Glastonbury IHT plan ‘not to be viewed negatively’ say professionals
With Glastonbury Festival well underway, there are reports of founder Sir Michael Eavis’s plans to pass on the multi-million pound event and the wealth it has personally generated to his daughter and avoid a sizeable inheritance tax bill. With ‘wildly speculative’ valuations of Glastonbury flying around the reality is changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) mean […]
Addison & Anor v Niaz [2024] EWHC 3124: implications for Larke v Nugus requests
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, David Opie welcomes a panel of legal experts to explore the recent Addison and Niaz case and its important implications for Larke v Nugus requests. He is joined by Lucy Scourfield, associate in the contentious trusts and probate team at Forbes Solicitors; Shannon Thompson, a […]
What celebrity wills teach us about getting it wrong
From Prince and Aretha Franklin to Amy Winehouse, when fame meets estate planning failure, the lessons can be far-reaching. When there’s no will: what happens when you leave it to the law? In 2016, legendary musician Prince died unexpectedly at the age of 57 from a fentanyl overdose. Despite amassing an estate valued at $156 […]
How are blended families and digital data reshaping genealogy services?
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast, host David Opie welcomes Anthony Allsopp, Head of Business, and Simon Barber, Technical Manager at Title Research, to explore the nuanced challenges of probate genealogy and the role of missing beneficiary insurance. The conversation begins with a look at Title Research’s history, from its founding in 1965 to its evolution into […]
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 […]
The Hidden Legal Risks In NHS CHC Assessments: What Do Private Client Lawyers Need To Know?
When it comes to estate planning and the topic of long-term care funding, there are few issues as misunderstood – or financially consequential – as NHS Continuing Healthcare, otherwise known as CHC. Despite offering a fully-funded care package for those with significant health needs, CHC remains under-utilised and inconsistently applied, and for private client lawyers, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Diamond Market Reality Check: Why 2025’s Probate Valuations Look Different
If you’re working on a probate case with diamond jewellery in 2025, don’t be surprised if the valuations look different to last year’s. The diamond market has shifted sharply, and not in favour of sellers. Executors expecting a windfall from inherited jewellery may need a reality check. Here’s what’s changed, and why valuations this year […]
The Second Principle of The Mental Capacity Act – Supported Decision Making
In Section 1(2) of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) it states the following: “A person must be assumed to have capacity unless it is established that he lacks capacity”. This principle therefore focuses on supporting individuals to make their own decisions whenever possible and is often shortened to the phrase ‘Supported Decision Making’ – but […]
Who Gets the Dog? The Changing Role of Pets in Divorce Settlements
When couples separate, much of the focus tends to be on dividing financial assets and property. But one issue is increasingly taking centre stage in divorce cases: who gets to keep the family pet? Historically, English and Welsh law has treated pets as “chattels” – in the same legal category as a piece of furniture […]
The Evolving Landscape of Legal Recruitment and Employment
The legal sector, traditionally known for its steadfastness, is undergoing a profound transformation. As a recruitment agency specialising in this dynamic field, we’ve witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts reshaping how firms attract, retain, and engage talent. Three months into our journey, we’re sharing our insights on the evolving landscape. One of the most polarising debates […]
Is it time for a new ‘Tsar’ to champion the fair treatment of consumers in probate cases?
Consumers’ experience of probate is almost universally poor, the process unnecessarily complicated, and the outcome often unfair. And while the bereaved have a single route to notify public sector organisations of a death through the Government’s ‘Tell Us Once’, the lack of any similar universally agreed process for the private sector is contributing to a […]
Early Bird Entry for British Wills and Probate Awards 2025
The British Wills and Probate Awards, known as the ‘Oscars of the Probate World’ is back with a new Headline Sponsor for the 2025 event. Arken.legal have been confirmed as the Headline Sponsor for the 2025 awards which will be hosted in Manchester on 9th October 2025. Entries open today (4th April 2025) for the […]
FCA needs to get ‘joined up on the property wealth’
Key Later Life Finance, equity release adviser, said that the recent speech by Financial Conduct Authority Chief Executive, Nikhil Rathi, is “hugely encouraging” with its focus on later life lending and property wealth. Will Hale, CEO Key Advice said that the FCA needs to extend its Advice Boundary Guide Review to include later life lending […]
Probate solicitors demand major overhaul of probate and inheritance process that is failing consumers
Probate intermediaries believe their clients are being treated unfairly by the system and are poorly served by the processes and platforms designed to help them, according to The Estate Registry. They stated that reform is now urgently needed, with a call for the banks, energy firms and other service providers to have more dedicated bereavement […]
Its not all about the Wills Bill 2025
Approximately 42% of marriages in England & Wales end in divorce, based on recent statistics from the ONS. For civil partnerships, the dissolution rate is marginally lower. This means that those marriages and civil partnership that don’t end in divorce, annulment or dissolution end with the death of one of the parties. In short, once […]
Strategically navigating a consolidating estate planning market
Arken Group CEO Dave Newick joins the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast to discuss the output of a recent report published by Arken looking at the current landscape of the private client sector. The podcast focuses on three key discussion points borne out of the report; law firms and professionals need to be; better at […]
Will Disputes Involving Autistic Individuals: Legal Considerations for Practitioners
More than one in 100 people in the United Kingdom are autistic, with an estimated population of over 700,000 autistic adults and children. Given this significant demographic, it is increasingly likely that legal professionals practising in the field of Wills, Trusts and Probate will encounter cases where autism is a material factor – either in […]
