How to safely make a property unoccupied
Properties maybe unoccupied for many different reasons. A landlord could have a gap in their tenancy, a property might be going through probate, or maybe the property is sitting vacant until a more permanent solution can be determined. But no matter the reason why a property might become vacant, the process in it becoming empty […]
Fewer than one in 20 estates pay inheritance tax
Fewer than one in 20 estates are subject to inheritance tax (IHT) and the average effective tax rate paid by taxpaying estates was 13% reflecting the impact of exemptions, reliefs, and tax-free allowances according to government figures published this week. HM Revenue & Customs have published figures relating to tax year 2023 2024 in its […]
LeO publishes complaints resolution procedure following successful pilot
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its final Model Complaints Resolution Procedure (MCRP), a new framework and supporting guidance designed to help legal service providers resolve complaints. The guidance aims to help firms deal with complaints quickly and with more consistency, while also giving consumers a clearer route to resolution. The MCRP is voluntary and is […]
Insufficient cross-regulator collaboration on Legal Services Act guidance before Mazur – LSB
A report into the differing guidance provided by regulators in the wake of the Mazur case has highlighted how “insufficient cross-regulator engagement” resulted in inconsistent interpretations of the Legal Services Act and the subsequent guidance provided to regulated communities. The Legal Services Board’s (LSB) final report into the guidance provided by regulators, Regulatory review of […]
Custody and £35k costs for client who threatened Foot Anstey in inheritance dispute
A Foot Anstey client who sent abusive emails addressing them as “w**kers” and “b*tches” and threatening to “beat the sh*t” out of them has been jailed for 28 days and ordered to pay costs of £35,000. Dr Sean Stimson (pictured) was jailed for contempt of court after sending an email and a letter to Foot […]
Failure to face up to social care challenge a ‘dereliction of duty’ says Burnham
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated he would prefer to “fix” palliative and social care before committing Parliamentary time to the assisted dying debate as part of his efforts to reform social care. In a speech on social care this week at Golders Green, Burnham decried the 30 year period since the Royal Commission on […]
Judge criticises ‘shocking’ four-year delay in burial and estate administration
A judge has criticised an “unusual and troubling” delay in the administration of an estate, caused by disagreements between five siblings and resulting in the body of their mother being stored at an undertaker for four years. Chief Master Karen Shuman made an order appointing Michael Collins (pictured right) the sole administrator of the estate […]