Arken announce leadership transition as Newick departs
Estate planning and digital legal technology provider Arken have announced CEO Dave Newick will step down with immediate effect, to be replaced by Anthony Philips. Newick, a New Zealander, came to the UK to lead Arken having been appointed in 2018 after it rebranded from DPL Professional. He has served as CEO during a ‘pivotal’ […]
Dispensing powers, electronic wills and undue influence amongst key recommendations in Law Commission’s modernising Wills Report
The Law Commission has published its much-anticipated report into the modernisation of Wills law and testamentary freedom in which it outlines reform recommendations including the enablement of electronic wills; the abolition of the law that revokes a Will upon marriage; and the updating of the test for testamentary capacity to recognise the modern test in […]
Scots back further discussion on legalising assisted dying
The Scottish Parliament has voted in favour of moving the assisted dying debate forward by a count of 70 to 56, with one abstention. The bill, which was tabled by Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur, passed the first vote in the Scottish Parliament although even supporters wanted to see changes made before they wrre prepared […]
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 […]
‘Dead’ woman appears at her own High Court challenge after fraudster registered PoA over her estate
An ‘unusual’ probate claim ended in farce as a woman who was falsely declared dead has appeared in court via video from her home in Nigeria to challenge fraudsters who registered a power of attorney over her estate to take ownership of her property. The case centred around June Ashimola who left the UK for […]
Formal recognition for paralegals under Royal Charter amendment
Paralegals will receive formal recognition under amendments to CILEX’s Royal Charter which bestows the title of CILEX Chartered Paralegal to professionals who can demonstrate they have worked in a legal role for over five years and show extensive legal knowledge and competence across key duties and behaviours. It provides career paralegals with a formal status […]
Premier Solicitors and Finders International take top prizes at 2025 Probate Industry Awards
The Probies – the Probate Industry Awards, now in its seventh year – exists to award excellence among leading probate solicitors and heir hunters, while celebrating the most engaging story of human interest produced by the industry. Probate law firm Premier Solicitors, and national heir hunter Finders International won the two main categories at the […]
Former Tower Street Finance CFO to join Advanced Inheritance as Board Adviser
A new entrant to the probate lending market has appointed one of the founders of Tower Street Finance to its team as a Board Adviser from 1st July 2025. Former Tower Street Finance founder and CFO Jim Sisson joins the Advanced Inheritance team with the aim to make its probate loans available to more customers […]
Innovative ‘collective’ pension funds to deliver higher incomes and lower risks for future pensioners
More people than ever are saving into a workplace pension – £28 billion more in 2020 than in 2012 – with most of these pension pots being Defined Contribution (DC) schemes, where the employee is automatically enrolled to save a proportion of their salary tax-free and the employer contributes at least 3% of their salary […]
Liam Payne £24.3m fortune left to intestacy rules as it’s revealed he had no Will
Liam Payne, the One Direction singer, who died after falling from a balcony in Argentina in 2024, left no Will with his estate now in the hands of his former partner and lawyer. Court documents have revealed Payne’s former partner and mother of his son, Cheryl Tweedy and music industry lawyer Richard Mark Bray have […]
Joint Statement on secondary transfer affecting Infected Blood scandal victims
Two representative and regulatory bodies are calling on the government to urgently reform a ‘critical gap’ identified in the tax liabilities of compensation paid to those affected by the Infected Blood scandal. More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C in the 1970s and 1980s through contaminated blood products. Following a public […]
Just 2% of estate have used gifts out of surplus income gifting rule
A freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed just 2% of estates have used the gifts out of surplus income gifting rule; but its use could increase in the wake of the government’s pension reforms. 1,490 estates over the past three years for which data is available used the rule according to data requested by wealth […]
One-stop national chattels valuation service launches
A fixed-price full-service chattels valuation service has been launched specifically for probate professional in an attempt to alleviate the ‘fragmented’ approach of using multiple valuers for different categories of estate assets. Swift Values is a UK-wide probate valuation provider founded in 2024 specialising in valuations of personal property for inheritance tax, probate, and estate administration. […]
Updated Standards to waive early repayment charges in some cases – Equity Release Council
Early repayment fees for equity release customers who move in with relatives for the purposes of long term care will be waived in an update to Equity Release Council (ERC) standards clarifying the position. The updated version of its Standards and a new Customer Charter have been published by the in an effort to ‘set best […]
New judicial protocol launched for cross-border cases where clients lack capacity
Greater cross-border collaboration and communication in cases involving adults who lack capacity has been formalised between the relevant judiciary with the publishing of a new protocol. Signed representatives from Scotland (Paul Cullen The Rt Hon Lord Pentland, Lord President of the Court of Session), England and Wales (Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the […]
Winners of Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards 2025 revealed
The winners of the Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards were announced at a ceremony held at London Bankside’s Hilton Hotel. The awards, now in their third year, recognise the outstanding achievements, talent and dedication of UK legacy giving professionals and highlight the significant income that gifts in wills bring to charities, which is set […]
Only 1 in 4 owners plan for their care after death, warns London solicitor
Only a quarter of pet owners have considered what will happen to their animals after their death South London based Preuveneers LLP solicitor warns that millions of pets are at risk Kelly Cirillo of Preuveneers LLP is warning that a significant number of pet owners in the UK are leaving their beloved animals vulnerable after […]
Two in five consumers don’t understand what happens when they inherit
Consumers are confused about inheritance tax (IHT), the process of probate, and where they should go for help if they find themselves the potential beneficiary of a will. Comprehensive research conducted on behalf of The Estate Registry found that out of 2,000 UK consumers questioned, 39% don’t understand what happens if/when they inherit something, rising […]
House of Lords clash over IHT changes and rural business impact
The Government’s changes to inheritance tax rules came under intense scrutiny in the House of Lords on Thursday, as peers raised deep concerns about the impact on rural businesses, farming investment, and mental health in the countryside. Baroness Rock opened the debate by asking His Majesty’s Government what assessment it had made of the impact […]
