SFE Online Conference shares industry insights
The Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), held their annual conference on the virtual stage this week, and helped delegates hope for the best whilst preparing for the worst. Michael Culver, Chair of the Board at SFE welcomed all of the delegates to the event, and thanked them for opting to attend a virtual event rather […]
Extension for paper probate applications until new year
Paper probate applications will now be accepted into the new year, as some practitioners are struggling to sign up to the new MyHMCTS online system. On 1 December, a letter was sent to three professional bodies in which HMCTS acknowledged that they needed more time to resolve some of the issues, and as such is […]
Looking ahead to 2021
Elizabeth Rimmer is CEO at LawCare It’s been a very difficult and challenging year for all of us. No-one has remained unaffected by the fall out of the global pandemic and its impact on our health, our relationships, our livelihoods and our mental health. For most of us this has been the most significant event […]
Children cut out of father’s Will
A woman cut her step-children out of their late father’s Will, going against his wishes that they all inherit equally both his wealth and that of their late grandmother, a sum of £300,000. Lulu Jones, was Roger Jones’ second wife. Roger had four children from a previous marriage and Lulu had two children. All of […]
Number of estates liable for IHT set to rise by 20 per cent
Alongside the Chancellor’s spending review in late November, the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted that the number of estates subject to Inheritance Tax (IHT) was predicted to rise to 30,400 in 2020/21 – that’s up from 25,200 in 2019/20. The increase is due to the number of deaths relating to Covid-19 and as many of […]
LSB invites contributions to a new strategy for the legal service sector
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today launched a consultation on a draft strategy for the legal services sector and is inviting others to say how they will also contribute to reshaping legal services to better meet the needs of society. The strategy follows the publication of LSB’s State of Legal Services 2020 report last […]
Will Maradona’s legacy be contested as no Will reported?
Diego Maradona wasn’t far from controversy on the football pitch, and now it appears his legacy could become another hot topic of discussion. The football icon passed away last week, aged 60. However, there have been reports that Maradona didn’t make a Will, the complexities of Argentinian Probate law and the question over whose children […]
Join the Women in Wills Christmas Meet Up
Women in Wills invites you to join our Christmas meet on Thursday 10th December. The overall objective of Women in Wills is to encourage and facilitate relationships and collaboration between practitioners, bringing us together in an informal and hopefully enjoyable environment. Date: 10th December 2020 Venue: Zoom Time: 5.00pm – 6.30pm At our Christmas meet […]
Probate delays hit the Parsons’ family
11 months on from the death of radio legend Nicholas Parsons, aged 96, his family are still waiting for probate. The Parsons family spoke to Sebastian Shakespeare, from The Daily Mail to share their frustration. Suzy, one of Nicholas’ daughters told the journalist that the wait was “shocking and really upsetting”, echoing the sentiments of so many […]
Hoping for the best whilst preparing for the worst – SFE annual conference
The annual SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) Conference is taking place online tomorrow. This year the programme looks at what clients need to prepare for as they move into later life and the need for care. The event will cover the key changes and challenges facing all legal professionals who support older and vulnerable clients. […]
Law Society Wills research show many are still unprotected
Despite an increase in will-making during the first UK-wide coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown, many people have still not put their affairs in order, according to latest Law Society study. New research unveiled by the Law Society showed 7% of respondents made or updated their will during the first lockdown but over half (59%) of those surveyed […]
Kings Court Trust’s latest blog examines Caroline Flack’s intestacy and reminds us of the importance of leaving a well-written Will
In February 2020, the heartbreaking news broke that Caroline Flack, the popular TV and radio presenter, best known for presenting Love Island, sadly took her life at the age of 40. In their latest blog, Kings Court Trust take a closer look at how Flack’s £2 million estate is being administered, after it was revealed […]
Mandatory roll out of online probate applications proved successful
Today’s Wills and Probate caught up with the Probate Office to get an update on the mandatory roll out of online applications since the beginning of November. Last month we gave an insight into the probate office a couple of weeks before it was officially made mandatory for probate professionals to submit probate forms online. […]
TRS don’t need to be told about end of administration
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) have confirmed that executors do not need to use the Trust Registration Service (TRS) to report the end of the estate administration period. Some executors know, that not all estates need to involve the TRS or notify HMRC about the end of the […]
Take part in Lawcare’s ground-breaking research study
Legal mental health charity, Lawcare is urging legal professionals to join over 1,350 fellow colleagues to make their voice heard and tell their story in a ground-breaking research study. Only four weeks to go until the deadline of 31st December, LawCare is urging legal professionals to take part in their study ‘Life in the Law’ […]
Is Equity Release surge driven by Bank of Mum and Dad?
Legal & General recently reported that, in the main, buyers under the age of 35 (more than half at 56%) have received help by way of a gift of cash from parents or grandparents to help them get a foot on the property ladder. The research carried out by L&G in early August found that […]
Remote Witness Wills – a great new option or a last resort?
During the Covid 19 crisis, many more people have been thinking about writing or changing their will. But a major concern has been how to get the will witnessed correctly during a time when we are all supposed to be socially distancing, and in some cases socially isolating. In an Order which came into force […]
MoJ and OPG initiates a new project to modernise LPAs
Our ‘Technical Corner’ brings you information that will help you to continue to grow and develop in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Emily Deane TEP, STEP Technical Counsel. If you have any questions for our panel of experts, please submit them using the contact form below. We will publish the questions […]
Charitable bequests expected to spike significantly in 2021
Legacy Foresight has released its Legacy Market Outlook 2020-2025 report today. The report shares their latest view of prospects for the UK legacy market, with three scenarios projecting out to 2025. Due to the rapid changes in the legacy environment over the past year, Legacy Foresight is now updating its market forecasts whenever the situation […]
Superhero Webinar 72: The RIGHT Trust for the RIGHT situation (Part 2 of 2)
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! Superhero Webinar 72 is part 2 of using the RIGHT Trust to protect your client’s wealth. Finding the right trust shouldn’t feel like a maze, we can show you the way! Agenda • Taxation and Trusts • When might an entry, periodic or exit charge apply? How can these be reduced […]
