Trustees being forced out of mainstream banking, STEP warns
Trustees are being forced out of mainstream banking as institutions impose more restrictive eligibility requirements, warned membership and accreditation body the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). The problem extends across international trust jurisdictions and is affecting legitimate trusts seeking access to ordinary banking services, the professional body says. STEP has created a banking […]
Solicitor fined £10,500 over AML and account breaches
The sole manager and COFA of a law firm has been fined £10,500 and ordered to pay more than £46,000 in costs by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) after admitting breaches of accounts rules and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance requirements. Musa Audu, the sole manager of London-based Audu & Co, admitted to authorising five improper […]
Over 1500 deathbed marriages as couples try to avoid inheritance tax
A review of Ministry of Justice data suggests over 1500 couples applied for “deathbed marriages” in the year 2025-26 to more than likely “secure tax benefits” according to TWM Solicitors. The figures, which includes marriage and civil partnership applications under both registrar general’s licence (RGL) and reduced waiting period (RWP), suggest around 1650 couples applied […]