Claims on £18m estate reinstated in High Court battle between siblings and partner
The family of a millionaire who made his fortune in the health drinks industry have won an appeal to reinstate their claim to half his £18m estate. Alan Lorenz, a senior executive at nutritional supplements group Herbalife, died aged 78 in 2021 leaving his estate, which included a £3.5m Maltese property, a £4m home in […]
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 […]
Why Auctions Are Ideal for Settling Inherited Estates Quickly
When multiple heirs inherit an estate, selling the property often becomes a priority. Many families are looking for a fast and hassle-free way to liquidate assets and divide the proceeds. In these situations, an auction can be the perfect solution. Auctions streamline the sales process, avoid delays, and eliminate many of the headaches that come […]
“We’re listening” say legacy managers
The Institute of Legacy Management (ILM), a membership and training body for those working in legacy teams across the charity sector, says it is ‘reassured’ by the response to a recent sentiment survey of probate practitioners, and reaffirmed its commitment to using feedback to shape future guidance for members. A readership survey conducted in conjunction […]
Review of “obstructive and costly” SLAPPs
The Law Society of England and Wales is joining forces with media and other legal sector bodies to tackle the rise of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) which stifle freedom of the press to report on critical stories. Often associated with the extremely wealthy, SLAPPs are being used to prevent information being released into […]
Crisis in local government will slow plans for progress
A local government workforce crisis is threatening vital local services – particularly relied on by those who urgently need support – with more than 9 in 10 councils experiencing staff recruitment and retention difficulties, a new survey reveals. The Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, has published its 2022 Workforce Survey which identifies […]
Update Your Will Week 2023 highlights lack of parental planning
Seven out of ten parents across the UK have no legal guardian in place to care for their children in the event of their deaths, according to research commissioned by Solicitors for the Elderly (SfE). The research has been done ahead of “Update Your Will Week 2023,” which begins today and finishes on 29th January […]
Business Branding vs Personal Branding
Over the last few weeks, Legal Growth Founder – Tom Stansfield has been traveling up and down the country attending client meetings, hosting training for law firms, attending conferences and meeting prospective clients. Some of this has been documented on both the Legal Growth socials but also on Tom’s… Why? It’s all about business branding, […]
Calling for pre-paid probate regulation
We recently wrote about the welcome regulation of funeral plan providers by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It has become painfully clear how crucial regulation is after the company Safe Hands went into administration earlier this year. Their customers’ funeral plans have been voided and it is likely that no more than 20% of their […]
STEP announces improved delivery of its Diploma qualification
The membership body STEP has announced it will “make it easier for professionals to meet their career needs” by introducing improvements to how its Diploma qualifications are delivered. This change brings enhanced flexibility, incorporating local, international and STEP-recognised content. It is part of STEP’s global approach to supporting professional development at each career stage. STEP is […]
Podcast: Prepaid Probate… what’s it all about?
In this latest Today’s Wills and Probate podcast David Opie is joined by the CEO of Probate Protect, Chris Cauvain. Chris discusses the professional, and personal, journey which has led him to setting up a prepaid probate business alongside his business partners. With the regulation of funeral planning nearly upon us, is prepaid probate the […]
How UWOs help in the fight against money laundering
Unexplained wealth orders (UWOs) were introduced four years ago to help tackle the problem of money laundering by high-net worth individuals, often with foreign and political connections. The concept of recovery of criminal proceeds has persisted in the UK for some time. Tools such as a civil recovery order have been available and commonly used […]
Law Society comments on SQE fee increase
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) fees will be increasing by 3.4% from October 2022. SQE1 will rise from £1,558 to £1,622 and SQE2 from £2,422 to £2,493. Law Society of England and Wales president I. Stephanie Boyce said: “We understand that businesses and institutions across England and Wales […]
Celebrating International Women’s Day: Women in Wills
Women in Wills, in partnership with Today’s Media, has been a recognised platform for championing and supporting women in the sector since it was first founded just a few years ago. So what better day to reflect on the group’s successes and upcoming event, than today, on International Women’s Day! Women in Wills was founded […]
Celebrating International Women’s Day: The Society of Will Writers
On International Women’s Day, we thought it would be important to discuss women’s roles in the wills and estate planning industry. As gender equality, feminism and empowerment for women is in the public eye more frequently, more and more women are realising that estate planning and writing a will is extremely important. Women are increasingly […]
International Women’s Day: landmark year for women in law
2022 marks 100 years since Carrie Morrison was admitted as the first woman solicitor in England and Wales. In December 1922, following the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919, Carrie Morrison was the first to make it across the line to qualification, with Mary Pickup, Mary Sykes and Maud Crofts also admitted. Carrie Morrison argued for […]
Digital Signatures – “Yes! You can!” – Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast
In this podcast David Opie is joined by Charlotte Ponder, Legal Director at CTT Group (formerly Countrywide Tax and Trust Corporation) and Chris Jones, Managing Director and ICON-UK to discuss the progress being made on the introduction of electronic signatures in legal services. Both Charlotte and Chris are members of the Industry Working Group on […]
Collaborative thinking – with WillSuite
WillSuite are huge advocates for collaborative thinking, forming the right partnerships and for education. Group Head of Growth – Tom Stansfield helped to launch the College of Will Writing during his tenure with The Society of Will Writers and strongly believes in self-development and knowledge being the key to success for any professional. Over the […]
Silverstone Auctions Celebrate a Phenomenal £9.2m worth of Sales at Their NEC Classic Motor Show Auction
This past weekend, specialist automotive auction house Silverstone Auctions, returned to NEC Classic Motor Show for their tenth time as the ‘Official Auction Partner’. As the final hammer fell, the company recorded a staggering £9.2m worth of collective car, motorcycle and automobilia sales; with an impressive 83% sales rate. The three-day auction commenced on Friday […]
Free virtual seminar: ‘Estate administration: Complex estates, challenges and risks’
In their upcoming virtual seminar on Wednesday 24th November at 12pm, Title Research’s Technical Manager, Simon Barber, will cover a range of topics relating to the complexities that can arise from UK estates. The seminar will be delivered live allowing you the opportunity to pose questions as well as take part in polls on various […]
