The Power of Support: A hub for Lasting Powers of Attorney education and community connection
The Power of Support is an innovative new knowledge and community hub aimed at individuals who haven’t taken any legal advice when preparing Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”). Whilst the hub does not provide specific legal advice, it is packed full of helpful information and resources in a bid to educate the public as to […]
What clients want…
The first Today’s Wills and Probate podcast on 2024, and the start of series 3, explores the perennial question on the minds and lips of most businesses… what do clients really want? A report from Law Firm Marketing Club does just that. Now in it’s 4th year, “What Clients Want” is an extensive piece of […]
Warning issued as many ‘overlook digital assets in will planning’
Inheritance lawyers are cautioning that a substantial number of individuals are neglecting to address their digital assets when drafting a will. Melinda Rice, a senior associate at mfg Solicitors, has observed a growing trend of people being unaware of the significance of including digital assets in their future planning. These digital assets encompass a wide […]
Making 2024 your most successful year yet: Six powerful reasons why hiring a PR agency should be at the top of law firms’ to-do list
There is constant pressure for law firms to stand out from the crowd and on top of their game, with the legal profession being more competitive than ever before. As lawyers compete for the same work in a crowded market – where clients have unlimited access to hundreds of firms at the click of mouse […]
Day in the life of a trainee: Stevens & Bolton
I am a third seat trainee at Stevens & Bolton, sitting in the Tax & Trusts team, and this article gives an insight into what a usual day looks like for me. My day starts with checking emails to see if anything urgent has come in overnight and reviewing my to do list (I tend […]
Charity Commission to update guidance on when trustees can accept or refuse donations
The Charity Commission is set to update its guidance for charity trustees on the acceptance or refusal of donations. Ella Pudney and Roman Kubiak, experts from our Private Wealth and Legacy Disputes team, have analysed this update in light of the recent High Court decision in Butler-Sloss and Others v The Charity Commission for England […]
The importance of carefully drafted letters of wishes
Introduction The starting point is that while wills are public documents, any accompanying letters of wishes are confidential between the testator and their trustees. There is, of course, a good reason for this position. Letters of wishes generally seek to inform trustees’ deliberations regarding discretionary dispositions, and these deliberations are inherently confidential (Brakespear v Ackland). […]
Vulnerable elders: A harrowing story and the lessons which need to be learnt
I was really shocked and immensely saddened to read this piece over Christmas – ‘My elderly father found a new partner – then vanished from my life’ – BBC News. Carolyn Stephens’ 78 year old, widowed father met a new partner on holiday in 2012. This encounter triggered a period of growing isolation, and eventually estrangement, […]
Cohabitation: A Contentious Probate Perspective
The legal implications of cohabitation have been making headlines recently, with a number of changes to the entitlement of cohabitees to bring them more in line with married couples and civil partners. In 2017, we saw the Supreme Court disapply the requirement for pension nomination forms to be completed for cohabitees to benefit. The following […]
A personal insight into Lasting Power of Attorney
In a recent blog published by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), Zoe, a 52-year-old audiologist from Macclesfield, shares her journey on establishing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Zoe, who has worked in the NHS for 34 years and is a mother of three, including a 21-year-old autistic son, emphasises the importance of […]
The STEP Global Representative Power (GRP)
STEP’s recent international mental capacity survey showed that there is a clear demand for cross-border recognition and portability of lasting powers of attorneys (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA). As a result, STEP has produced a Global Representative Power (the GRP): a template and a benchmark for a power of attorney that will be […]
Tackling predatory marriages – a game of whack-a-mole
‘Look how far you’ve come’ is the cutting barb thrown by Marcia Roy, wife of media mogul Logan, at Willa, girlfriend of Connor Roy, in HBO’s Succession. Willa’s retort of ‘Well look at us both, right’, is a wry acknowledgment of their shared status in the family as ‘gold diggers’. While Logan and Connor are […]
How can law firms enhance their ESG efforts and meet the evolving expectations of clients?
“How important is a law firm’s approach to sustainability?” As ethical considerations and sustainable practices become increasingly crucial for both clients and businesses, the legal sector finds itself under scrutiny for more than just its ability to provide a slick service to clients. Asking clients and potential clients to weigh in on this matter, the […]
Wills for unmarried couples
In this article, Gurpreet Jani, Senior Associate, Private Wealth at Lewis Denley explores the compelling reasons why unmarried couples should consider creating a will to protect their loved ones and ensure their wishes are respected in the event of the unforeseen. The Crucial Need for Unmarried Couples to Have a Will Love knows no bounds, […]
Challenging the validity of a will on grounds of undue influence
What is undue influence? It is possible to have a Will set aside on grounds that it was procured by means of undue influence. This is the idea that a testator has been influenced by coercion, in the sense that their will must be overborne or by fraud. Whether this has happened is a question […]
Q&A: Exploring the Work of Smee & Ford’s Will Reading and Reporting Team
In this interview, as part of their Legacy Limelight series, we get a glimpse into the work that the Smee & Ford Will reading and reporting team do, and the tales that they uncover every day. Q: ‘Will Reading & Reporting’ isn’t exactly the kind of job you discover in Careers Advice at school – can you […]
Turn conversations into clients
Death, divorce, debt. More often than not, we do not seek out a lawyer when things are going well. When clients require legal services or representation, they are potentially immersed in some of the most stress-laden tribulations of their lives. Irrespective of whether it’s a personal or business-related matter, it is imperative that clients perceive […]
6 key reasons why SME law firms should develop a sustainability strategy for 2024
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues become a priority for businesses the world over, sustainability and ESG planning are important considerations for SME law firms. According to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) who identify key areas of ESG risk by market and discipline, there are a number of concerns that SME law firms […]
WillAid: The 5 business benefits of will-writing for charity
This year the annual national charity Will writing scheme, Will Aid received over 24,000 enquiries from members of the public looking to make their Will with our participating solicitors. With the help of Martin Lewis championing the campaign, thousands of people flocked to the website to take advantage of the scheme. Through Will Aid, solicitors […]
New STEP research on loss of mental capacity
STEP continues to focus on the significant issues that surround loss of capacity particularly in light of a recent report stating that dementia cases are set to triple by 2050. Therefore supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, we wanted to determine the impact of the increasing numbers of capacity-related issues experienced by members and their clients. […]
