CALL FOR ENTRIES: STEP Private Client Awards
Entries are now open for the STEP Private Client Awards – recognising excellence, innovation and best practice across the global private client community. Why enter? Gain independent recognition for your expertise and the vital work that you do on behalf of your clients Raise your professional and firm profile with peers and clients worldwide Differentiate your practice in a […]
Lords raise concerns over impact of proposed pension and tax changes on personal representatives
Personal representatives (PRs) are increasingly unaware of the full impact of changes to rules around inheritance tax, which will place greater responsibilities and liabilities on them at a time of bereavement, a report from the House of Lords has warned. Scrutiny of the Finance Bill by the Economic Affairs Committee has resulted in the upper […]
LSB interim report criticises regulators for ‘varied clarity and detail’ in Mazur advice
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has criticised the response of regulators to the questions raised by Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, and the potential impact of the case on litigation work conducted by unqualified professionals. In an interim report published this week following the LSB’s review, announced in October, the super-regulator said the response […]
Execution and capacity remain ‘central battlegrounds in contentious probate’ following successful challenge
The will of a father who effectively disinherited two of his three children has successfully been challenged in court, after the circumstances surrounding its drafting and witnessing were considered “highly suspicious”. Laxmikant Patel died in October 2021, leaving an estate of around £600,000. Previous wills written in 2018 and 2019 split the inheritance roughly three […]
Equity release market grows 11% as property wealth becomes ‘increasingly important’
The latest figures from the Equity Release Council reveal an 11% rise in lending, up to £2.57 billion in 2025 from £2.3 billion in 2024. A quarter of advisers (26%) responding to the ERC’s latest survey said customers are using equity release to clear mortgages balance, with 21% going towards home improvements, 13% given as […]
Will overturned as High Court clarifies law on testamentary capacity and mental illness
The High Court has overturned a 2014 will at the centre of a long-running family dispute, in a case which clarifies the law on testamentary capacity and mental illness. Claire Cox (pictured), partner at Gloucestershire law firm Willans LLP, won the case on behalf of the four daughters of Michael Gwilliam of the Forest of […]
LeO shares early resolution advice to cut ‘unnecessary escalation’
The latest Spotlight article from the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) focuses on early resolution, with practical steps for legal service providers to follow to resolve complaints at first tier. Clear communication, timely responses and proportionate remedies will all help resolve complaints before they escalate unnecessarily, the LeO says, leading to faster outcomes for customers. In 2024/25, […]
Why you shouldn’t put your life in the hands of a robot
In the third part of our exclusive look at estate planner Steve Bish’s story, he explains why you should never put your life in the hands of a robot. An estate planner who went from selling windows to producing wills says too many people are “putting their lives in the hands of a robot”. Steve […]