Dying Matters Week – Let’s talk about death and Wills
It is fair to say that we as a society are not comfortable discussing death. It is daunting – you have to think about Wills, funerals, organ donations, Lasting Powers of Attorney, and care planning. You cannot escape death, but you can ensure your plans are in place. Unnerving as it is, the alternative to […]
Creating a Leading Brand in the Legal Sector: A Strategic Guide for Law Firms and Legal Businesses
Establishing a strong brand is not just about being recognised – it’s about being preferred. This means going beyond just offering expert legal advice; it involves embedding your firm’s values into every aspect of your business, developing a coherent content strategy, leveraging personal branding, and aligning with your long-term vision. At Legal Growth, we understand […]
B P Collins LLP’s Lisa McBrearty promoted to senior associate in private client practice
B P Collins has announced that Lisa McBrearty has been promoted to senior associate in the private client practice. With over 18 years of experience in helping clients with their future planning and a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Lisa advises on estate planning, including the preparation of Wills […]
Verifying family trees isn’t just for probate cases
Verifying family trees isn’t just for probate cases; there is often a need for this service on Court of Protection matters too. At Anglia Research, we are frequently instructed by professional deputies to use our extensive genealogical skills to accurately identify P’s nearest relatives and build a confirmed family tree. This is often done in […]
Will Aid 2023: Highest donating Firm
Will Aid is an incredible Scheme which goes from strength to strength every year. Having taken part for over 15 years, becoming the second highest donating firm last year was beyond amazing. This year to smash that record and raise over £42,000, well really, there are no words to describe this feeling! As a sole […]
UK government to overhaul non-domicile tax status in favour of modernised system
At the recent March Budget the Chancellor announced that the government will scrap the non-domicile tax status in the UK and replace it will a more modern and simpler system. Who does it affect? Non-domicile (non-dom) describes a UK resident whose permanent home or domicile for tax purposes is outside the UK. It refers to […]
Navigating the ups and downs of running a will writing business
The Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast welcomes Andrew Buchan, Managing Director of James McKenzie Wills, to discuss the ups and downs of running an estate planning business. Andrew has been with the business for 14 years and has seen the development of the sector first hand. He explains his role and responsibility both to his […]
Can someone with dementia create a valid will?
With an ever-growing and aging population, along with prolonged lifespans, an increasing number of wills are being disputed due to doubts over testamentary capacity. Dementia is a condition predominantly linked with the aging population, and the number of people diagnosed with the disease is set to rise to over 1,000,000 by 2025. Those familiar with […]
Client blog: What happens to my debt when I die?
The period after the death of a loved one is a difficult time; and many people prefer to avoid thinking about it in advance. There are many challenges to consider; not only the emotional difficulties, but also the administrative duties that will need to be dealt with. An example of this is when the deceased […]
Leaving a Lasting Legacy: World Vision offering free Will-writing this March
In the height of the cost-of-living crisis, money management is an incredibly important topic for everyone to consider, regardless of their age, including Wills and the legacy they will leave behind. Data suggests that legacy giving pledges included in Wills increased by 8.7% year-on-year in 2022*, despite the cost-of-living crisis, so it remains important for […]
Battle over will highlights risks of predatory marriages and importance of protecting vulnerable elders
There has been much in press this month about the ongoing legal battle between the daughter of the late Robert Harrington, Jill Langley, and his widow Guixiang Qin in respect of Mr Harrington’s Will. Mr Harrington died in May 2020, aged 94, 11 months after marrying his 54 year old carer, Ms Qin, to whom […]
STEP responds to a UK government consultation that seeks views on improving transparency of land ownership
STEP has responded to a UK government consultation that seeks views on improving transparency of land ownership involving trusts and options to widen access to trust information held on the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE). Transparency and privacy The extent to which information about trusts and companies should be publicly available has been much discussed both in […]
Government backs SMEs with new Help to Grow campaign and small business council
The Government is reaffirming its commitment to all the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses, with the creation of a new Small Business Council due to launch next month which will bring together SME leaders from across the country. The Council builds on the Department’s existing support for SMEs and will provide a bespoke forum […]
Justice Committee’s inquiry into the probate service
STEP has responded to the House of Common’s Justice Committee Inquiry into the performance of the probate service amid concerns about serious delays. Delays in the probate service have risen sharply and the enquiry focuses on taking evidence on capacity, resources and delays of the probate service and the impact of digitalisation, including the effectiveness […]
Administering an Estate for High Net Worth Individuals in the UK
The management and distribution of an estate for high-net-worth individuals in the UK is a complex process. With considerable assets involved, the process demands a meticulous and tailored approach, backed up by an in-depth understanding of the legal, financial, and tax implications. This detailed guide explains estate administration under the law of England and Wales. […]
Trust and Estate Disputes Quarterly Round-Up
This Trust and Estate Disputes quarterly round-up provides a summary of a cross-section of reported decisions handed down in the courts of England and Wales in the period October 2023 – December 2023. WITHERS TRUST CORPORATION V ESTATE OF HANNAH GOODMAN [2023] EWHC 2780 CH The High Court has made an order pursuant to section […]
The Ombudsman’s Corner: January 2024
Our approach to offers made at first tier When a consumer first brings a complaint to us, one of the first thing we do is to establish whether the service provider has made an offer to resolve it during their own complaints procedure. If this is the case, and we think the service provider’s offer […]
How to prove undue influence in a will
If your loved one was unduly influenced by someone when making their will, it could be invalid. But what is ‘undue influence’ and how does it differ from mere persuasion? Undue influence claims are particularly fact-sensitive and can be difficult to prove, not least because such influence typically takes place in private when no one […]
Why ‘Equity Release’ needs to evolve into ‘Later Life Finance’
David Forsdyke, recent winner of ‘Market Champion of the year’ at the 2023 Later Life Lending awards, believes the equity release industry needs to undergo a fundamental change. Here he explains why. Just 10 years ago the majority of mortgage lenders had a maximum age limit of 75, and the range of products that allowed […]
Marketing Your Law Firm in 2024: Strategies for Standing out in 2024
With 11,500 law firms in the UK differentiation can be a constant challenge. When it come to legal services marketing, law firms in 2024 must adopt innovative marketing strategies to distinguish themselves. Legal Growth, a marketing agency specialising in law firms, highlights key approaches to ensure your firm not only competes but excels in this […]