Events

We are excited to welcome Stephen Lawson, Partner at IDR Law, TEP CTAPS, Chair Law Society Wills & Equity Committee and Ian Bond, TEP, Former Chair Law Society Wills & Equity Committee to our webinar.

The Law Commission have produced their Will Reform report and draft Wills Bill 2025. The proposed changes will be the biggest change to Will writing since the Wills Act 1837. Stephen and Ian have been involved with the Law Commission at every step of the consultation process. They will walk through the main changes from their perspectives as both Contentious and non-contentious practitioners:

• Whether marriage will revoke a Will;​​​​​​​
• The test of testamentary capacity – Banks v Goodfellow or the Mental Capacity Act 2005;​​​​​​​
• The age at which a testator can make a Will;​​​​​
• A new judicial dispensing power;​​​​​​​
• New rules about the formalities to make a Will; and ​​​​​​​
• Introduction of electronic Wills

Details

• Date: Wednesday 16 July 2025
• Time: 10:30am
• Location: Online
• Register here: https://event.webinarjam.com/register/355/r4rl4s6g

A little bit about Fraser and Fraser

At Fraser and Fraser, you will find a team of efficient, dedicated and experienced genealogists and probate researchers, who offer the best service for you and your clients. We’ve been supporting the legal professions by tracing missing heirs and beneficiaries to unclaimed estates worldwide, for almost a century.

Services we offer:

• Location of Missing Beneficiaries
• Missing Beneficiary Insurance
• FREE Family Tree Check
• Risk Free Administrator Search Service
• Overseas Bankruptcy Searches
• Medallion Signature Guarantee
• Flexible Fee Options (including time spend and fixed fee)

Get in contact with us today for further information:

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7832 1400

Email: info@fraserandfraser.co.uk

Website: https://www.fraserandfraser.co.uk/

Join us for the premier event in the SWW’s calendar.

The Society of Will Writers is proud to present the 2025 SWW Conference, a must-attend event for professionals in the will writing, estate planning, and legal services sectors. Taking place on the 6th and 7th of October at The Hilton East Midlands Airport Hotel, this year’s conference promises to deliver valuable insights, expert-led sessions, and unrivalled networking opportunities.

Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or just starting out in the field, the SWW Conference is designed to keep you informed, connected, and inspired. Expect updates on industry news, technical workshops, keynote presentations from thought leaders, and access to leading product and service providers who will showcase the latest tools to support your business.

#SWWCon25   #SWWConference2025

The Society of Will Writers and Estate Planning Practitioners is proud to officially launch the 2025 SWW Annual Conference, taking place on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th October 2025. This flagship event of ours has become a cornerstone of the professional will writing calendar, with 28 previous annual conferences held bringing together members, legal experts, and industry leaders for two days of learning, discussion, and networking.

Held at The Hilton East Midlands Airport Hotel, this year’s conference promises to be one of our most exciting yet, featuring a dynamic agenda filled with insightful talks, expert-led workshops, meaningful networking opportunities and a raft of sponsors and exhibitors to bring the very best in product and service offerings.

What to Expect

Day One opens with the welcome address and annual update from our very own MD, Anthony Belcher, setting the tone for a day filled with thought-provoking presentations from:

• Antony Brinkman, SWW Professional Standards Board Chairman, will update delegates on the PSB’s functions and ongoing projects.
• Stephanie Kerr, Partner at Irwin Mitchell LLP, will bring her expert legal perspective to the stage with a talk on Larke v Nugus and Will challenges.
• Daphne Franks, a key advocate in raising awareness around predatory marriage, will share her powerful story and insights.
• Nick Ash, Managing Director of W&P Legal, will provide practical knowledge and updates from the front lines of legal service delivery.
• Caroline Bielanska, esteemed solicitor, author, and legal trainer, will close out the day’s programming with her expertise in elder law and capacity issues.

After the formal close of the first day, delegates can look forward to a private evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment, offering an exclusive opportunity to wind down from the day and build on those relationships with fellow professionals. Tickets for the dinner are sold separately.

Day Two is dedicated to in-depth workshops designed to strengthen your practice and expand your knowledge base. Attendees will rotate through focused sessions led by:

• Abigail Meades, Cert CII and Business Development Executive at Marsh Commercial, explores business resilience and risk management.
• Paige Gouldthorpe, Senior Associate and Head of Court of Protection at Fosters Solicitors, covering vulnerable clients and legal safeguards.
• Darren Chapman, CISSP, delivering crucial content on cybersecurity in legal practice – a topic more relevant than ever as we increasingly move our practices online.

These workshops ensure each attendee gets maximum value and the chance to ask questions directly to leading professionals in their field.

Why Attend the 2025 SWW Conference?

• Earn valuable CPD hours.
• Gain up-to-date knowledge on legal, regulatory, and ethical developments.
• Enhance your client services through real-world insights from experienced practitioners.
• Network with fellow SWW members, practitioners, speakers, and exhibitors throughout the event.
• Be inspired to take your practice to the next level.

Stay Updated

More details about the full agenda, venue, booking information, and accommodation options are available on our dedicated conference page. Be sure to check back regularly and follow us on our social media channels for the latest updates.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

This year’s agenda centres around a new in-depth case study, The Bourne Legacy – with expert commentary and analysis from leading voices in the profession.

