Tensions Rise Over Aretha Franklin’s Handwritten Will
Aretha Franklin’s family are in a bitter feud over the legitimacy of handwritten wills being recently found and the current handling of her estate. Despite Franklin dying intestate last summer, it seemingly appeared at the time that there would not be a family dispute – reporting that her four sons would receive equal shares of […]
OPG Plan To Launch Paperless LPAs
The Office of the Public Guardian’s (OPG) 2019-2020 business plan sets out its transformation programme called ‘OPG 2025’ which proposes to change the way they provide their services which includes launching paperless Lasting Powers of Attorneys (LPA). OPG 2025’s strategy is to make better use of digital products by reducing the handling, use, and storage […]
North West Solicitors Protects Firm And Its Clients From Cyber Threats
North West law firm, Bell Lamb and Joynson Solicitors puts cyber security top of their agenda after successfully being presented with Cyber Essentials certification through accredited assessor, Practical Vision Network. The approachable firm recognises the advantages of being awarded the certification, which is a Government backed accreditation scheme, that protects their firm from severe damage […]
Q1 Mortality Rates Drop Significantly Below Five-Year Average
Deaths registered in the opening quarter of 2019 have significantly decreased by 14% since the same period in 2018. The 134,337 deaths registered in the opening quarter of 2019 represented 5,497 fewer deaths than the five-year average. As the current figure is more than a 5% decrease, it is considered statistically significantly decreased. Since 2001, […]
No-Fault Divorce Bill Introduced To Parliament
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill was introduced to the House of Commons last week. Once the Bill is enacted, those within failing marriages will be able to divorce without having to blame their partner. Following a consultation in April, there was an overwhelming demand for no-fault divorces. It is hoped that it will result […]
Sports Coach Dispute Over His Aunts £2m Fortune
A table tennis coach is fighting over a £2 million inheritance after his Aunt left her entire fortune to a neighbour. The award-winning coach, Derek Seager and his brother Ian claim that James De Jong used coercive measures against their aunt, Ada Richards, to pressurise her into leaving everything to him in her Will by […]
HMCTS Hosts Online Probate Reform Event For Legal Professionals
HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) will be holding an online event on probate reform next month. The forum, which is aimed at legal professionals making applications for a grant of probate, will take place on Thursday 4th July, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, focusing on the following: the online probate journey so far the current frustrations […]
Simpson Millar Appoints New Head Of Private Client Team
Legal Firm Simpson Millar, with offices across England and Wales, has recently announced the appointment of Sarah Ryan as the new head of private client department, which also sees her join the firm’s senior management team. The private client practice’s services comprise of the wills, trusts and probate team, including court of protection, commercial property, […]
Welcoming Claire Smith To The Awards Judging Panel
We are delighted to officially welcome Head of Business Development of Moneypenny, Claire Smith to the judging panel for the upcoming exclusive British Wills and Probate Awards, which is brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal services industry. In this […]
Wills and Probate Firms’ Communications Transformed by AI Powered Digital Switchboard
Leading outsourced communications provider, Moneypenny, has launched a new AI powered switchboard that the company promises will revolutionise communications within the sector. The innovative platform was designed following increased demand from law firms for technologies that improve the customer journey while enriching the working life of front-of-house staff. As part of London Tech Week (10th […]
Wet Signatures…
…It’s time for e-signature to rise! Have you ever considered just how much technology has grown over the past two decades? We used to search phone books to find someone’s number or had to send a letter to get in touch with them. Nowadays, technology has made our personal lives so much easier. We can […]
Cyber Criminals Increasingly Targeting Probate Sector To Scam Public
In the past three months, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have issued 12 scam alerts concerning probate, inheritance or customer entitlement to money. Just yesterday, Tuesday 11th June 2019, the SRA disclosed that a member of the public had been exposed to a convincing phishing email claiming that they were due a windfall. Phishing attacks […]
Industry Views Of Funeral Plan Regulation Announcement
The UK funeral industry opinions are seemingly largely in favour of HM Treasury’s (HMT) announcement on funeral plan regulation. On the face of it experts in the sector mostly agree with the Government’s plans to introduce statutory regulation to the pre-paid funeral plan market – which is the culmination of an enquiry by HMT some […]
Inheritance Disputes: Man Kills Brother After Will Omission
A man has been jailed for 18 years after killing his brother following an intense inheritance dispute. According to Direct Line research, the number of Wills and probate disputes making their way to HM Courts and Tribunals system increased by 6% in 2018. However, enraged that he had been omitted from his father’s Will following […]
Newcastle Law Firm, Muckle, Bolster Private Client Department
Newcastle based law firm, Muckle, have increased their private client offerings with the appointment of a new lawyer to their growing team. Christian Swinburne is an experienced practitioner in private client legal services, specialising in Wills, estate planning, LPA/deputyship services and probate work. Additionally, Christian has extensive experience working with agricultural and landowner estate issues. […]
New Probate And Wills Senior Appointment For Southern Firm
Based in the South of England, law firm Thrings has appointed a new private client, succession and tax specialist, Douglas Smith as Partner. Douglas brings with him a wealth of experience in the sector. He boasts over 30 years of experience of acting for UK and non-UK domiciliaries on tax planning, drawing up Wills and […]
Solicitors For The Elderly Appoints New Chair Of The Board
SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) has appointed Michael Culver as Chair of the Board. Michael, who has been a member of SFE for 11 years, and on the Board for 15 months, will take over from David Sinclair when he formally steps down from his role at the SFE annual conference on 20th June. The […]
Welcoming Lakshmi Turner To The Awards Judging Panel
We are thrilled to officially welcome Chief Executive of Solicitors for the Elderly, Lakshmi Turner to the judging panel for the upcoming exclusive British Wills and Probate Awards, which is brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal services industry. In […]
Traps And Tripwires For The Modern Executor
Why your clients need an LPA (and what happens if they don’t have one) Are the days of the “lay” executor numbered? Traps and tripwires for the modern executor: Common misunderstandings Locating all the assets (and distributing them) and liabilities The importance of insurance and valuations Dealing with HMRC, missed exemptions and calculating IHT The […]
George Michael’s Will Bequeaths Nothing To His Ex-Partners
It has been revealed two years after George Michael’s death that he has excluded key figures that were part of the late singer’s life out of his Will. Michael’s ex-partners Fadi Fawaz and Kenny Goss were bequeathed nothing from the £97.6 million fortune which has immediately stunned and sent ripples through the singer’s inner circle […]
