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 […]
Legacy and pension planning needs to include equity release to comply with Consumer Duty – Claim
Later life lending could become a key part of retirement and legacy planning as the government seeks to levy greater tax on pensions and the ‘great wealth transfer’ sees as much as £3.7tn in property wealth transfer over the course of the next 30 years. Wealth advice and planning should focus on property wealth as […]
Remember A Charity Week: Getting involved in 2025
This episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast is hosted by David Opie and features Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity, and Meg Edwards, a solicitor specialising in trusts and estates disputes at Shakespeare Martineau. Their discussion centres on legacy giving, inheritance tax, and the importance of clear communication between advisors and clients. […]
Could Digital Pensions Dashboards ease the burden of estate administration for executors?
Whilst work began on the UKs first pensions dashboard many years ago, 2025 has seen a huge amount of progress with hundreds of pension providers and schemes now connected to the pensions dashboards ecosystem, covering over 60 million pension records, with a further c.40 million to go by 31st October 2026. It’s hoped that the public will […]
Calls for renewed digital focus on “vital” LPA reform
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed neither the Ministry of Justice, nor HM Treasury has allocated any investment for the digitalisation or reform of the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) process in the June 2025 Spending Review. The FOI, submitted by PowerofAttorneyOnline.co.uk, confirmed the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is fee-funded and […]
Grave Robbers; probate researchers’ role underplayed in BBC podcast
The hit BBC podcast Grave Robbers, part of the Shadow World series, has brought to public attention a little known fraud where criminals have been using the Bona Vacantia list to identify vacant and unclaimed estates, producing fraudulent wills and submitting them to be awarded grant of probate. Once the criminals have the grant, they […]
All service providers urged to adopt digital death notification options to streamline end-of-life admin
The Estate Registry (TER) which offers a range of end-of-life admin products including NotifyNOW, InheritNOW and LegacyNOW, as well as award-winning bereavement notification service Settld, has welcomed the announcement from His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) that open probate cases have been reduced by 49% in the past year. In its annual report for […]
Supreme Court judgment impacts on future tax and estate planning
The Supreme Court’s recent decision on Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26 on 2 July 2025 has garnered much interest not only from the UK press but also tax advisers and estate planners for its implications on future wealth planning, in particular in relation to pre-marital assets and inheritances. Whilst the case arose from the […]
How prepaid funeral plans are a strategic tool for estate planning
Comprehensive estate planning now extends beyond wills and trusts. For legal and probate professionals, identifying tools that offer practical and emotional benefits to clients is vital. One such overlooked tool is prepaid funeral plans. These plans offer benefits that streamline the probate process, mitigating potential family disputes over arrangements and costs, while safeguarding the deceased’s […]
How tragedy inspired will writer’s second career and new book
An estate planner has explained how he went from windows to will writing in a new book to be published soon, inspired by the tragic death of his friend in a motorcycle accident. Steve Bish, from St Albans, lost one of his closest friends, Carl, in a scooter accident in 2001. “At the time I […]
Inheritance tax changes and reform of the Wills Act: What will they mean for charities?
Professionals in the charity legacy sector are preparing for significant legislative developments in two key areas. First, the Autumn 2024 Budget has introduced major changes to inheritance tax (IHT), including the treatment of pensions. Second, the Law Commission’s May 2025 report has set out proposals for modernising the Wills Act 1837. Both of these changes […]
Hammer time for probate property
In this episode of the Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast, host David Opie explores the evolving world of probate property sales through the lens of auctions. He’s joined by Russell Taylor, Managing Director and Auctioneer at probate.auction, and Corin Holness, Corporate Relationship Director. Together, they unpack how the auction process is helping executors, legal professionals, and […]
Modernisation now in the hands of the profession – Law Commission
The modernisation of wills law is in the hands of the profession who should build on the momentum of the Law Commission’s report to ensure the proposals make their way into statute. In a presentation at TWP Festival the Law Commission’s Elizabeth Welch said that, if the profession agreed with the Law Commission’s bill and […]
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 […]
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 […]