The impact of the Law Commission’s recommendations on practice
On 16th May, the Law Commission produced a report and draft bill for a new Wills Act to replace the Wills Act 1837. The report has taken nine years to produce and aims to modernise the law currently governing wills which has been in place since Victorian times. Although the new Wills Act is far […]
Why should solicitors encourage the use of digital estate planning?
It’s a misconception that debts are written off after an individual dies. Many obligations, such as credit card balances, mortgages and car loans, remain tied to an estate and must be settled before any assets can be distributed. Those due to inherit can be caught by surprise when they discover outstanding bills and creditors awaiting […]
LSB survey finds higher prices, but availability of remote services offers greater choice
New research from the Legal Services Board (LSB) reveals the price of legal services is rising, but the transparency of the prices offered is improving and consumers are benefitting from more services being made available remotely. The Prices of Individual Legal Services in England and Wales looks at five commonly used legal services: conveyancing, divorce, power […]
IHT changes to drive growth in demand as 6 in 10 report rise in requests for estate and tax planning advice
Inheritance tax (IHT) changes are driving demand for tax and estate planning advice as six in ten professional advisors report an increase in demand for their services. Nine in ten professionals believe estate and tax planning will become even more important following IHT changes, and 65% said they believe charitable tax incentives will become even […]
Later life lending up 43% year on year
The value of later life lending in the first quarter of 2025 increased by 43% year on year with nearly 40,000 new loans advanced to older borrowers; identified as those over the age of 55. The latest UK Finance Later Life Lending Update covering Q1 2025 shows there were 38,510 new loans advanced to older […]
Experts divided over landmark case that sets out binary test to protect vulnerable borrowers
The Supreme Court has ruled a bank had a duty to investigate whether a woman was acting under the influence of her partner when the couple took out a remortgage, in a landmark case that extends protection for vulnerable people at risk of economic abuse by their partners. The ruling has divided experts, with some […]
How has the rising number of dementia patients in the UK affected contested probate cases?
The increasing prevalence of dementia in the UK is not only reshaping the health and social care landscape but also exerting a visible influence on legal practice, particularly in the area of contested probate. Dementia now affects nearly one million people across the country, up from 850,000 in 2015. University College London forecasts that this […]
5 Red Flags That Get Your Inheritance Tax Return Escalated
HMRC operates a two-tier system for reviewing inheritance tax returns. Initial assessment falls to trained caseworkers who follow detailed internal guidance when examining submitted valuations. If these officers spot potential issues, the file escalates to the specialist Shares and Assets Valuation team. When it comes to personal possessions and household chattels, many of these escalations […]
Marketeers ‘present’ but not ‘leading’ law firm business development strategy
Law firms continue to invest in marketing and business development activity, but the evidence suggests only one in five firms involve their marketing teams in actively driving the strategic growth of the organisation. An overall increase in the numbers of staff involved in marketing and business development is heavily weighted toward larger firms, and growth among […]
Interview: Professor Nick Hopkins, Modernising Wills Law
The project to modernise wills law book-ends the career of Professor Nick Hopkins in his role as the Commissioner for Property, Family and Trust Law at The Law Commission as he departs in the coming months following the end of his tenure. Included in the 12th programme of law reform in 2014, the work has […]
Modernising Wills: The Case for Electronic Wills and Legal Reform
Private client solicitors like myself witness firsthand the complexities and challenges clients face when it comes to estate planning. Amidst these challenges, our duty is to help ensure the intentions and wishes of our clients regarding their estates will be put into effect upon their death, including through the correct and effective use of a […]
A guide to creating content for AI discovery and retrieval
The rules of internet-based marketing are currently transforming in a way we haven’t seen for almost 20 years. Creating your content marketing in a format and style similar to the one you have been using for the last decade may mean your law firm’s website will not be discovered and retrieved by AI Overviews and […]
Communication is key when dealing with delays, says Legal Ombudsman in new guidance
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has set out its expectations for service providers when dealing with third-party delays, which stress the importance of effective communication. The LeO says almost half of the complaints it receives are about communication and delays, with a ‘common feature’ being whether the delay could have been caused or influenced by a […]
Reform of the Wills Act 1837: bringing the law on wills into the modern age or a recipe for increased litigation?
The long-awaited Law Commission Report on modernising the law relating to Wills, published on 16 May 2025, certainly did not shy away from making some radical and (mostly) welcome recommendations. If approved, the proposals will represent the most significant and comprehensive changes to the Wills Act since it was introduced in 1837. The recommendations are […]
What does the UK probate market look like in 2025?
After 35 years in financial & legal services, with the last 15 years focussing on estate administration, I’ve witnessed the UK probate market evolve from a cottage industry dominated by high street solicitors to a £2.8 billion sector grappling with profound change. As we stand at the intersection of tradition and technology, it’s time we […]
Dispensing powers and the potential impact on practice
In their Report, Modernising Wills Law, the Law Commission of England and Wales have recommended the introduction of a dispensing power. This power would enable the court, on application, to dispense with the formalities for making a will and admit a document to probate. This recommendation is in line with their 2017 Consultation Paper, when […]
Consultant model ‘a fundamental part of the UK legal fabric’
Alternative legal platform providers, otherwise known as consultant-model law firms, continue to demonstrate ‘importance that lawyers are placing on autonomy, work-life balance, and the ability to build a practice supported by strong infrastructure’ say the authors of a report into the size and structure of the market. The sector hit over 4,000 practitioner last year, […]
Whisky, watches and Fenders: The probate assets you might miss
Often some of the most valuable personal possessions within an estate are not immediately obvious. They are not locked in a safe or listed in a will but are instead hidden in attics, warehouses or online accounts and can be easily missed. A single whisky cask could be worth six figures. A forgotten trading card […]
Why do people contest wills?
The growing importance of inherited wealth is helping to fuel an increasing number of inheritance disputes: every year, around 10,000 individuals in the UK seek to contest Wills. Most, of course, never progress beyond the initial stages. But, according to the most recent data published by the Ministry of Justice, 122 contested probate claims were […]
Regulation ‘profoundly’ changing the dynamics of the funeral plan market
The regulation of the funeral plan market has had a ‘profound and ongoing impact’ not just for funeral plan providers, but also for adjacent sectors like Over 50’s insurance. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was tasked with regulating the funeral plan market back in 2020 and outlined how it planned to ‘raise standards’ in the […]
