Estatesearch has officially launched a new subsidiary company called Estatesure. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Estatesure now provides an innovative range of insurance services, offering indemnity cover for a variety of situations
Taylor Rose has announced three new appointments within its Private Client and Dispute Resolution teams. In the Private Client team, Jacob Robinson has been promoted to Technical Head of Private Client and Krystal Ramsammy to
As the Law Society of England and Wales marks two centuries since its inception in 1825, new research reveals public views on the legal profession, the justice system and the use of technology. Public confidence
A Midlands law firm has announced a new department head as the firm looks to expand the team and continue to grow its presence in the market. Wright Hassall, based in Leamington, has named partner
A Birmingham law firm has been fined more than the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) stated £25,000 for ‘traditional’ firms for anti-money laundering (AML) failures because of it’s status as an alternative business structure (ABS). Tyndallwoods
Estatesearch has announced its acquisition of Exizent. This milestone combines two innovative forces in the space to deliver “greater efficiencies, enhanced tools, and better outcomes” for private client professionals dealing with probate, financial institutions, and
The Charity Commission has welcomed the sentencing of Rajbinder Kaur and Khaldip Singh Lehal. Rajbinder Kaur has been jailed for 2 years and 8 months after being convicted of money laundering and six counts of
Farmers in Northumberland have taken to the streets in protest over proposed changes to inheritance tax, which they say threaten the future of their industry. A convoy of tractors travelled down the A1 before gathering
New analysis of Freedom of Information (FoI) data obtained from the Ministry of Justice by Quilter, financial adviser and pension provider, has found that the number of probate cases taking over a year to be
Hundreds of teachers across England are facing significant delays in their divorce proceedings due to backlogs in obtaining pension valuations from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme, according to The BBC. These valuations, known as Cash Equivalent
Property Solutions Group Incorporating Southey & Co (PSG) has announced the promotion of Gary Shaw to Group Managing Director. Established in 2014 by property expert Barry Mattock, PSG was founded to offer tailored, comprehensive property
In its 2025 Corporate Plan, launched today, CILEx Regulation Limited (CRL) sets out a bold programme of action to strengthen the regulation of legal executives and improve information to consumers. The key priorities deliver the
The Ministry of Justice has announced its decision to retain all original wills following an extensive public consultation that revealed overwhelming opposition to their destruction. The consultation, launched in December 2023, sought views on transitioning
The New Year will continue to bring both challenges and opportunities with no shortage of demand and need for qualified and highly experienced trust and estate practitioners to advise, support and help families better plan
The UK’s wills, probate, and trusts market continues to grow, bolstered by an aging population and rising demand for estate planning services, according to the recent IRN Legal Report. And Today’s Wills and Probate readers
New analysis reveals that changes announced in Rachel Reeves’s Budget could result in an additional 14,500 farmers becoming subject to inheritance tax (IHT), as thresholds fail to keep pace with inflation, as reported by The
The administrators of Safe Hands Plans, the collapsed pre-paid funeral company that left 46,000 customers with a £60 million shortfall, have successfully appointed liquidators to Navigator, a Cayman Islands firm where customer funds were diverted,
A recently qualified solicitor from Irwin Mitchell, who misled multiple contentious probate clients about the progress of their cases, has been struck off the roll, as reported by Legal Futures. Rachael Catherine Worthington, formerly Williams,
Around 8.5 million people remain unaware of new rules that will subject pensions to inheritance tax (IHT) starting in April 2027, according to financial service provider Canada Life. The lack of awareness persists despite the
Nigel Farage has called for a major review of public sector pensions, describing them as “Ponzi schemes” after new figures revealed that a quarter of council tax revenue is being used to fund staff retirement
Essex-based law firm Birkett Long has announced the promotion of several valued team members across a variety of departments. These recognitions highlight their ongoing commitment to fostering career growth. The following team members have been
Law Society of England and Wales looks at what 2025 holds for the legal sector as it celebrates its bicentenary. Richard Atkinson, president of the Law Society said: “2025 sees the Law Society celebrating 200
Law firm Holmes Mackillop says that Rupert Murdoch’s failed attempt to give his eldest son control of his media empire brings into sharp focus questions of succession (and of power and control) that arise in
Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2024 to November 2024 are £5.7 billion, which is £0.6 billion higher than the same period last year, according to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). Higher receipts from March 2022
The Supreme Court has made a landmark ruling on the way ‘no win, no fee’ agreements are treated in inheritance claims. Wright Hassall, the firm that represented the appellant in the case, and their client
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has conducted a thematic review of how firms and individuals engage with their professional obligations. This review highlights how firms access, understand, and integrate regulatory information, as well as areas
Kings Court Trust, a provider of probate and estate administration services, has announced the launch of its refreshed brand. They have stated that the rebrand reflects extensive research and a deeper understanding of the needs
An organisation that has helped over 2000 charities to benefit from charitable gifting through wills has reached a landmark moment with over £50m pledged through its platform this year. Freewills, which is an online, solicitor-checked
Funeral Safe has successfully raised £7 million in growth capital from existing shareholders. The new investment in Funeral Safe, a consumer credit provider specialising in tailored funeral finance that allows individuals to spread the cost
The Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. Founded in 1999 to raise awareness of the role of legacy officers as a professional discipline, it now has over 700 members
New Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) claims took an average of 76 working days, or 15 weeks, to process during the 2023/24 financial year. However, some people were left waiting considerably longer, with one application
The waiting time for probate applications has slightly increased in the number of weeks from submission to grant issue for all probate applications – increasing from 8.8 to 9.6 weeks, according to HM Courts &