The Government has announced that from 6 April 2022, digital identity document validation technology (IDVT) will be introduced to support employers and landlords with right to work, right to rent and pre-employment DBS checks. The
Following the LSB’s annual review of frontline regulators last month, the SRA has reportedly met all 27 of the required outcomes in its regulatory approach, authorisation, supervision, enforcement and leadership. The results show that the
Following amendments to Inheritance Tax Regulations earlier in the year, changes to IHT reporting requirements will be effective from 1st January 2022. Changes that will be effective for the death of individuals from 1st January
As part of its adult social care reform white paper People at the Heart of Care, the Government has announced that a total of £1.4 billion will be made available over three years to help
Inheritance tax receipts for April to November were £4.1bn, a £600m increase compared with the same period in 2020, according to the latest set of official figures. HMRC said that it had expected higher receipts
HMCTS Q3 statistics show an increase in both the proportion of digital applications for probate grants and probate grants issued digitally. In July to September 2021, there were 52,750 applications for probate grants and 58,642
New research by Abrdn reveals that millions of retirees in the UK are relying on downsizing to a smaller property in addition to using their inheritance to finance retirement. The research, conducted on a pool
Apple’s newly released iOS 15.2 operating system and upgrade now includes a feature called Digital Legacy, a function that allows iPhone users to designate people as Legacy Contacts, who then have permission to access their
The High Court has announced that a judicial review will be heard on the Government’s decision to replace Retail Prices Index (RPI) with the housing cost-based version of the Consumer Prices Index, known as CPIH,
A new report detailing the experiences of those involved in remote hearings has been published by HMCTS. The report, conducted by IFF in collaboration my HMCTS documents the experiences of legal professionals, judges, court staff
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined HSBC Bank (HSBC) £63.9m for failings in its anti-money laundering (AML) processes. HSBC used automated processes to monitor hundreds of millions of transactions a month to identify possible
Executors and bereaved families will be only too aware of the length of time it has taken during the pandemic to obtain grants of probate. Practitioners will be aware of this too but will also
Nearly half (45%) of mortgaged homeowners under the age of 40 got onto the property ladder “much later” than they expected, compared with 29% of over-40s, according to new research by the Equity Release Council
HMRC has published new guidance for working out IHT due on gifts, including how to find out which gifts count towards the value of the estate, how to value them and how to work out
A widow has been informed that due to an administrative mistake she is unable to use her late husband’s frozen sperm to have his baby unless she takes the case to the High Court. Thirty-five
The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has announced a three month consultation as it plans to revise The Human Rights Act. The MOJ says that the proposed new legislation aims to strike a proper balance between
The Law Society has issued a statement saying that the Legal Ombudsman service (LeO) must take “radical action” if it wishes to retain the confidence of both public and profession. The Law Society said that
A 12-week consultation on the Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) proposals to modernise lasting powers of attorney (LPA) is now being analysed following the end of the consultation in October. The MOJ reports that over 300
A new report from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) demonstrates how government funding has maintained and expanded vital access to free specialist legal advice. Through the Covid-19 Specialist Advice Services Scheme (CSASS), £5.4 million was
The Law Society of England and Wales has issued a response to London-based thinktank Chatham House’s recent report criticising the UK’s anti-money laundering (AML) laws. The report states that un-policed and often unenforceable anti-corruption laws
One of the biggest UK litigation funders, Novitas Loans, has announced that it has ceased lending to new customers. The company, which offers lending for contentious probate, family law and clinical cases, said that it
A survey conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales about whether to extend remote witnessing of wills beyond January 2022 has found that only a small proportion of solicitors have chosen to use
The Legal Services Board (LSB) says it finds the legal profession is “out of step compared with other professions”, and that greater focus on assessing and understanding levels of competence is required. To address this,
A new study has found that more millennials than ever before have written wills as a result of the pandemic. The study conducted by LegalZoom and Caring.com revealed that at least 27% of 18-34 year
The Department of Health and Social Care has published its 10-year vision for adult social care which, it says, will help provide greater choice for those receiving care and certainty over costs. The white paper
Latest developments in the ongoing Britney Spears conservatorship case reveal that the singer has won the right to sign financial paperwork and manage her $50m (£37.8m) estate. In a hearing on Wednesday 8th December Judge
Gerry Walsh has been appointed as the new interim CEO of the Law Society of England and Wales. Born in Northern Ireland, Gerry has spent most of his working life in England, France, Poland and
HMCTS has published recordings from all sessions held at this year’s Annual Public User Event: Reforming court and tribunal services together. Recordings of the sessions are available in a playlist on YouTube. This year’s iteration
A solicitor has been struck of by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for stealing inheritance money from a client. The sole director, solicitor Geoffrey Rushton, of Rushton Legal Services based in Staffordshire, was instructed in
The Law society has issued a response to the Legal Services Board (LSB) consultation on empowering consumers, saying that it must give frontline regulators room to understand consumer engagement and the challenges facing the public.
The UK Government has set out further plans to create a modern, simple and effective tax system during its Tax Administration and Maintenance Day that took place this week, but recommended IHT reforms were rejected
A woman almost lost her home to a fraudster after discovering a Government department had granted lasting power of attorney of her affairs to a complete stranger. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, the homeowner learnt