Annual charity campaign Remember a Charity returns in September with a quirky national awareness campaign aimed at fondly remember loved ones (pictured). New assets and resources are available for member charities and partners, and a
Listed law firm Knights saw underlying revenue increase by 28% to £207.7 million and underlying profit before tax increase by 19% to £33.2 million, according to its latest results. The hugely acquisitive firm said it
HMRC has warned agents to check the criteria for excepted estates are met and to submit an IHT400 if there is any doubt surrounding the valuation of assets and liabilities or the application of allowances.
Consumers are the “elephant in the room” in the client account debate with an “overwhelming majority” saying they do not want their lawyers to keep the interest on client money, according to the latest Legal
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has welcomed probate practitioner Mark Willey (pictured right) as its newest board member. The appointment follows the retirement of former chairperson and long-standing board member Valerie Holmes (left). Willey
Louise Long is a partner and head of private client advisory at Birketts and has more than 30 years’ experience advising individuals, families, trustees and business owners of the preservation, management and succession of private
Wills and probate services accounted for over 13% of all complaints submitted to the Legal Ombudsman in the latest reporting period, with personal injury receiving the same amount. Only residential conveyancing received more complaints, with
The investors who backed Taylor Rose to the tune of nearly £5 million have defended the firm after it was reported private equity pulled out of a potential acquisition, citing the firm’s exposure to client
The deadline to enter The British Wills and Probate Awards 2026 is today (Friday 3rd July). Firms wishing to enter one of the 22 categories will need to register by midnight, with the deadline for
A television personality has been issued with a £216,000 costs order, £150,000 payable immediately, after failing to convince a court his father lacked testamentary capacity when drafting his 2016 will. ‘Cockney Bard’ Gary Allen, real
Proposals to reform client accounts and use the interest to capitalise the justice system, including legal aid, could be affecting the appetite of private equity to invest in law firms. An article in the Sunday
The Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) at failed law firm PM Law has been disqualified from holding senior and compliance roles in law firms under section 99 of the Legal Services Act 2007,
Firms supporting people to buy, trade and hold crypto will need to meet clear standards under landmark rules set out by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). All firms must meet financial resilience requirements including capital
Given the changing dynamics of estate planning and private client law there is an opportunity for lawyers and law firms to reassert the principle of the ‘family lawyer’; someone to whom a family can turn
Mihiri is an experienced private client specialist who qualified in 2009 at a Southampton firm before joining Trethowans in 2015. She now leads the firm’s highly regarded Private Client team. Recognised for her depth of
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed reforms of solicitors’ costs rules, but warns the proposals must be underpinned by “robust evidence”. The warning comes amid concerns that plans to expand the Legal
The time it takes to issues grants of probate is largely unchanged according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The latest Quarterly Family Court Statistics show probate grants took on average
A private client solicitor has been struck off following admissions of dishonesty, improper client account withdrawals and systemic over-billing across probate matters spanning more than a decade. Mark Grenville Davies, former principal of Bennett Richmond
The cost of probate fee applications is to rise after the government laid a statutory instrument before parliament detailing changes to court fees, set by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). A 2.6% increase, in line
A failed inheritance dispute has resulted in a costs order for £126,000 after an “estranged” daughter unsuccessfully sued for a share of her late father’s estate. Sarah Ducent’s father Herbert Ducent died in 2007, leaving
Legal technology company Estatesearch has announced it has added international searches as an additional service to its Financial Profile search service. The change will enabling professionals to search additional jurisdictions across the world, including America,
A County Court inheritance dispute has left a son with a £265,000 legal bill and eviction from his parents’ property. Central London County Court dismissed Robert Chung’s bid to take sole ownership of his late
Ashford-based Squiggle Consult is celebrating nine years in business and hitting the milestone of extending its complimentary wills programme to six million UK adults. The business, founded in June 2017, works with approximately 200 partner
A cost-management consultancy has warned law firms of a pending price increase in Microsoft user licences from 1st July. Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform will all see price increases, Jason Adderley of ERA
How often do you discuss charitable legacies with your clients? Remember a Charity is inviting solicitors, will-writers and financial advisers to take part in a short survey on the role of professional advisers in charitable
STEP says it welcomes improvements to inheritance tax on pensions but warns of unworkable complexity, unfair interest charges and the ignoring of existing, proven methods for paying inheritance tax (IHT). The professional body for trust
An annual analysis of how law firms market themselves has launched its latest survey. The Professional Services Marketing Survey will collect data on the last 12 months as it seeks to identify the trends and
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has launched a consultation into plans for law firms to notify the regulator of proposed merger and acquisition activity, as part of its next phase of work examining client money
HM Treasury has published its consultation response to the transfer of anti-money laundering (AML) supervision to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Announced as part of a “blitz on pointless admin” by chancellor Rachel Reeves, the
A £37 million shortfall in inheritance tax (IHT) receipts marks another month of lower receipts compared to last year’s record total. Rising demand for IHT and estate planning support is “turning the spotlight on the
Just 16 days into her new role as CEO of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), the Mazur ruling and subsequent appeal thrust Jennifer Coupland into one of the biggest crises legal services has
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published updated guidance on on supervision arrangements following the Mazur case. In the wake of the Court of Appeal ruling, which held that unqualified staff could continue to undertake