Regulation, collaboration and the response to the CMA Guidance
Regulation, collaboration and the response to the Competition and Markets Authority review of will writing services all form part of the latest Today’s Wills and Probate Podcast. Host David Opie is joined by Antony Brinkman; CEO of the Willwriting Partnership and Chair of the Professional Standards Board (PSB). At the outset Antony explains the role […]
What happens to a claim when a person dies?
Elise Roberts, solicitor, and Ryan Taylor, senior associate, in our London Private Wealth Disputes team take a look at claims by individuals, and what happens to those claims when somebody in the dispute dies. We are often asked “Does the right to claim end on death, or can someone else take up the case?” While […]
Patience in Probate
In recent years following the pandemic, the average length of time to obtain a Grant of Probate has risen significantly. Probate has been known to take up to 16 weeks following submission of an application, with delays as long as 24 weeks in complex estates, or estates where an individual other than a named executor […]
Changes to the death certification and registration process effective from September 2024
Eleanor Evans, Partner and Head of the Trusts and Estates Administration Department at Hugh James, comments on the forthcoming changes to the death certification and registration process. When a person dies, one of the first steps for their representative is to obtain a death certificate. Depending on the reason for the death, there will either […]
How to win a British Wills and Probate Award – Final week to enter
The deadlines for entry and final submission to the British Wills and Probate Awards are just one and two weeks away respectively. Entry deadline is Friday 5th July with final submissions due by midnight on Friday 12th July 2024. The awards provide firms with the opportunity to pit themselves against their peers and foster a […]
STEP explains purpose of View an LPA
The UK government published guidance relating to the ‘View an LPA’ service on 10 May 2024. This is a secure online service that allows companies and organisations to check the information contained within lasting powers of attorney (LPA) in England and Wales. Purpose of View an LPA An LPA will usually be verified by someone […]
CTT Group are back as Headline Sponsors for the British Wills & Probate Awards 2024
CTT Group are excited to announce that they’re once again going to be the Headline Sponsors for the British Wills and Probate (BWAP) Awards for 2024. CTT is a unique support mechanism for the professional adviser community. They offer comprehensive training for estate planners on the intricacies of Trusts, and advanced aspects of estate planning […]
Why don’t Lawyers like change?
As I write this blog, I am remembering a lovely quote from Kingsley Amis who said: “If you can’t annoy somebody with what you write, I think there’s little point in writing.” I have spent a lot of hours studying how to get people to change their behaviours and habits. Tech is only as good […]
The Final Logoff: Your Steam Library and Digital Legacy
Valve’s stance on the non-transferability of Steam accounts and their associated games poses a significant challenge for gamers planning their digital legacies. As digital gaming has evolved, many gamers have accumulated extensive collections of games on platforms like Steam, believing these purchases are a long-term investment, potentially valuable to their heirs (for instance, a collection […]
Maximizing Attendance Allowance: Enhancing Client Outcomes Through Expert Collaboration
As private client lawyers and will writers, ensuring that elderly clients receive their entitled benefits is crucial. Navigating the complexities of benefits like the UK’s Attendance Allowance can be daunting for clients and practitioners alike. Dean Morgan, Managing Director of Grey Matters Consultancy in Cardiff explores how working with specialist organisations can ensure that elderly […]
Opinion | The Impact of an Inaccurate Will on the Probate Process
In this opinion piece, Zoe Pearse TEP, Associate at Seddons explores issues surrounding DIY wills and the impact of inaccurate wills on the probate process. In 2023, more than 5.7 million people purchased online wills, but only 170,000 checked the qualifications of the will writer. Incorrectly written or unclear wills can slow down the already […]
Inheritance Wars: Secrets to safeguard a farm from family feuds
In England and Wales, the freedom of making a Will under any terms you choose allows assets to be distributed as the Will-maker pleases, unlike in countries such as France, where it is against the law to disinherit your children. While making a Will has many benefits, the result of this freedom can sometimes cause […]
Contesting a will with will claim solicitors no win no fee specialist: DNA testing where paternity or maternity is already proven
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss whether it is possible to force DNA testing where paternity or maternity is already proven by way of an official birth certificate Requirements to contest a Will It is necessary to have an interest in an estate to contest a […]
Contesting a will with Will Claim solicitors no win no fee specialists – what happens when the original will goes missing?
Will claim Solicitors, specialist no win no fee will dispute and will contest Solicitors, discuss what happens when the original will goes missing Tracing a Will There are a number of obvious resources – see for instance: Tracing a Will – Will Claim Solicitors One should also consider writing to local Solicitors (in particular those […]
Making a will following a diagnosis of dementia and avoiding validity challenges
It is sometimes assumed that a will cannot be valid if it was made by a person who suffers from dementia. However, many people retain capacity to make a will for a significant period following their diagnosis. Tests for capacity are task specific. For example, someone may have capacity to make a will, but not […]
The Great Wealth Transfer
People who were born between 1946 and 1964, the so called Baby Boomer Generation, is a cohort of 16.8 million people; and due to favourable financial conditions in that time are the wealthiest generation in human history, holding somewhere in the region on 80% of the UK’s wealth. With the older baby boomer now 78 […]
Muslim estate planning ahead of preparing for the pilgrimage of Hajj
The performance of Hajj is the religious pilgrimage by Muslims to the holy sites in the cities of Makkah and Medina and additional areas within Saudi Arabia. The Hajj pilgrimage is due to take place in June this year as this is when the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah falls for 2024, this changes each […]
Justice Committee’s Evidence Session into the Probate Service
Mark Walley, CEO of STEP, gave evidence at the House of Common’s Justice Committee’s evidence session on the performance of the probate service on 30 April. The committee of MPs was established as a follow up to the Justice Committee’s written inquiry into the probate service and its poor performance in November 2023. The significant volume of […]
The National Will Register offering free will registration
The National Will Register is offering free will registration to everyone for the month of May with FREEWILLREG24. The National will Register exists to ensure unknown, untraceable wills are a thing of the past through their will Registration and Will Search services. Their mission is driven by the thousands of professionals and testators themselves who […]
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 Special
In this specially recorded podcast, the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast joins forces with its sister podcasts from the Today’s Conveyancer and Today’s Family Lawyer online news publications to discuss the topic of mental health and wellbeing ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, from 13th May 2024. Podcast host David Opie welcomes Managing Director of […]