Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the use of a controversial ‘home loan’ scheme successfully removed the obligation to pay inheritance tax on a property. The scheme was arranged by Leslie Elborne in 2003
The son of footballer Jack Charlton has been told he must pay £200,000 in inheritance tax (IHT) for the World Cup winners’ medal his father received following the England team’s 1966 victory over West Germany.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is seeking feedback on a new package of reforms designed to improve transparency, strengthen access to market-wide information and support confidence in UK equity markets. The package confirms the framework
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Alan Evans joins the regulator as its new executive director, general counsel, risk and compliance and will take up his
A former funeral director has been imprisoned for 20 years for multiple counts of preventing a lawful and decent burial, after remains were found in his Hull funeral premises in 2024. Robert Bush, 48, formerly
The Equity Release Council has appointed John Godfrey as its new chair, replacing David Burrowes who steps down in October after nine years. Godfrey has more than four decades of experience gained from senior leadership
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has introduced a new probate application escalation process for cases that haven’t been resolved after 12 weeks. The process also provides an additional route for cases that have already been
HMRC is contacting people it believes may have underpaid income tax or capital gains tax (CGT) on crypto transactions. The agency is sending letters to individuals who have engaged in crypto asset activities to ensure
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
Cumbria firm Bendles continues its expansion with the acquisition of Atkinson Ritson. The acquisition follows Bendles’ merger with Gaynham, King & Mellor earlier this year, in a deal which saw Bendles’ Cumbria presence expand from
Home improvements are still the top reason for releasing home equity, according to the latest data from financial services company Canada Life. The company routinely questions its home finance customers about their reasons for requesting
The Legal Services Board is seeking experienced senior leaders to help drive “a major reset” of legal services regulation. The legal services oversight body is recruiting for three senior positions in what chief executive Richard
The Legal Ombudsman has shared details of the complaints it received about wills and probate in 2025/26. In its annual report published earlier this month, the LeO revealed complaints had risen by 37% overall, with
Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors has promoted Ashleigh Wong to partner in a series of strategic appointments following a record financial year. Women now make up 67% of the firm’s partnership Wong (pictured above) joined
Inheritance tax receipts for April 2026 to June 2026 are £2.3 billion, £96 million higher than the same period last year, as changes to IHT rules bring more estates into scope – with more to
The government has defended the increase in the probate application fee, which went up by almost 75% earlier this week. A probate application now costs £526, up from £300. In a written House of Commons
The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) has called for immediate action to overhaul a regulatory framework that is “fragmented, inconsistent and increasingly disconnected from the realities of a modern, technology-enabled legal market” and install a
National conveyancing firm Sort Legal has launched its own in-house department offering wills, probate and estate planning services. Operating from Sort Legal’s offices in South Shields and Gosforth, the department will offer in-person services in
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has shared its new five-year strategy, which places a strong emphasis on making the legal profession more accessible and campaigning for regulatory reform to break down barriers caused
The government has shared its timetable for implementing what is says will be the biggest pension reforms in a generation. From 2028, larger schemes including master trusts, large single employer schemes and multi-employer contract-based schemes
Sir Colin Birss has been approved as the Master of the Rolls following the retirement of Sir Geoffrey Vos. In a statement released last week, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said: “His Majesty King Charles
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published a protocol to support legal professionals who wish to raise informal concerns about judicial behaviour. The protocol formalises an existing route for reporting concerns and does not
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a public consultation on new rules for complaint handling by regulated law firms, after proposals in its October 2025 consultation were withdrawn. The additional draft rules build on the
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out further proposals for simplifying insurance and funeral plan requirements while maintaining appropriate consumer protection. The plans are part of wider efforts to streamline rules and reduce complexity
The private client team at Ellisons are celebrating after being shortlisted in three categories at the Modern Law Private Client Awards 2026. The team are in the running for the Wills & Estate Planning Team
The government has no plans to update its online Use an LPA service to incorporate the 1.4 million lasting powers of attorney on the register that are ineligible to be used with the system. A
The government has shared details of its long-awaited consultation on reforming cohabitation rights, which is open now and will run for 10 weeks until 14th August. The consultation will look at three key areas of
Taylor Emmet solicitors sponsored an event to fund the next generation of support dogs and provided legal advice to guests on the day. Sheffield-based national charity Support Dogs, which trains autism assistance, disability assistance and
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Jelena Lentzos as director of strategy, policy and engagement. She will lead the LSB’s strategy, policy, and research teams at what the organisation said is a “pivotal moment
With legal technology developing at pace, Today’s Wills and Probate brings all the latest innovation together in a regular round up of news, updates and upgrades for private client teams. Here, in the first of
On Friday, the government published its long-awaited consultation on reforming cohabitation rights, in what it called “the biggest reform to family law in decades” with the aim of “bringing the law into the 21st century”.
In the latest round of private client appointments, senior appointments have been made at Knights, Stevens & Bolton, Payne Hicks Beach and Thomson Snell & Passmore. At Knights, Daniel Harris (main picture) joins the Bristol