Dr Nicholas Bevan, solicitor and senior associate at Solicitors Title LLP, took the time to share his views on the Ministry of Justice’s announcement it made almost a week ago regarding the legalisation of video
There has been lots of positive things happening across the sector this week, so we wanted to share these good vibes with you as part of our ‘Feel Good Friday’ news items. Here is a
The Law Society for England and Wales has launched a survey to find out how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the working practices of disabled lawyers, as they make bid to understand how to improve
Whilst many of us have been getting to grips with the various phases of the government’s plans to lockdown and subsequently return the country to normal, it’s safe to say that cyber criminals haven’t been
A bitter family dispute has continued to rumble on as a man attempts to overturn a High Court’s decision regarding his mother’s Will. Last month, we reported that Susan Bond, successfully overturned her mother, Jean
At the weekend, the Ministry of Justice announced that video Wills that were made during the coronavirus pandemic would be legalised. In the hope of reducing the number of contentious probate cases that could undoubtedly
Legal mental health charity LawCare has appointed a new chair to its board of trustees. Andrew Caplen replaces outgoing chair Bronwen Still as of this month. Andrew is a Solicitor, Notary Public and a former
With figures showing that 25% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) solicitors make partner compared to 35% of their white counterparts, the Law Society of England and Wales is launching a series of virtual
Following on from our previous sentiment surveys there seems to be a more optimistic mood around a return to “business as usual”. Clearly there are concerns around client welfare and the risk of a second
The Government has published the outcome of its technical consultation on implementation of the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) and its impact on trust registration. STEP has been working with the Treasury to ensure
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has published its annual report for 2019/20, and shown that complainants are still waiting too long for the Ombudsman to reply to their issues. The report demonstrated that throughout
The Law Society has updated it’s guidance for solicitors and other professionals who advise clients who are or may be at risk of financial abuse. In the guidance it outlines: What financial abuse is How
It is anticipated that the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will make an announcement legalizing Wills that have been witnessed via video calls. It is thought people will be able to use video platforms like Zoom
A legal assistant has been banned from working in the legal profession, after it emerged he lied about passing his exams. Benjamin Lewis Clark wanted his law firm to pay for the course fees due
In the midst of helping people set their affairs in order, sometimes little details can seemingly slip by as other priorities take precedence. However, if a client will have to pay inheritance tax (IHT) following
It seems the far-reaching effects of the coronavirus pandemic are never ending. The latest casualty is the equity release sector which have fallen in quarter two. Figures released by Key, have revealed that in quarter
Today’s Wills and Probate had the opportunity to speak to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). During the chat, the OPG wanted to raise awareness of their ‘Your Voice, Your Decision‘ campaign, which will
In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our supporters of The British Wills & Probate Awards 2020. This year the awards will recognise a sector which has tackled the
Constance Atkins, Brian Oxley and Jane Oxley were accused of estate fraud in relation to Reginald Atkins. The England and Wales High Court (EWHC) upheld the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) decision to not prosecute the
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), is going to launch a review on its regime of checking a solicitor’s competence. This has come as a result of the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) asking that the
It has been revealed that the cost of funerals, specifically the cost of a cremation, has continued to rise in the UK, despite services being reduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. One widower,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak has announced a review of Capital Gains Tax (CGT). The Chancellor has asked the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) to review whether the tax is too low, in
The Institute of Paralegals (IoP) has released a new strategy for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the legal profession. The charter outlines why change is needed and the approach that needs to be taken by
The Law Society has come out and supported the government’s commitment to concentrate on getting people back to work following the coronavirus pandemic. Plans for a ‘kick start’ scheme for young people were welcomed by
Now that the coronavirus pandemic seems to be on the backfoot, and the Government are attempting to kick start the UK economy, we wanted to take a look at what effect the pandemic has had
The Women in Wills group which has continued to thrive during the coronavirus pandemic is celebrating it’s first birthday. In the current climate, having meaningful conversations with your peers can help get you through the
Here at Today’s Wills and Probate, we wanted to share with you the good news we’ve had within in the industry of professionals joining firms and those who have moved up the promotional ladder. This
Recently, members of the Shoosmiths LLP Disputed Wills and Trusts Team took the time to speak to Today’s Wills and Probate about a recent case they dealt with (Bullock vs Denton and Willoughby), to give
The Equity Release Council has released updated guidance for practitioners, which highlights some of the most important factors to consider during the advice process and ensures its rigorous standards are met. A new Checklist for
This is just a quick reminder that firms now have the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back to work on a part-time basis. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said: “Our number one priority has
As part of our newly created ‘Technical Corner’ we want to bring you information that will help you to continue to grow in your career. This month’s technical corner article comes from Emily Deane TEP,
Thanks to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent social distancing measures, video conferencing software was utilised to enable will writers and solicitors to virtually meet with clients to take instructions. However, the legality of the