Warning for families as ‘ordinary’ estates swell IHT coffers by £96m
Inheritance tax receipts for April 2026 to June 2026 are £2.3 billion, £96 million higher than the same period last year, as changes to IHT rules bring more estates into scope – with more to come. “The planned changes taking effect in the 2027/28 tax year will bring most unused pension funds into IHT calculations,” […]
Disinherited nephew faces jail for breaching Foot Anstey injunction
A disinherited nephew faces up to two years in jail after the High Court found he had breached an injunction granted to Foot Anstey in December 2024. Mr Justice Griffiths found Sean Stimson to be in contempt of court following a campaign of “vitriolic” threats and abuse against the firm. In an earlier hearing, Foot […]
Geneology experts warn increasing use of home DNA tests could trigger inheritance disputes
Genealogists have warned that the rising popularity of home DNA tests could trigger will disputes and create a moral judgement about what constitutes family in inheritance matters. Consumers are increasingly using commercial at-home DNA testing kits to explore their ancestry, identify biological relatives and screen for inherited health conditions. But Neil Fraser (pictured right), partner […]
France votes to legalise assisted dying
Assisted dying has been legalised in France, subject to approval from the country’s Constitutional Council. The National Assembly voted by 291 to 241 to back the much-debated bill, which had already been rejected three times by the Senate, France’s equivalent of the House of Lords. The bill allows for assisted dying in circumstances where there […]
Prenups for the next generation: Could reform reshape the protection of family wealth?
Victoria Cannon, partner and head of family law at Hugh James, considers whether the government’s proposals to make certain nuptial agreements legally binding could transform prenups from a family law precaution into a central part of succession planning and family governance. The government’s proposals to make certain nuptial agreements legally binding could transform prenups […]