Trust taxes: what trustees need to know
Taking on the role of a trustee carries a duty to act in the best interests of all parties to the trust and to ensure that the trust is properly managed. One of the trustee’s key responsibilities is dealing with the trust’s taxes. Clarissa Landcastle, trusts and estates administration specialist at Hugh James, explains the […]
Bond and Bond v Webster, Daddy, Bond and Bond [2024] EWHC 1972 (Ch) a run through the legal principles
Overview – Bond and Another v Webster and Others [2024] EWHC 1972 (Ch) This is a claim against the legal validity of a Will and Codicil prepared by a firm of Solicitors who also took steps to have the testator assessed for capacity by his treating doctor. It appeared on its face to be a […]
Navigating the SRA AML Questionnaire: Key Insights for Law Firms
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has rolled out a new AML (Anti-Money Laundering) Questionnaire, and if you’re involved in managing compliance for a law firm, this is something you’ll want to pay close attention to. The questionnaire is designed to gather detailed information about your firm’s approach to AML, including your risk assessments, policies, and […]
When is a child not a child? Marcus v Marcus
For the second time in as many weeks we have a reported decision on the meaning of “child” in relation to Wills and Trusts. In Marcus v Marcus it was held that the Defendant was a child of the deceased for the purposes of a Trust, despite the court also finding that, biologically and legally […]
The risk of escheatment
By Anthony Allsopp, Head of Business at Title Research Over the course of the summer Title Research have been discussing US assets held in UK estates both in terms of whether they are on the increase, as well as the tax treaty in place between the two nations and its application. As you saw from […]
Does Bond and Bond V Webster, Daddy, Bond and Bond reopen the will contest floodgates?
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss whether the decision of Mr Justice Michael Green in Bond and Another v Webster and others, is likely to reopen the Will dispute or Will contest floodgates. The effect of the earlier decision by the Court of Appeal in Hughes […]
How does gifting work? The Inheritance Tax edition
By Charlotte, Legal Services Director at Kings Court Trust 1 August 2024 If you missed our social media gifting series from June and July, we’ve consolidated all our posts and are taking the opportunity to delve deeper into the nuances of Inheritance Tax (IHT) and gifting. This blog aims to provide you with a comprehensive […]
Labour and inheritance tax: what might we see from the new Government?
The Labour manifesto includes a commitment to hold only one fiscal event each year, with significant fiscal events subject to an independent Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast. With party conferences being held in late September/early October, it would not be a surprise to see an October Budget. Labour has committed to presenting a statement […]
Is the Government doing enough to protect vulnerable Will writers?
In dispute resolution, where I’ve built the mainstay of my practice, I’ve come across my fair share of contested Wills – and capacity of Will writers is an issue that is raised again and again. The image that arises in the popular imagination of contested Wills is one of fraud and mystery, something out of […]
Strengthen your private client expertise with The Association of Lifetime Lawyers
Kirsty Limacher, Chief Legal Oficer at the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, looks at how becoming a Lifetime Lawyer can help bolster the skills of private client lawyers specialising in advising vulnerable and older people. The Association of Lifetime Lawyers is the leading training and best practice organisation for lawyers who specialise in advising vulnerable and […]
Understanding the cost of legacy fundraising
Ashley Rowthorn, CEO and Kath Horsley, Senior Consultant at Legacy Futures join the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast to discuss their latest piece of research on the investment charities make in their marketing. The Legacy Marketing Benchmarks report provides insight into helping charities understand what legacy marketing is enable charities to benchmark their spend helping […]
Aura Life’s Compliance Team wins SME Compliance Team of the Year at ICA Compliance Awards 2024
Aura Life has announced that its Compliance Team has been named as the Winner of the SME Compliance Team of the Year at the ICA Compliance Awards 2024. The ICA Compliance Awards are held to celebrate the ‘outstanding achievements, collaboration, and innovation’ of compliance and financial crime prevention teams. The comprehensive assessment process was overseen […]
Contesting a will with Will claim solicitors no win no fee specialists| Adult child financial provision claim and getting over 50% of the estate
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss whether an adult child in a financial provision claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 can ever get over fifty percent of the deceased’s estate Claims by adult children for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision […]
The five most expensive words in the English language
The five most expensive words in the English language – “it’s a matter of principle.” Because principles cost money. And this increasingly plays out across contentious private client matters, in inheritance and probate disputes. Joining host David Opie on the latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast is Hayley Gaffney, an associate at Coodes Solicitors and […]
Growth a key message in Kings Speech at State Opening of Parliament
Labour say their ‘mandate for change’ will see a raft of new legislation introduced designed to prioritise growth in the King’s Speech at the official State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday 17th July. The speech will include proposals to launch a National Wealth Fund to ‘drive investment into the UK,’ to a new Mission Control […]
Tricky business: The challenge of inheriting the family business
By Luke Cheadle, Head of UK Operations for The Estate Registry Of all the assets an individual may accrue over their lives, one of the more challenging when it comes to inheritance planning – or resolving once a loved-one has died – is a business. Business owners and beneficiaries can typically obtain either 50% or […]
The Increasing Importance of Will Searches
By Emma Baddaley, Strategic Relationship Director, Estatesearch and Committee Member of Women in Wills Data has shown law firms offering advice in the area of contentious wills, trusts, and probate have more than doubled since 2018 [1]. Questions over the validity of Wills is one factor behind this growing trend. In 2023, we conducted our […]
Contesting a will with Willclaim solicitors no win no fee specialists – where winter provides a summer detriment
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss whether it is necessary to prove a likely loss to establish detriment in Proprietary Estoppel claims Proprietary Estoppel claims and the requirement to establish detriment or detrimental reliance Proprietary Estoppel is a legal device by which the courts can determine […]
Considering Digital Assets in Death
No-one can be an expert in digital assets as the space is changing so rapidly. If I’m honest, it’s a subject which could be described as a ‘hot potato’ with private client solicitors because there are no right answers when it comes to dealing with digital assets in probate. It’s also an unregulated area, which […]
PLG & the Law Society – A Brand-New Collaboration
Wednesday 3rd July 2024, this was when ‘the button was pressed’ and PLG officially started collaborating with the Law Society as Probate Property Specialists. Given how prestigious the Law Society is, this collaboration has felt like a huge achievement, and one we are incredibly proud of. The truth is, I am a lad from a […]