The latest consumer research results from IRN Legal Reports paint a picture of a fragmented wills, trusts and probate market populated by various providers. Despite some consolidation and a growing share for leading players, unregulated
A London High Court case brought by a mother fighting for a share of her millionaire father’s estate is ‘an intriguing point of comparison’ with a 2017 Supreme Court decision, Birketts LLP partner Barny Croft
A new fee-free service offering HMRC-compliant property valuations will aim to ‘ease financial pressure on families’ while supporting legal and property professionals handling probate and court of protection property matters. Property Solutions Group, a one-stop-shop
A charity platform to make historical probate records more widely available is seeking funding to launch FreePROBATE (FreePRO), a comprehensive probate search platform that will digitise and transcribe over 7.5m entries from government probate books
With private equity funding fuelling the UK legal services market the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast welcomes one of the latest additions to the cohort, Vault Private Client, to the podcast. Vault is the newest
Today’s Wills and Probate sits down with Provira’s Managing Director Steve Gauke to discuss his time in the wills and probate sector. Steve shares his thoughts on the good, the bad and ugly of wills
The value of later life lending was up nearly 25% in the third quarter of 2025 compared with the same time last year demonstrating a ‘firm commitment’ from lenders to the over 55’s who have
The accidental publication of the content of the budget by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) nearly made more headlines than the content of Labour’s much-anticipated budget which threatened fireworks and delivered ‘no return to
Private client membership and professional organisations the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners (STEP) and Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL) are celebrating after securing the exemption of inheritance tax (IHT) on payouts to the families
A further rise in Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts, coupled with a growing equity release market is evidence of the need for a ‘joined-up’ approach to advice for clients as there is ‘awareness among homeowners of
A north-west based estate planning firm has revealed the thirty local groups and charities it has selected to be the first recipients of its Community Fund, set up earlier this year. Morecambe Bay Wills and
A Whitehaven firm has been sanctioned for incorrectly retaining residual balances for almost 10 years, with one balance worth over £50,000. Brockbank Curwen Cain & Hall Limited was investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in
The government must act now to modernise wills, or risk leaving many people’s final wishes unprotected, the Law Society of England and Wales has said. In May 2025, the Law Commission published its report Modernising
A solicitor has successfully defended his conduct at a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) hearing after being accused of acting ‘recklessly’ and failing to act in the client’s best interests after being instructed on the quick
From 1 December, UK bank customers will be protected for up to £120,000 if their bank fails, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has announced. The deposit protection limit, which applies to the Financial Services Compensation
A new seven day unoccupied property insurance specifically for auction properties has been launched through a collaboration between Insuristic and Probate.Auction. Insuristic is probate and property insurance broker founded in 2022 offering combination of property
An analysis by later-life finance specialists Key Group reveals ‘a sharp shift’ in how UK homeowners use equity release, with mortgage repayments now the dominant use for the funds – indicating a greater use of
A court has ruled a woman was ‘unfair’ but not ‘irrational’ when she removed her great nephew as the sole beneficiary of her £400,000 estate. Judge Jane Evans-Gordon, sitting at Central London County Court, dismissed
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has applied for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the Mazur judgment, the High Court ruling that legal executives cannot conduct litigation, even under supervision
Anyone who becomes a company director or person with significant control (PSC) will now have to verify their identity with Companies House. Identity verification is now a compulsory part of incorporation and new appointments for
New polling by market research company Opinium has found clients of independent financial advisers (IFAs) are reporting significant concerns that are leading to changes in financial behaviour ahead of the upcoming budget. A quarter of
The last Will of a mother who disinherited her daughter, sparking a battle between siblings, has been ruled valid after claims it was subject to undue influence. Dervishe Halil, a Cypriot who moved to London
A High court case has provided a reminder of its interpretation of deed delivery and the limits of rescission for mistakes in the context of family arrangements over inherited property. The case arose from the
Older home owners may be using equity release to manage household budgets, support family members, and plan for future needs in a challenging economic environment according to the latest Equity Release Council (ERC) quarterly figures.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has is reported to be backtracking on plans to raise tax through the imposition of of a national insurance equivalent levy on limited liability partnerships. First reported in The Times, it had
Warring siblings have been instructed to sell their mother’s property; but not for another 14 years, until the 70th birthday of the sister. The case related to a Smooth Radio DJ Philip Chryssikos and his
Charities say they have sold ‘vital assets’ in an effort to fill the financial gap left by delays in processing probate with an average of 14% of annual income is currently being held up by
The Law Society of England and Wales has launched a new equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy for the solicitors’ profession. The strategy forms a key part of the Law Society’s 2025-2028 corporate strategy and
To what extent do women feel as though there is a glass ceiling in law and how can we overcome that? That is the question posed in the latest episode of the Today’s Wills and
Many UK solicitors believe the risks associated with client accounts have grown in recent years, but are concerned losing control of the accounts would impair their ability to deliver services effectively, according to a new
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has published updated guidance for Judicial Office Holders on the use of tools which use artificial intelligence. The guidance, which replaces the previously published document from April 2025, reminds office
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Colin Birss has been appointed Chancellor of the High Court and head of the Chancery Division with day to day responsibility for the Business and Property Courts. Renowned for embracing