The Law Society of England and Wales has confirmed it will discuss Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) proposals for changes to compliance rules at its upcoming annual general meeting in October. The proposal to separate the
Despite advances in technology and an increasingly interconnected world, genealogy remains a highly skilled investigative process. A cursory skim through Facebook simply doesn’t cut it, explains head of private client at Estate Research Dom Hendry
An alliance of SME and boutique law firms have called on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to rethink proposals to separate the compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) and compliance officer for finance and administration
Flint Bishop has relocated to a new Sheffield base as part of a wider programme of investment across its office network after record-breaking growth, with the firm surpassing £43 million in revenue for year ending
Michelle Gavin is a partner in the private client team at Lodders and specialises in all aspects of wills, succession and estate planning and complex estate administration. She is one of a small number of
Remember a Charity Week launched yesterday (Monday) with an awareness campaign featuring a range of characters (pictured) and the results of a new survey exploring what legacy means to people. The findings show that while
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has shared concerns over plans to increase the fees charged by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), warning the proposed changes could see firms make “unmerited payments” to clients to
With Remember a Charity Week just days away, director of the charity campaign Lucinda Frostick joins the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast to share details of this year’s activities and efforts to spread the legacy
The Law Society has hit back at what appear to be plans to introduce the proposed Interest on Lawyers’ Client Accounts (ILCA) scheme, after a role was advertised by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) recruiting
Government figures have revealed the number of individuals who declared more than £1 million in capital gains (CGT) from cryptoassets in the 2024 to 2025 tax year. HMRC’s first official statistics on taxable cryptoasset gains
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s annual assessment of continuing competence has found most solicitors keep knowledge and skills up-to-date, with evidence of robust systems and controls in firms to ensure solicitors remain competent and deliver good
Charlotte Ponder is the founder and director of WillComply, providing specialist compliance support to estate planning and will writing businesses. She is also full member of STEP, a trustee of Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire
Remember A Charity has launched a good practice guide for wealth advisers, designed to help advisers incorporate charitable legacies into wealth planning discussions and better support their clients’ philanthropic ambitions. Integrating Charitable Legacies into Wealth
A new fixed-fee, executor-only probate model aims to help private client teams break estate deadlocks and caveat standstills without the need to resort to contentious litigation. The model has been launched by Human Law, an
The comedian Ricky Gervais has said he will marry his partner of 44 years to ensure the couple won’t be liable for inheritance tax. In an interview with Saga magazine, Gervais said Jane Fallon’s cancer
Later life lending advice should explore all the options available to homeowners instead of defaulting to tax-free pension lump sums, Key Equity Release has warned. HMRC data analysed by Key shows a record 1.27 million
Charities face attacks from “bad actors” using increasingly complex methods, the Charity Commission has warned. Structural vulnerabilities in the regulation of some charity services and overlaps between different regulators are being exploited, according to a
The finalists for The British Wills and Probate Awards 2026, sponsored by Arken.legal, have been announced today (Friday 21st August) with 80 firms recognised for their commitment to organisational excellence and customer service success ahead
A freedom of information (FoI) request from NFU Mutual has revealed the number of estates reclaiming overpaid inheritance tax (IHT) doubled last year, as a result of a mismatch between property valuations for the purposes
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) should ensure proposals for new reporting requirements for firms are evidence-based, proportionate and do not create unnecessary administrative burdens, particularly for smaller firms, the Law Society of England and Wales
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved plans to separate the roles of compliance officers from senior managers and owners, in an addendum to Rule 8 of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Authorisation of Firms
Knights has acquired Thames Valley-based THP Solicitors in a move the firm said will enhance its capability “in one of the UK’s most economically significant growth regions”. The acquisition is the second in the area,
Hallucinations and client confidentiality are two major concerns cited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in a new Misuse of AI warning notice issued by the regulator. Acknowledging the increased use of AI across the legal
Law firm consolidator Oak Legal Group has acquired Harpenden-based Perrin Myddelton out of administration. The news was shared on social media by Colm McGinley, CEO of the private equity group backing the venture. Oak Legal
Comedian and entertainer Jason Manford is the host for the British Wills and Probate Awards 2026, sponsored by Arken.Legal. The awards will take place at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel on 8th October. The awards are
A new free search site lists every solicitor firm in England and Wales, along with legal aid data, without any paid rankings, sponsored listings or paid lead generation. LawStreet is the first in the UK
One of the top-donating firms during Will Aid 2025 raised £21,352 for the annual charity campaign, which encourages firms invite clients to make a donation to charity in lieu of paying their solicitor writing a
A new estate planning platform will help firms respond to demand for online private client services under their own brand without the expense of commissioning their own software, its creators say. Ai Wills says it
A legal service that enables pet owners to name an animal guardian and sets out clear instructions for their ongoing care in the event of their death or incapacitation has been awarded £75,000 by Innovate
An American legacy planning technology service has launched in the UK after securing the backing of investors and users across the USA and Canada. Empathy LifeVault™ has been developed by technology company Empathy and provides
Charity campaign Will Aid 2026 returns in November, with law firms across the country encouraged to join the campaign to write wills for clients in exchange for donations to charity. The campaign takes place each
After a slow start to 2026 the equity release market returned to growth during the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest report from the Equity Release Council (ERC). The Q2 data showed total