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Dubbed the “Great Disconnection”, white-collar workers in the UK are increasingly disengaged from their workplace – and the resulting financial impact cannot be understated. In the wake of the pandemic, the figures show that a
New research has revealed that over two thirds (70%) of practitioners are seeing an increased number of inappropriate DNAR (do not attempt resuscitation) orders issued since the start of the pandemic. Though not legally binding,
Anthony Belcher, Director General of the Society of Will Writers, recently spoke to David Opie on the Today’s Wills and Probate podcast. They covered the formation of the Society, its plans moving forwards, and the
Here are some handy technical tips from a solicitor that you already have at your disposal but may not know about know about. With everyone working from home either permanently or on regular basis, it
Individual practising fee levels for 2022/23 have been approved by the Legal Services Board (LSB). Practising fees are used to pay statutory levies to the LSB, the Legal Ombudsman, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and Office
The deadline for the vast majority of express trusts to be registered with HM Revenue & Customs’ (HMRC) Trust Registration Service (TRS) is now just six days away – and a lot of questions are
Under regulations in effect from 29th July 2022, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has authorised 26 pre-paid funeral plan providers – making up c. 87% of the market – to sell new plans to consumers.
A recent social media survey conducted by SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) has revealed that 98% of people believe the will writing industry should be regulated. According to the Legal Services Board (LSB), unregulated firms
Figures released by HM Revenue & Customs have revealed that inheritance tax (IHT) receipts between April and July this year were £2.4 billion, with £600 million collected in July alone. The figure of £2.4 billion
Simpson Millar has expanded its Court of Protection team, announcing that Stephanie Oxley and Thomas Metcalfe are joining as Solicitors within its national Public Law team. Spearheaded by Co-Chair of the Court of Protection Practitioners
Gemma Kelly, an Associate Solicitor in Rowlinson’s Private Client Department, discusses her life as a private client solicitor and what makes her tick. Gemma, begin by telling us about your background I studied law at
The Ombudsman’s corner: recent changes – taking the right approach for each case The Legal Services Act 2007, which set up the Legal Ombudsman, requires that we complete our work “quickly and with minimum formality”.
With the deadline for registering non-taxable trusts by 1st September 2022 becoming ever closer, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) have released updated guidance on penalties for late registration. The introduction of the EU’s Fifth Money
A Freedom of Information request to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has revealed that 211,381 Trust registrations have been received since the Trustee Registration Service began in June 2017. This is an increase of 61,692
New research has suggested that there is a growing tendency among older Brits to use the wealth held in their property to help younger generations become first-time buyers. The research from Aviva looked at spending
From a boxroom in Leicester to having 200 law firms adopt its branding, the odyssey of QualitySolicitors was one like no other. Here, Saleem Arif, co-founder of QualitySolicitors, tells all: the idea, working from his
Aspiring solicitors should be paid £21,024 outside of London and £23,703 in the capital for qualifying work experience (QWE) for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam or during their training contract, the Law Society of England and
Calls for cohabitation law reform are being led by a group of cross-party MPs who say that cohabiting couples have “inferior” protections to those who are married or within a civil partnership. The Women and
Charity trustees’ discretion over the offering of financial settlements in legacy disputes is set to change later this year. Trustees must currently act in the best interests of a charity as is their duty. This
The latest figures from HM Courts & Tribunals Service have revealed that paper probate applications are sometimes taking more than twice as long as their digital counterparts. In May, the probate service performance figures show
Statistics released by the Equity Release Council have revealed that a striking £1.6 billion of property wealth was withdrawn via equity release in Q2 2022. This comes as the number of new equity release plans
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed that, from April 2023, it will reintroduce a requirement for solicitors without practising certificates to apply to remain on the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales. As
“Are you ready?”, asked Graham Mansfield, 73, of his 71-year-old wife Dyanne. “Yes, I won’t make a noise”, she said, before Graham slit her throat in their garden in what amounted to a failed suicide
As part of its ongoing work to consider next steps on the Solicitors Indemnity Fund (SIF) and consumer protection for negligence claims brought more than six years after a firm has closed, the Solicitors Regulation
A petition launched by Marie Curie to put an end to death in poverty is nearing 80,000 signatures. The petition purports to make three key changes: Give all dying people their State Pension, no matter
Figures released by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on Thursday revealed that inheritance tax (IHT) receipts for the financial year 2021 to 2022 stood at £6.1 billion, representing a 14% (£729 million) increase from receipts
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has commissioned independent research to take an in-depth look into the unreserved legal services market across England and Wales. This comes just weeks after the Legal Services Board declined to
The Law Commission of England and Wales has published new proposals to reform the law relating to digital assets. Digital assets, which include crypto-tokens — sometimes referred to as cryptocurrencies — and non-fungible tokens (NFTs),
The conditions for disclosure of data contained within the Trust Registration Service (TRS) have been set out by HM Revenue & Customs. All express trusts, except those registered as exempt as part of a narrow
The Financial Conduct Authority has published a list of 14 funeral plan providers who will not be authorised to sell new funeral plans once the new regulatory changes take effect on 29th July 2022. Reiterating
During a legaltech panel discussion hosted by Women in Wills on Thursday, it was suggested that up to 40% of firms are receiving a discount on their professional indemnity insurance (PII) renewal due to their
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced that it has accepted the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) proposed amendments to the Scheme Rules, including the reduction of bringing complaints from six years to within one year. During