Free webinar: An overview of trusts in wills (with Kings Court Trust)
Title Research is excited to welcome Kings Court Trust to host an informative webinar all about trusts in wills. Hosted by Title Research’s technical manager, Simon Barber, this webinar offers an overview of different types of trusts in wills, invaluable insights and case studies, including: Property trusts Nil rate band discretionary trusts Trusts for minors […]
APR and BPR provides ‘clear deadline’ for IHT planning as latest stats show higher receipts
The changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) offer a “clear deadline for succession planning” ahead of the new £2.5 million cap which comes into effect on 6th April, estate planning experts say. Many business owners and their families face a greater IHT bill at death, which in some cases could […]
Safe Hands owners subject to conspiracy to defraud charges
Two senior executives involved in the collapse of Safe Hands Plans, the prepaid funeral business which went into administration in 2022 leaving 46,000 plan holders owed an estimated £70.6 million, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). In a press release issued yesterday (Thursday), the SFO confirmed it had […]
Firm adds its weight to concerns over the republication of the unclaimed estates list
South east law firm Parfitt Cresswell has thrown its weight behind several genealogy firms who have questioned the wisdom of the Government Legal Department’s decision to republish the Bona Vacantia, the unclaimed estates list taken down in July last year amid a BBC investigation into its use for fraud. Having been offline since the summer, […]
Restricting jury trials would save just 2% of crown court time, IfG says
A report from the Institute for Government (IfG) on the potential impact of government plans to restrict jury trials reveals the changes would “unlock only relatively modest reductions in demand”. Instead, the IfG says, the government should focus on reversing the decline in productivity seen in the crown courts since 2016. The proposals to reduce […]
Property wealth not considered in retirement planning, research finds
Research from international financial services group Canada Life suggests three quarters of homeowners planning for their retirement are not factoring in equity release from property. The survey of 2,000 adults aged 40 and over found that just 7% of homeowners who had discussed retirement plans with a financial adviser had been presented with equity release […]
Judiciary sets out diversity and inclusion priorities in latest strategy
The Judiciary of England and Wales has published its Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030, which sets out its priorities for expanding the diversity of the judiciary, particularly the number of Black judges. The Judiciary said it is committed to achieving meaningful progress in diversity and inclusivity, with the Lady Chief Justice, Dame Sue Carr, saying […]