‘Our focus is on wills reform’ Law Society says, as it confirms ongoing MoJ discussions
The Law Society of England and Wales says it is communicating with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) on the progress being made to reform wills and probate legislation, and is sharing “consistent messaging that reform should involve the profession, protect testamentary freedom and reflect the current world”. Speaking at the Law Society’s Private Client Conference […]
Final call for discounted early bird British Wills and Probate Awards 2026 entry
The early bird entry deadline for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2026, sponsored by Arken, is midnight tonight (Friday 22nd May). The special rate of £129 +VAT increases from tomorrow to £169 +VAT which entitles firms, individuals and businesses to enter up to three categories. A single category entry rate of £89 +VAT is […]
Over 1,000 chartered legal executives secure standalone litigation practice rights in the wake of Mazur
Over 1,000 CILEX lawyers have successfully obtained litigation practice rights, enabling them to carry out litigation without the need for supervision, in the wake of the Mazur judgment. CILEx Regulation (CRL), which oversees the education, qualification and practice standards of chartered legal executives, said 1094 professionals had obtained practice rights authorisations via the University of […]
Private client work the most profitable for SME law firms
Private client law, including wills, probate, tax, trust and estate-related advice is the most profitable area of law for small law firms, alongside litigation and dispute resolution, according to the latest Bellwether Report from LexisNexis. These types of work were cited as the most profitable by 42% of respondents in the Bellwether Report 2026: Lean, […]
15m at risk of undersaving for retirement – Pensions Commission
Low and middle earners, the self employed, and women are not saving enough money for retirement leaving large groups of society facing a “severe cliff-edge” when they retire. An interim report on the state of retirement by the Pensions Commission has identified an estimated 15 million people are under-saving for retirement; potentially reaching 19 million […]
Irwin Mitchell to move away from third party ‘volume wills’ offering
National law firm Irwin Mitchell has said it is moving away from offering a volume wills service to third-party organisations and will instead “(refocus) its private client growth strategy towards complex advice” after a strategic internal review. The firm said it had identified a 24% year -on-year increase in high-net-worth and international private client matters […]
Why place a notice in a local newspaper when someone dies?
Following someone’s death, it is advised that a statutory notice is placed in a local newspaper. Elisha Bethell, a solicitor in the probate team at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, explains what a deceased estates notice is and how placing a notice protects personal representatives from financial liability. What is a statutory notice in probate? Following the […]
The ‘motherhood penalty’ and the legal profession
The latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast turns its attention to one of the profession’s most persistent, and least openly discussed, challenges: the impact of maternity leave on women’s careers in law. While the legal sector is not alone in perpetuating the motherhood penalty, the measurable career disadvantage experienced by women after having children, the […]
Can a Medallion Signature Guarantee be obtained remotely in the UK?
The requirements for obtaining Medallion Signature Guarantees often create confusion, but the reality isn’t as complicated as many may think. Share Data explains where the confusion arises and what can be done about it. For many shareholders, administrators and estate executors worldwide, obtaining a Medallion Signature Guarantee in the UK can initially seem difficult, […]