Thinking about nominating a colleague or your firm for an award? Why not take advantage of the special ‘early bird’ pricing offer to highlight achievements within your firm. With award entries now open for the
Saving for later life isn’t something that comes naturally for many people. Let alone putting money aside to save in a pension. However, a report released on 24th February by the Department for Work and
Her Majesty Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has announced positive news this week after announcing that services are improving. The announcement on 24th February stated that ‘their probate service was in a good place performance
Holden Smith, a law firm based in Huddersfield has recently announced two senior appointments. The firm has welcomed Lee Daniels, who joined as Partner and will head up the residential conveyancing department, and Helen Notter
At the beginning of the month, the world mourned legendary star of the silver screen, Kirk Douglas, who passed away on 5th February aged 103. It has now emerged that the Spartacus actor has left
Award entries are now open for the 2020 British Wills and Probate Awards. The exclusive awards seek to discover and recognise outstanding achievements, highlights progressions and champions innovations amongst firms and individual private professionals across
Three brothers and a nephew are involved in a bitter family dispute, after it transpired that one of the brothers gave away their deceased sibling’s £400,000 estate to the poor and needy. Peter Ivory, aged
On this Valentine’s Day, we are excited to announce that the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020 will be returning for an exciting third year. This year the highly anticipated event, moves to a new
The Government set a target of issuing grants of probate applications within 10 working days, as they attempted to reduce the backlog they had. However, a recent Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), launched the court refund scheme after identifying issues around overcharging and mischarging in some cases. To claim a court fee refund, click here. The online process makes it quick and
MPs have proposed that the UK abolishes inheritance tax and replaces it with a gift allowance system. On Thursday, 30th January 2020, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Inheritance & Intergenerational Fairness (APPG IIF) published a
Having the right to die, is a subject that divides people’s opinions. However, some people believe that assisted dying is a part of their human rights. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has confirmed that he is
The Professional Paralegal Register have announced the finalists for the prestigious National Paralegal Awards, which will be taking place on Friday 27th March 2020. Karen Babington, Director at the Practical Vision Network, was selected as
Whenever we’re searching for products, whether it be insurance, credit cards or new appliances, somehow, we always end up on comparison sites to get the best deal and to find out what other users think
On Saturday 1st February 2020, a fire broke out at the Law Society of England and Wales’s headquarters on 113 and 114 Chancery Lane in central London. 25 fire engines and around 150 firefighters were
Death is never a pleasant experience and can come as a shock at any time of life. Yesterday, (Monday 27th January) the sports world was in mourning as 41-year-old Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion,
Simpson Millar, has announced the appointment of new partner Clare Fleming, as part of the firm’s expansion of its Private Practice Area Team. Clare, who previously worked for London and South East based Kidd Rapinet,
On Tuesday 1st January 2020, the news broke that Terry Jones, one of the stars of Monty Python had lost his battle with a rare form of dementia and passed away aged 77. It has
After becoming a beneficiary of a client’s Will, which saw him inherit over £43,000, retired solicitor Stuart Murphy has now been fined for poor conduct with regards to the way he dealt with his client.
On 21st January 2020, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) released their annual Enforcement Report, which has resulted in some grim reading. The report revealed that the BSB is struggling to cope with the rise in
LawCare, the legal mental health and well being charity has teamed up with academics from the University of Sheffield and The Open University to launch the free ‘Fit For Law’ course. ‘Fit For Law’ is
The second UK Probate Research Awards is set to take place on Thursday 6th February 2020 at The De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Known in the industry as ‘The Probies’, the ceremony will
Wright Hassall, the Leamington-based law firm has continued to expand its private client team, after paralegal Kate Anderson qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive. Ms Anderson joined the company in 2015 as a paralegal having
Benjamin Field was found guilty of murdering 69-year-old Peter Farquhar in August of 2019. It appeared financial gain was Mr Field’s motivation as he is said to have tricked Mr Farquhar into changing his Will
At the start of the year, it was announced that television medium and psychic Derek Acorah had passed away at the age of 68. His wife Gwen said that her “beloved” husband had passed away
Guy Opperman has been re-appointed as the Pensions Minister. Mr Opperman, the MP for Hexham, was first appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Work and Pensions on 14th June 2017. In his
The Widow of Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, who sadly took his own life, has shared 50% of the late singer’s royalties with his ex-wife. Talinda Bennington, the executor of Mr Bennington’s estate, has agreed
2019 has seen the passing of some famous faces, with the worlds of entertainment, sport, music and literature losing some shining stars. As we celebrate another festive period, we thought it would be nice to
Julia Burns, a solicitor who specialises in contentious private client cases has launched a private client mediation and conflict coaching business called Dove in the Room. Ms Burns is the first solicitor to become a
78-year-old dishonest solicitor, Phillip Charles York, has been struck off after he borrowed almost £88,000 from his client who suffered from dementia. The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT), heard how York, failed to complete an estate
New research has revealed that inheritance tax (IHT) rates in the UK are more than double the EU average. Advisors have labelled IHT rates as a “contentious subject” and a reoccurring “hot potato”, as on
In the UK, the rise of ‘predatory marriages’ – where a person coerces an elderly person who may suffer from dementia (or similar illness that affects decision making) into marriage for financial gain – has