Free virtual seminar: The missed millions
In September, Title Research launched a new virtual seminar series – a new way of sharing interesting information and industry insights using a unique interactive format. After the success of their first two live events, Title Research will be hosting a third virtual seminar on Thursday 26th November at 12:00-13:00pm. This session will include an […]
Caroline Flack died without making a Will
Caroline Flack’s fortune will be given to charity as no Will was made before she passed away earlier this year. The Love Island presenter died in February this year at the age of 40 with reports indicating she had left an estate worth £2m. However, once probate commenced it was revealed that her assets was […]
What type of finances does an asset search investigate during probate?
Asset searching was engineered as an innovative technique to modernise estate administration and to assemble the assets which are owed to a deceased’s estate during probate. In our previous blogs we have spoken about why deceased individuals may have lost assets in their accounts, but there is often confusion over the type of assets which […]
Acting as a Professional Executor? Protect yourself with Certainty Will Search
Silks Solicitors have been members of Certainty the National Will Register for over six years and they regularly register their clients’ Wills with The National Will Register and incorporate Certainty Will Search into their internal process. In this case, Silks Solicitors were acting as a Professional Executor of an estate but as a safeguard measure […]
Lawyer Checker to Host Crucial Panel Discussion as Cybercrime Reaches New Heights
The Solicitors Regulation Authority have recently publicised their first thematic review investigating the impact of cybercrime. The review has highlighted a number of troublesome statistics making it definitively apparent that cyber related incidents leading to fraud remain one of the largest threats the legal sector faces. The SRA conducted the review by selecting a randomised […]
Hear from SLS Wills & More Ltd, who were Highly Commended at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
IHT Share Loss Relief is a wealth-saver in volatile stock markets
As the World celebrated the arrival of a Covid-19 vaccine this week the global stock markets boomed on the positive news. The FTSE 100 had its best day since March, a top ten ‘single-day’ gain, adding around £82bn to the value of companies in the index. But big gains haven’t been the stock market story […]
Arken.legal (UK) Ltd Responds to Pandemic by Incorporating Video Witnessing into its Attestation Clause
Arken Professional now reflects the government’s temporary amendment to legislation for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, which allows for the remote witnessing of Wills via video link. In response to the pandemic and the inability of some people to get Wills witnessed in the physical presence of witnesses, the government has passed temporary legislation […]
Hear from Simpson Solicitors winners at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020
On Thursday 22 October 2020, professionals from across the wills and probate sector came together to celebrate the successes and achievements of the industry is what has been a challenging year, at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2020. The awards, which was back for it’s third year, took to the virtual stage and was […]
Legal firms sign up to Will Aid to help protect families
Legal firms, probate practitioners and professionals sign up to Will Aid’s Annual Will Writing campaign to help protect families across the country following the impact of coronavirus. The pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions in the Wills and probate sector, which has seen a huge surge in people wanting to address later life planning, in particular […]
Latest HMCTS update on The Probate Office developments
Today’s Wills and Probate caught up with the Probate Office to get an update on the progress made since the summer. Back in the July we gave an insight into the probate office during Covid-19 following a surge in probate applications which led to a huge demand of their services. Since then, HM Courts and […]
Probate practitioners are in this together says leading lawyer
Probate practitioners should “give themselves a pat on the back” and recognise the extraordinary lengths they go to, to ensure that clients are dealt with compassionately and fairly, says Jacqueline Emmerson in a video for Today’s Wills & Probate. As Managing Director of Newcastle and Sunderland- based Emmerson’s Solicitors, Jacqueline has seen first hand the […]
A new career for the New Year?
Has your business been affected by COVID-19? Is your inbox empty and have your phones stopped ringing? Why not try something new for 2021 and give your business a boost? Estate Planning has thrived throughout lockdown, with some firms reporting a four-fold increase in enquiries and instructions, especially around Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and […]
Just 7% of legal professionals think the probate process is fit for purpose
Just one in three legal firms think the time it takes to prepare probate is ‘reasonable’ Most discovery work is still manual and paper-based Waiting for institutions to respond and administration takes up the most time 73% of firms say lockdown has further exacerbated the problem Just seven per cent of legal firms think the […]
Roundtable provides insight into managing and maximising leads
On Thursday 5th November professionals across the sector joined together in a virtual setting to discuss how law firms manage potential leads, and ways in which those leads are driven without too much investment and ensuring every opportunity is maximised. The roundtable was opened and hosted by Today’s Wills and Probate alongside leading telephone answering […]
ILM launches new online training programme
ILM is delighted to announce the launch of its brand new modular training system, which has been designed around the needs of those new to the world of legacies as well as those who would benefit from a refresh in certain areas. Courses are completed online, in your own time and at your own pace. […]
Legacy bodies welcome Government actions to resolve probate backlog
Charity legacy bodies have welcomed a statement from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), which sets out its plans to resolve the delay and backlog of Wills passing through probate. During the pandemic, rising death rates, an increase in incomplete grant applications and challenges to the usual working practices have all put added pressure on […]
Law Society issues guidance to solicitors advising on tax
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 […]
Lockdown Drives Surge of Contentious Probate Cases: Changes and Trends
We’re pleased to welcome Martin Oliver, Partner and Katie Alsop, Partner at Wright Hassall who will be presenting our next Certainty Expert Webinar, titled ‘Lockdown Drives Surge of Contentious Probate Cases: Changes and Trends’. In this webinar we will examine the surge in contentious probate cases which has come about as a result of ‘Lockdown’ […]
Integration helps reduce re-keying for a more efficient Will drafting process
Best-in-class solutions for legal firms – Clio and Arken Professional – are now integrated to provide the busy private client solicitor with even more efficiency gains. Although important beforehand, the pandemic, lockdown and working from home has further increased the need and appetite for cloud-based digital solutions and streamlining of processes. Arken Professional allows solicitors […]
