Probate Solicitor Struck Off For Excessively Overcharging Clients
Working as a sole practitioner in South Wales firm Keith Smart & Co, probate solicitor, Keith Smart was struck off by The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal due to excessively overcharging clients on purpose. Deceitful Smart, who was born in 1952 and became a solicitor in 1979, excessively swindled client funds and duly admitted to eight counts […]
Cut Legal Firm Scanning Time
In an ever changing legal landscape, technological innovations are reshaping the industry. The opportunities and benefits that technology can bring to the marketplace can enhance the way your law firm works while meeting the demands of clients and improve standards of customer service. Powered by Brother, Post Partner offers professional document scanning that will take […]
How To Remove A Trustee
Our recent article looked at the options available when seeking to remove an executor. Following on from that, it seems useful to consider the options available and circumstances in which you can remove a trustee. The position of trustee is one which comes with significant responsibility. Trustees obligations and duties are set out in both […]
Probate Fees Shelved Until Parliamentary Season Starts Again
The Non-Contentious Probate Fees Order has been shelved for the summer recess as the House of Commons concluded their governmental business on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd May. The proposed new probate fees which made a huge impact when it was introduced in November 2018 has since ground to a halt, with the original launch […]
Two Weeks Left To Get Your Winning Awards Nominations In
Have you created your winning submission for your firm or an individual for this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards? You only have until midnight on Friday 14th June to submit your nominations for the prestigious British Wills and Probate awards, which is brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, […]
Significant Shift In Public Attitudes To Charitable Legacies
People’s attitudes to leaving gifts in Wills to charities have become more positive over the past ten years, according to the latest UK consumer tracking poll commissioned by Remember a Charity. Remember a Charity, who help charities who rely on gifts in Wills to continue their work and to grow the legacy market, have seen […]
Doris Day’s Final Wishes Expressed No Funeral or Memorial
Following the recent tragic death of legendary Hollywood Icon, Doris Day, she confirmed in her Will that she did not want a funeral or a memorial service. Day had made her wishes known to her manager and close friend, Bob Bashara confirming ‘No funeral, no memorial, and no [grave] marker’. The “Calamity Jane” actress’ much-loved […]
Queen Of Soul’s Handwritten Wills Causing Legal Headache
Three handwritten Wills have been found hidden in Aretha Franklin’s Detroit home many months after she passed away. Following her tragic death in August last year of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76, Aretha had died ‘intestate’ which meant she did not have a Will. However, three unseen documents have been found earlier this […]
Welcoming Paul Saunders To The Awards Judging Panel
We are delighted to officially welcome Managing Director of Legal Eye, Paul Saunders 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 interview, […]
Are You In The Fast Lane When It Comes To Running Your Business?
We live in the digital age With new and innovative means of communication emerging daily, our personal lives are defined by not only what technology we use, but how we use it. Smart phones which were once used purely for their convenience, are now used out of necessity because individual lives are entirely contained on […]
From The Desk Of The DG – Education and Training
Training is at the core of everything we do in life and directs how our lives will evolve, from the moment we are born to the day we die we are constantly learning, and regardless of our chosen career path learning follows us and guides us. As professional Will Writers, education is extremely valuable to […]
IPW Discuss Benefits Of Joining An Industry Organisation
Established members of professional organisations will already be aware of the innate benefits that can be enjoyed. Whilst many businesses may approach an organisation like the Institute of Professional Willwriters (IPW) or Institute of Scottish Professional Willwirters (ISPW) with a specific motive in mind, potential members looking to join will be surprised by the immeasurable […]
A Court Battle Over Late Savoy Employee’s £415K Legacy
A cleaner is battling in court with a late Savoy Hotel worker’s family for £415,000 inheritance which she claims was promised before he passed away. Leonara Da Costa, 50, has claimed that she and the former Savoy Hotel Head Waiter, Harold Tickner had a “father and daughter” relationship in the last few years leading up […]
Nigel Redwood Returns To The Awards Judging Panel!
We are thrilled that CEO of Nasstar, Nigel Redwood, is returning as an esteemed judge for the upcoming British Wills and Probate Awards once again, 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 interview, he […]
Webinar: Probate – An Introduction To The Countrywide’s Probate Department
Agenda Are the days of the “lay” executor numbered? Traps and tripwires for the modern executor Claims against estates The implications of loss caused by executor error What is the value of half a house for IHT purposes? – Another reason why discretionary trusts are better…. The ever present threat of the “disappointed beneficiary…..” Estate […]
Low Cost Wills And Pre-Paid Probate
I had hoped that we would not see a return to the late nineties when low cost Wills, free Wills were rife within the profession. Unfortunately, we are seeing a resurgence of this practice, which is neither good news for the profession or the consumer as most clients who took these services believing they were […]
The Law Superstore Launches Free Self-Quoting Widget To Partners
The Law Superstore has launched the first free self-quoting widget for all its legal services partners, enabling them to offer real-time, instant price quotes for a full range of legal services on their own websites. Following the introduction of new regulatory requirements around price transparency in December 2018, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has raised concerns about […]
Concerns Over Aspiring Solicitors Being Exploited While Completing SQE
The Junior Lawyers Division (JLD), who represent students through to solicitors with five years Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), have expressed concern for up and coming solicitors being at risk of exploitation if they are not paid the minimum wage while they are undertaking the work experience section of the new SQE. Following their worries, The […]
Seminar For Lawyers On New SRA Code Of Conduct
Legal Eye is set to host a seminar for lawyers to find out more about the upcoming changes to the SRA Handbook and Code of Conduct. The seminar will be held at the offices of JLT Specialty in London on Thursday 13th June, where firms will have the opportunity to discuss more in-depth about this […]
Webinar: Protect Your Firm, Protect Your Clients, Protect Your Will Bank
This month Certainty the National Will Register will be hosting their own expert webinar in conjunction with Free Will Registration Month. The webinar will be on Thursday 16th May 2019 at 12.00pm, titled ‘Protect your firm, Protect your clients, Protect your Will Bank’. May 2019 sees the launch of the first ever Free Will Registration […]
