Ellisons has announced the promotion of Amy Burton, David Heller and Phillip Slater to the Partnership, effective 1 May 2025. The promotions strengthen the firm’s capabilities across Private Client, Corporate and Banking, further enhancing Ellisons’
Law firm Farrer & Co has announced the appointment of Alex Ruffel as a partner in its Private Client team. Alex, a specialist in complex cross-border tax, structuring and succession planning, joins Farrer & Co
The Probies – the Probate Industry Awards, now in its seventh year – exists to award excellence among leading probate solicitors and heir hunters, while celebrating the most engaging story of human interest produced by
More people than ever are saving into a workplace pension – £28 billion more in 2020 than in 2012 – with most of these pension pots being Defined Contribution (DC) schemes, where the employee is
The winners of the Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards were announced at a ceremony held at London Bankside’s Hilton Hotel. The awards, now in their third year, recognise the outstanding achievements, talent and dedication
Only a quarter of pet owners have considered what will happen to their animals after their death South London based Preuveneers LLP solicitor warns that millions of pets are at risk Kelly Cirillo of Preuveneers
Consumers are confused about inheritance tax (IHT), the process of probate, and where they should go for help if they find themselves the potential beneficiary of a will. Comprehensive research conducted on behalf of The
The Government’s changes to inheritance tax rules came under intense scrutiny in the House of Lords on Thursday, as peers raised deep concerns about the impact on rural businesses, farming investment, and mental health in
The 2025 Annual Report from LEAP Estates has unveiled a detailed snapshot of estate planning habits in England and Wales, reflecting shifting societal values, charitable generosity, and demographic trends in will-making. First launched by WillSuite
In a conversation exploring the evolving landscape of pensions and inheritance tax (IHT), Chartered Financial Planner, Rob Hodgson, offered a deep dive into how recent legislative changes are transforming long-standing strategies – and why both
Almost half of people in the US and UK would trust artificial intelligence to help write their will, according to a survey that highlights growing openness to AI in low-risk legal tasks – but a
Exizent, the platform in estate administration and death notification services has announced the internal promotion of Philip Nairn and Laura McFarlane to become co-Managing Directors of Exizent’s Legal Services Software Business. Together Laura and Phil
Once a lasting power of attorney (LPA) has been registered, donors and attorneys can create an account to give organisations access to view the details of that LPA online. This allows banks, healthcare providers and
Probate lender, Provira, has announced it has been acquired by iO Finance Partners, a newly launched private credit platform supporting high-potential lenders across underserved markets. Over the last several years, Provira has supported thousands of
The Equity Release Council’s latest quarterly market report for Q1 2025 showed that the market had a strong start to the year with £665m worth of housing equity accessed by customers. This is a 32%
Advisers are risking potential regulatory issues and good customer outcomes if they do not consider wills and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPAs) when recommending later life lending products, Key Later Life Finance warns. Industry data
Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2024 to March 2025 are £8.2 billion, which is £0.8 billion higher than the same period last year, HM Revenue and Customs revealed. That is an increase of 10.8% on
Millions of Brits will find it easier to track their pension savings with the creation of a small pensions pot consolidator, in reforms unveiled by the pensions minister. There are now 13 million of these
A legal executive based in Nottingham has been disqualified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) following a series of dishonest acts involving the misappropriation of more than £219,000 from deceased clients’ estates. Christopher Takamitsu Foster,
Older people with substantial pension savings are increasingly looking at ways to spend their money rather than risk saddling relatives with additional inheritance tax (IHT) payments after their death, according to Fraser and Fraser. Sector
Equiom Group has announced the appointments of Mark Lindsay as Head of Employee Retirement & Reward Services, and Natalie McGinness as Director within the Employee Retirement & Reward Services team. These appointments reinforce Equiom’s commitment
Nearly two out of five advisers are regularly turning away potential new clients enquiring about later life lending options because they lack confidence in providing a suitable service, new research from Key Later Life Finance,
More than two-thirds (69%) of employers in the UK now offer a responsibly invested company pension – but less than half have it as their default option (44%), which puts the onus on employees to
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Plymouth Islamic Education Trust (PIETY). The charity works, amongst other things, to advance the faith of Islam in Plymouth and the counties of Devon and Cornwall.
In its business plan for 2025/26, published, the Legal Services Board (LSB) has outlined its priorities, aimed at improving outcomes for consumers and the public. These priorities include work to improve ethical standards within the
For the first time since IRN Legal Reports began tracking will-making trends, over four in ten UK adults now have a will, marking a significant milestone in consumer engagement with end-of-life planning. According to the
The waiting time for probate applications has remained the same for two months in a row – sitting at 6.2 in the number of weeks from submission to grant issue for all probate applications, according
France’s highest court has ruled that wills written in a language not understood by the person making the will can still be valid—if strict conditions are met, as reported by The Connexion. The landmark ruling
Millions of workers could see their pensions threatened under new Government plans to allow companies to tap into £160bn of defined benefit pension surpluses, as reported by The Telegraph. The proposals, backed by Chancellor Rachel
A recent survey conducted by YouGov for law firm Irwin Mitchell has uncovered a concerning lack of awareness among the UK public regarding what constitutes a valid will. The poll of 2,000 individuals highlights significant
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is set to undergo a transformation in 2025/26, due to a proposed £20 million budget – a significant 11.4% increase from the previous year. The move is part of a new
The Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practitioners is proud to officially launch the 2025 SWW Annual Conference, taking place on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th October 2025. This flagship event of ours has