LPAs, Deputyship, Financial Assessments & Challenges

If you have been assisting your clients with their Wills, Trusts and Powers of Attorney as part of their planning for the future, do you know what could happen next? By attending our LPAs, Deputyship, Financial Assessments & Challenges course, you can equip yourself for the ‘next stage’ of advising and assisting your clients, and […]

Are your middle-income clients getting quietly pushed into higher death duty brackets?

According to several think tanks, thousands of middle-income families are now heading towards the 40pc bracket for inheritance tax (IHT). This is partly due to rising property prices, but is also due to the five year freeze in tax allowances announced in the spring.   Whilst more middle income earners find themselves with higher value assets and bigger pots of savings, the IHT allowance will remain steady at £325,000 […]

Time management for startup law firm owners

When it comes to running your own law firm and serving clients, it can feel like the work is never done. For the sake of your wellbeing, though, and that of every member of your team, finding the right time management solutions to ensure a healthy work-life balance is essential. That’s why, for the tenth […]

Couples that meet online are six times more likely to divorce  

A study by the Marriage Foundation has revealed that couples who meet on dating apps are six times more likely to get divorced within the first three years of marriage. The survey of 2,027 married adults aged 30 and over, also found that meeting a partner online now accounts for a third of marriages in […]

Parents not planning to split inheritance equally

Only half of parents plan to leave their wealth split equally between their children, according to a new report. The findings by Netwealth and The Money Whisperer® as reported in the Mirror suggested that there is a lack of openness around inheritance that can leave bereaved families at a loss when it comes to their […]

Certainty Expert Webinars presents Gifting of P’s assets – avoiding the pitfalls

We are pleased to welcome Mitra Mann, Senior Associate, Tracy Ashby, Partner and Danielle Pawson, Associate at Wright Hassall who will be presenting our upcoming Certainty Expert Webinar on Tuesday 23rd November at 12.00pm, titled ‘Gifting of P’s assets – avoiding the pitfalls’. Over the last few years, the OPG has received many concerns and […]

Huge collection of “No Reserve” cars for sale

On sale across the weekend are number of exceptional vehicles, offered at ‘No Reserve’, meaning lots will sell with no restrictions – with the highest bidder securing the car. Simply, the highest bid wins. Finished in Mugello Blue, is a remarkable 2007 Audi RS4 (B7). The car has been owned and stored by its first […]

1 in 5 don’t understand British law

A survey of over 2000 adults aged 16+ had revealed that nearly 19% of people don’t understand British law and do not feel empowered to seek justice. Less than half (41%) of respondents said that if they needed help, support or wanted to make a complaint, they’d be comfortable approaching a law firm. 59% said […]

Technical Corner: Common Reporting Standard and Filing Issues

Technical Corner: Reminder - IHT reporting changes from January 2022

Our ‘Technical Corner’ brings you information that will help you to continue to grow and develop in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Emily Deane TEP, STEP Technical Counsel. If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them using the contact form below. We will publish the questions […]

Tower Street Finance and Executor Solutions make estate administration simpler

Tower Street Finance has partnered with Executor Solutions to offer its clients a simple, risk-free way to fund the administration of estates. Following the launch of its Estate Expense Funding, Tower Street Finance was able to adapt the product to be specific to the needs of Executor Solution’s clients. Executor Solutions help estate administrators prepare […]

Free webinar: ‘Digital assets: What they are and how they can impact your practice’

In the 21st century, digital assets are becoming more and more common when administering an estate. That’s why Kings Court Trust’s next webinar, hosted by Technical Manager, Nigel Merchant, is back by popular demand on Wednesday 3rd November at 1pm. In addition to providing considerations for professionals and their clients when dealing with digital assets, […]

“Simple Wills” not so simple

A rise in contentious probate is anticipated as a result of research which shows that many Wills provided by online providers may not provide enough protection for the testator or testatrix.  The research was conducted by independent research and consultancy firm Funeral Solution Expert who identified that 65% of UK consumers who believe their affairs […]

Title Research’s latest blog discusses working with cross-border estates

In today’s modern world, it is increasingly more common to come across individuals who have acquired foreign assets throughout their lifetime. As a result of this, Solicitors are often presented with a whirlwind of challenges during the estate administration process due to a lack of expertise in working with these often-complicated overseas jurisdictions. In their […]

Unbundling has “untapped potential” states LSCP

The Legal Services Consumer Panel has concluded that legal unbundling services should be promoted more proactively in a bid to reduce scepticism and encourage more firms to offer the service. Defined as “the separation of tasks within a package of legal services between the consumer and the legal service provider” in which the two parties […]

From tax planner to Legacy Professional

Having spent two decades specialising in capital taxes planning for a Big Four accounting firm working alongside Private Client lawyers, it was second nature to me to enhance my role within a hospice charity by forging collaborative relationships with local legal professionals, encouraging many to support our Wills Weeks campaigns and to provide free advice […]

Why are inheritance disputes on the rise?

Due to more dynamic family structures and individuals increasingly owning more assets than ever before, it may not come as a surprise that inheritance disputes have been on the rise since 2015. Unfortunately, contentious cases can cause various complications, and as a result, can delay the estate administration process. In their latest blog, Kings Court […]

Tenth anniversary at NEC Classic Motor Show for Silverstone Auctions

Silverstone Auctions will celebrate their tenth year at The NEC Classic Motor Show in just a months’ time. This is their final auction of 2021 as well as their first car and motorcycle sale at the show! Their Lot list is rapidly growing with some exceptional examples confirmed. The catalogue for the sale will close […]

Planning for the Buy to Let client from 1 to 50 properties

Join our latest webinar on “Planning for the Buy to Let client from 1 to 50 properties” on  Monday 18th October 2021. The session will commence at 9:30am and finish at 1:00pm Agenda: What are the Trust options for this type of clients? Gifting to Trust and deferring the gain Evidencing verbal Trust arrangements… It […]

Increase in charitable gifts as donors exploit tax-free option

As death duties in recent years have increased, one million people have made gifts to charities in their wills over the past decade to reduce the amount they need to pay in inheritance tax, according to an article in the Daily Telegraph. The article says more people than ever have taken advantage of such donations […]

Taking mediation on-line

Following the outbreak of the pandemic last year I have had just two face-to-face mediations, all the rest have been via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. I spent hours in March through May 2020 testing out various video conferencing platforms and dealing with all the issues around security and confidentiality (security on both platforms has been […]