The day promises engaging, interactive discussions and valuable insights into best practices for private client lawyers.

The speaker line-up includes:

• Caroline Bielanska – Consultant solicitor and mediator
• Professor Lesley King – Legal educator and author
• Ian Bond – Solicitor
• Charlotte John – Barrister at Gatehouse Chambers
• Seema Flower – Founder and managing director of Blind Ambition; disabilities and visual awareness expert

Don’t miss this key date in the private client calendar, open to Lifetime Lawyers and non-members. Attendees will leave re-energised and equipped with vital insights to enhance your practice and better support your clients.

Timings:

Conference: 09:00 – 17:00
Drinks reception 17:00 – 19:00

The British Wills and Probate Awards, known as the ‘Oscars of the Probate World’ is back with a new Headline Sponsor for the 2025 event. Arken.legal have been confirmed as the Headline Sponsor for the 2025 awards which will be hosted in Manchester on 9th October 2025.

Entries open today (4th April 2025) for the awards, which is now in its 8th year, recognising and celebrating the very best the wills, probate, tax, trusts and estate planning community has to offer. Uniquely the awards champions both the regulated and unregulated legal services sectors with categories for law firms, probate providers, and will writers alongside individual excellence awards, and supplier categories.

Arken.legal return as Headline having been part of the inaugural years of the awards programme in 2018. In 2018 The British Wills and Probate Awards welcomed 200 people to Ardencote Manor in Warwickshire and subsequently 300 to The Belfry, near Birmingham in 2019. In 2024 the awards hosted over 450 practitioners and professionals in Manchester with 2025 set to be even bigger and better than before.

“Arken.legal is proud to be the Headline Sponsor of the 2025 British Wills and Probate Awards – the “Oscars of the Wills and Probate World.”

said Arken Group CEO Dave Newick 

“Having played a key role in putting these prestigious awards on the map since their inception in 2018, we’ve watched them evolve into the outstanding event they are today and we felt it was the perfect time to step back in as Headline Sponsor. Our commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with the awards’ celebration of excellence in the industry.”

“We’ve always been proud of our association with this event and look forward to partnering with Today’s Media once again to elevate the awards on 9th October in Manchester. See you there!”

CLICK HERE to ENTER The British Wills and Probate Awards 2025

The awards have welcomed over 1,000 submission, seen 450 firms shortlisted and crowned nearly 150 winners since they launched. 2025 categories include the hugely popular “Community and Charity Champions”, “Best Place to Work” and “One to Watch Practitioner of the Year”; alongside the categories that recognise technical expertise and service excellence – “Private Client Firm of the Year” “Customer Service Champions” and “Tax and Trust Team of the Year”.

Following the success of individual categories launched in 2024 recognising the skills of contentious, non-contentious and will writing professionals, they return, alongside the hugely important “Wills and Probate Excellence” award recognising the very best entry from the hundreds of submissions; won by Chester-based Oliver & Co in its inaugural year.

CICK HERE to view the Awards Categories and entry criteria

The British Wills and Probate Awards are organised by Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Wills and Probate. Inviting firms, individuals and businesses up and down the country to enter this year’s process, Managing Director David Opie said

“Over the last 8 years The British Wills and Probate Awards have established themselves as a key date in the legal calendar, bringing the profession together to recognise and celebrate excellence. Each year the independent judging panel, drawn from across the sector, pore over the submissions to arrive at the shortlists and eventual winners; scrutinising each entry individually so that our winners know their success has been hard earned, and hard won.”

“A huge thank you to CTT Group for their support over the last two years as Headline Sponsor; and we look forward to taking the awards forward with Arken.legal.”

Entry for the awards is now open with an early bird rate of £129 +VAT enabling you to enter up to three categories. You do not need to complete your written submission immediately. All the categories are available to review on the British Wills and Probate Awards website. Each category has the entry criteria available to download and review to curate the submission.

The early bird rate is open until Friday 16th May 2025. After this date the entry fee switches to the standard rate of £169.00+VAT. Should you wish to enter just one of the categories on offer, the rate is £89.00+VAT.Once firms have entered they will be given access to the Judgify entry portal through which entries are submitted. Entries can be part-completed, saved and reviewed before final submission.

A number of firms have already committed to sponsorship of the 2025 awards. Today’s Media are hugely grateful to WillSuite, LEAP Estates, The Law Superstore, Anglia Research, CILEX, Society of Will Writers, Provira, Ochresoft, and Level who have all confirmed their support. Sponsorship opportunities for 2025 are available now. Please contact Grace Beech and David Opie for more information.

CLICK HERE to ENTER The British Wills and Probate Awards 2025

Taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel Limassol on 23-24 October, this conference is a must attend event for trust and estate practitioners working in Europe. You’ll hear from key speakers from across the continent discussing topics relevant to this region and considering jurisdictional perspectives.

Attending this conference not only keeps you up to date with developments in private wealth management, it also allows you to network with peers from across Europe. The last STEP Europe Conference attracted delegates from 30 countries. The excellent social events planned enable you to network and make new connections.