SRA confirms it will pause COLP/COFA separation proposals
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed it will pause plans to separate the role of Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) from individuals with “unilateral decision making” responsibilities, after push back from across the legal profession. In a statement released today said Aileen Armstrong, SRA executive […]
High Court judge scraps trust in dispute over will
A High Court judge has removed a life trust from a will after deciding the estate-holder didn’t have a “fundamental change in the gift” explained to him properly by the solicitor who drew it up. Elliott v Bateson & Anor [2026] was heard by HHJ Michael Berkley, sitting as a judge of the High Court, […]
LeO responds to research showing AI is used in more than half legal complaints
Research among over 2000 people and the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) own case files has revealed the growing influence of AI on complaints with more than half of people who have made, or considered making, a formal complaint about a regulated service in the last year using AI as part of their complaints journey, A newly […]
Adult children may be unintentionally committing financial abuse, STEP research suggests
New research from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) suggests that families managing a loved one’s money may be committing financial abuse without realising it. Findings from the latest STEP Barometer suggests that in the UK adult children are the most common perpetrators of financial abuse, although most of it may be unintentional. […]
Explorer’s daughter in High Court bid to remove step-mother as executor of £10m estate
The daughter of an explorer killed in a mountain avalanche eight years ago has taken a dispute over his £10m estate to the High Court in a bid to remove his wife as executor and co-trustee. Paul Samuel, 55, a mountaineer and entrepreneur, was killed along with two other climbers in June 2018, during an […]
Nine in ten parents have not appointed a legal guardian in their wills
There is a “striking gap” between how parents might wish to ensure their children are cared for in the event of their death, and the reality according to research published as part of this year’s annual will-writing charity campaign Will Aid. Despite having strong views about who they would not want to raise their children, […]
Profile: Meg Dugdale, consultant at W&P Legal
Meg Dugdale is a mum, estate planning consultant and the founder of Play & Plan, a community-based initiative designed to make estate planning and legal advice more accessible for young families. Through consultations held in soft play venues, she helps parents put important plans in place while their children play – removing common barriers to […]