Magic, moments, and mayhem: #BWAPAwards2024 back with a bang
The British Wills and Probate Awards 2024, sponsored by CTT Group, welcomed 450 practitioners in person, and over 200 online via the live stream, to recognise and celebrate the work of firms, individuals and businesses across the wills and probate community at a glitzy ceremony at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. Attendees were treated to an […]
Short term unoccupied property insurance cover launched
Belfast-based insurance underwriters Prestige Underwriting have launched a short term unoccupied property insurance product specifically designed for probate property to cover empty properties for up to 12 months. The service caters for periods of three months up to one year which, given the ongoing delays with probate, provides protection for properties left empty during the […]
Acquisition cements position as top probate provider by volume
A Bedford-based law firm has cemented itself as one of the largest (by volume) probate practices in England and Wales with its first acquisition of 2024. Premier Solicitors has today (25th September) acquired Trustd Legal Services, a provider of direct-to-consumer services, for an undisclosed fee. Trustd currently offer probate, Will writing, and Conveyancing services through […]
Understanding the Evolving Space of Wills and Estate Administration
Helen Forster is Director at HTF Legal Limited, solicitor and Trusts and Estates Practitioner The nature of our society continues to evolve and this means the risks to consider when it comes to Will writing, estate administration and Will bank management have changed in recent years too. Traditional family units have modified, people are living […]
What impact can effective death notifications have on brand advocacy?
A ‘brand’ is defined officially (in Websters Dictionary) in very simple terms as a class of goods identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer. It is also a ‘characteristic’ or ‘distinctive kind’. In marketing terms, a brand does indeed convey the characteristics of a product or service, something in which […]
Why Auctions Are Ideal for Settling Inherited Estates Quickly
When multiple heirs inherit an estate, selling the property often becomes a priority. Many families are looking for a fast and hassle-free way to liquidate assets and divide the proceeds. In these situations, an auction can be the perfect solution. Auctions streamline the sales process, avoid delays, and eliminate many of the headaches that come […]
‘Pure’ protection market under review by FCA
Practices around protections designed to offer peace of mind and financial security to those most vulnerable are being probed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) after it said it concerns had been raised that competition is ‘not working well’ in the market. Pure protection, a long term insurance which pays out in the event of […]
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 […]
British Wills and Probate Awards 2024 – Shortlist Coming Monday
The shortlist for the British Wills and Probate, sponsored by CTT Group, is being released from Monday 19th August with a handful of categories published each day exclusively on Today’s Wills and Probate, culminating in the publication of the full list on Friday 23rd August. Following a record number of entries and huge interest in […]
Maximising the potential of Remember A Charity Week
Recent figures reveal that two thirds of UK adults don’t currently have a Will in place – and there are several reasons for this, from procrastination to not wanting to confront one’s own mortality. Could Remember A Charity Week, and the opportunity to engage with clients through conversations about gifts in Wills, present the ideal solution? […]
The challenge of pension valuations in probate
Some aspects of managing a deceased estate are easier than others, especially when it comes to valuing assets. Putting a value to a property, for example, may appear easy on paper, but finding two surveyors who agree on anything is similar to the old joke about economists: if you have 10 economists in a room, […]
Is using a genealogist expensive?
Over recent months, we have become aware of a perception in the private client sector that using a genealogist to help with an estate challenge is an expensive proposition. Of course, whether something is expensive will always depend on a person’s individual perspective and vary depending on the situation that has presented itself. In this […]
What do you advise your client who has property in Spain?
As a will writing and estate planning professional it is possible you will come across scenarios in which clients have properties abroad. This throws up plenty of potential pitfalls for both the adviser, and the client. In our latest podcast I discuss the challenges surrounding properties in Spain which is an area of expertise for […]
Genealogy firm Finders sold to private equity
Genealogy business Finders International has been sold to private equity firm Pelican Capital in an undisclosed deal. The sale will see Managing Director Danny Curran step away from the business he founded 27 years ago, with current deputy MD Simonne Llewllyn stepping up to become Finders International’s first CEO. Since launching in 1997, Finders has […]
CMA launches draft guidelines for willwriting, online divorce and prepaid probate
The Competitions and Markets Authority have announced the first part of their response to the investigation into unregulated businesses which provide will writing, online divorce, and pre-paid probate services in the UK. In it the CMA outline its views on protecting consumers and warns firms that non-compliance could result in further penalties. Draft guidelines specifically for […]
Dedicated auction platform for probate property launches
A dedicated probate auction platform has been launched exclusively for probate property, serving executors, administrators, solicitors and family of the deceased. Probate.Auction is described by its founders as the first countrywide auction platform for probate property. It hopes to deliver speed, transparency and certainty for probate properties, reducing the average time to sell from 140 […]
How can charitable gifts make an estate work harder for all beneficiaries?
Raising £4 billion annually*, charitable gifts in Wills are crucial to sustaining a wide range of good causes and services – from hospices and homeless shelters to mental health helplines, emergency rescues, and more. In a challenging economic environment, and as these essential services face an ever-increasing demand, this income has never been more valued […]
‘Unique’ zero-interest estate funding facility launched
A new interest free estate funding facility has been launched by a national probate property services provider to help estate administrators access cash locked up within an estate while going through probate. London-based Property Solutions Group (PSG) claims to have launched a market first funding facility to cover costs associated with property clearance, maintenance, repairs, […]
“State of the Nation” Summit returns in May
An evening designed to foster discussion and debate on the current opportunities and challenges facing the will writing, probate, tax, trusts and estate planning community returns on 8th May following its successful return in 2023. Tickets are available to purchase via the links below. The Today’s Wills and Probate “State of the Nation” summit brought […]
Charities raise concern at probate inquiry
The charity community has provided evidence in Parliament of the impact of delays on charities and legacy gifting. Representatives from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Cancer Research UK and Devon Air Ambulance Trust shared insight into the impact of delays on charity services, forecasting ability and wider finances; as well as highlighting the huge personal […]
