STEP has appointed Emma Lovell as its new CEO, and says the appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the organisation. Lovell is an experienced chief executive, whose career has spanned professional and financial services,
Legal GiGZ, which claims to be the world’s first comprehensive directory of ‘business of law’ conferences and events, has launched a platform bringing together over 260 legal industry events across more than 40 countries. Founded
The ICAEW says HMRC is writing to agents who have previously submitted inheritance tax (IHT) returns to raise awareness of the requirement to account for IHT on cryptoassets. Any returns that contain an error should
The average traditional funeral in the UK costs £4,562, according to the latest Cost of Funerals research – but some consumers could pay up to £4,000 more than others, depending on where they live. The
A paralegal from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, has been disqualified by the Solicitors Regulation Authority after admitting to misleading clients in the administration of estates. Jessica Sayer acted for clients between January 2022 and October
The Law Society of England Wales has asked the government to clarify how AI can be used in legal services while upholding professional standards and public trust. Writing in response to a call for evidence
Today’s Wills and Probate is a labour of love for the Today’s Media team; we genuinely adore what we do and feel privileged to bring you the daily news, views, insight and best practice from
Updates to the legislation that sets out provisions for the treatment of people experiencing mental health crises will bring the law into the 21st century, campaigners say, as a new Mental Health Act receives Royal
CILEx Regulation Limited (CRL) has set out its priorities for the coming year, and said its focus will be on securing litigation rights for legal executives following “the massive upset” caused by the Mazur judgment.
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has moved to produce guidance for private clients firms exploring the challenges and good practices when responding to requests from beneficiaries during the administration of estates. The Legal Ombudsman said wills
A personal trainer who appeared on the reality TV show Made in Chelsea is involved in a “hostile” court fight for a share of a £38 million estate left by his mother’s ex-boyfriend. Lonan O’Herlihy
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will seek to separate the roles of Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA) from ‘individuals that can unilaterally determine or direct significant
An estate planner who went from selling windows to producing wills has shared an exclusive extract from a book he was “never supposed to write”. Steve Bish, from St Albans, lost one of his closest
The legal services sector grew from a value of £41.4 billion in 2021 to £52.3 billion by 2024. Private equity investment in the sector has increased significantly, climbing by 42% from £377 million in 2023
The Law Society of England and Wales has outlined its opposition to proposals to create a Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) for anti-money laundering which would sit under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority.
New starters have been announced at Glaisyers ETL, Curtis Legal and Thomson Snell & Passmore. Hamza Mustafa (main photo) has been appointed as a senior associate in the private client department at commercial law firm
Three in five (58%) legal professionals informally sampled have expressed concern that proposed AML reforms could affect legal professional privilege. The finding comes from a poll of 204 legal professionals, which was carried out during
Cryptocurrency is to become regulated as the government says it plans to make the UK a “global destination for digital assets and attract more investment.” The FCA has launched a consultation on the proposed rules
The General Council of the Bar (Bar Council) has announced a successor to current chief executive Malcolm Cree CBE, who is retiring after eight years at the head of the organisation. Jim Morris CB DSO
At least 18 million people could receive extra help with investments and pensions over the next decade, following the introduction of a targeted support framework by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The new service will
Nationwide Building Society has been fined £44 million by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for “inadequate anti-financial crime systems and controls between October 2016 to July 2021.” The financial regulator said the building society had
A divorced artist who claims her ex-husband signed over their £1.5 million home to her via WhatsApp after their split is locked in a High Court test case fight with trustees to keep it. London-based
Estate planning technology company Arken Legal has published an industry response to the Law Commission’s proposed reforms to wills law in England and Wales. Modernising Wills: An Industry Response has been prepared in collaboration with
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has introduced an Advanced Probate Exemption to provide Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) professionals with a clear and streamlined route to enhance their professional status and obtain
Households are reassessing long-term financial security following the budget, with a fifth of respondents to a post-budget survey confirming they are planning to make or update their will following the chancellor’s announcements. The survey of
The Wills & Probate Conference will return to Leeds for the third time in March, with organisers promising the biggest and most comprehensive conference yet. The event will be staged in the city’s Hilton Hotel
The Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast was launched in 2022 with the aim of introducing listeners to the organisations and individuals who contribute to the success of the wills and probate sector. Over the previous
An entrepreneur and financial services specialist has launched a firm that promises to modernise will writing, estate planning and family protection across the UK. Rhys Jones, who has a background in financial services and advisory
UK law societies have united to call for urgent ratification of a new treaty designed to protect lawyers this World Human Rights Day (10 December). They say that the Council of Europe Convention for the
The Law Society has welcomed the formal recognition of digital assets as personal property in the upcoming Property (Digital Assets etc) Act, which received Royal Assent last week. For the first time digital assets will
An analysis of Google search data by researchers at Stephen Rimmer Solicitors reveals online searches related to probate disputes peak in autumn. The phrases ‘contesting a will solicitor’, ‘disputing a will’, ‘inheritance dispute solicitor’, ‘time
Digital assets are to be formally recognised in law with the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act receiving Royal Assent this week. Previously many digital assets, including cryptocurrency or non-fungible tokens, had undefined legal rights. The