may be overlooking IHT on cryptoassets, ICAEW warns
The ICAEW says HMRC is writing to agents who have previously submitted inheritance tax (IHT) returns to raise awareness of the requirement to account for IHT on cryptoassets. Any returns that contain an error should be corrected, the regulatory body said. Writing in its Insight blog, ICAEW advises that HMRC’s cryptoassets manual explains that cryptoassets are […]
Regional funeral costs vary by up to £4,000, with national average of £4,562
The average traditional funeral in the UK costs £4,562, according to the latest Cost of Funerals research – but some consumers could pay up to £4,000 more than others, depending on where they live. The research from Pure Cremation, which analysed costs of 30 randomly selected funeral directors in each of nine regions across England, […]
HMCTS updates solicitor rates, with recommended fees now up to £579 an hour
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its guideline hourly rates for solicitors, with a recommended 2.28% increase effective from 1 January. The increase will see the top hourly rate (a grade A fee earner in the London 1 category) rise to £579, with the lowest rate (grade D fee earners in the National […]
Research reveals £53k pension gap for divorced women
Divorced women typically have £53,160 less in pension savings than divorced men in the UK, with men walking away with £85,800 compared to £32,640 for divorced women. The research by Mercer, now:pensions and the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) also reveals a significant pension wealth gap among married couples, with men holding £111,540 and women’s average […]
Probate paralegal disqualified by SRA for misleading clients
A paralegal from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has been disqualified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after admitting to misleading clients in the administration of estates. Jessica Sayer acted for clients between January 2022 and October 2024 while working as a paralegal in the private client department at Kidd & Spoor Solicitors Limited, where she was […]
Gender-based pension inequality calls for a joined-up strategy
Research by Now Pensions and the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) has found that divorced women typically have around £400,000 less in pension savings than divorced men, holding just 29% of men’s pension wealth. Although pensions are the second-largest asset in a marriage after property, only 11% of the more than 100,000 divorces in 2024 and […]