Unique new category revealed for this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards

Today, Friday 21st May 2021, we have some exciting news to bring to you. In this, our fourth year, we are introducing a very special new award and you as a collection of industry professionals,

New tool to help firms achieve Cyber Essentials accreditation

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way cyber criminals target those they want to exploit. With this in mind, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has launched the Cyber Essentials Readiness Tool which helps firms

Judge Spotlight: Emily Deane TEP

In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our Judges of The British Wills and Probate Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions we look forward to recognising achievement, highlighting

Inheritance Tax Law - the struggles of the Samsung Chairman

This article is written by Paul Fairbairn and Victoria Symons, Partners at Cripps Pemberton Greenish The family of the late Samsung Electronics chairman, Lee Kun-hee, has made headlines recently after his estate was told it

Junior lawyers must be supported as the profession looks to a hybrid return to the office

New guidance on how to supervise and support junior staff and trainees via hybrid and flexible working models as firms and organisations look to return to the office has been unveiled by the Law Society

Updated Practice Guides: PG14

There has been update published in the following practice guide: Charities: advice for applications sent to HM Land Registry (PG14) Page summary: Advice about applications to be sent to HM Land Registry to register transactions

Probate practitioner reprimanded in £20k 'gift'

Ben Moore has been banned from the probate profession after failing to declare a gift of £20,000 from a 92-year-old client. A decision notice from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) showed that Mr Moore had

Payout agreed for George Michael’s ex after suing estate

Kenny Goss, the ex-partner of Wham singer George Michael has agreed a deal with George’s family after suing the estate for £15m a month out of his £98m estate. Mr Goss reportedly gave up his

Judge Spotlight: Lakshmi Turner, SFE Chief Executive

In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our Judges of The British Wills and Probate Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions we look forward to recognising achievement, highlighting

HMCTS operational position: weekly summary update

HMCTS have updated their operational summary for week commencing Monday 17th May 2021. We encourage all users to access testing available to them. Home tests are now available from all English and Welsh courts and

Last chance to register for the British Wills and Probate Awards

The chance to enter this year’s British Wills and Probate Awards has been extended by a week, with the new deadline being set as the 21st May. The fourth awards are brought to you by

Update from the OPG on LPA delays

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has published an update explaining the reasonings behind the delays when registering Lasting Power of Attorneys. The update reveales that the OPG is “working hard to continue to

Why do people not take time to make a Will?

This week is Dying Matters week, and although the week aims at raising awareness and breaking the taboo of discussing death, it also brings conversations about preparing for death to the forefront of people’s minds.

HMCTS operational position: weekly summary update

HMCTS have updated their operational summary for week commencing Monday 10th May 2021. Next week’s update will be issued on Friday 14 May 2021. Updated: We encourage all users to access testing available to them.

Judges Spotlight: Jane Cassell

In a series of Supporters in Focus pieces, we are thrilled to introduce our Judges of The British Wills and Probate Awards 2021 Alongside headline sponsor Executor Solutions we look forward to recognising achievement, highlighting

Coronavirus roadmap update: hugs back on the menu!

England is continuing with its coronavirus roadmap, with some restrictions being lifted on the 17th May 2021. PM Boris Johnson announced the details in a press conference this evening after the alert level of coronavirus

One weeks left to enter the British Wills and Probate Awards!

There’s only one week left to enter the British Wills and Probate Awards 2021, with the 14th May deadline quickly approaching. The awards which are brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, headline sponsor

Almost £2m lost to pension fraud in first four months of 2021

Action Fraud has revealed that £1.8m has been lost to pension fraud, and we’re not even half way through the year yet. Pre-pandemic it appeared that the number of pension scam reports were falling, with

Co-op Legal Services and Elder launch of new advisory service

Research shows 50% of over 60s do not feel prepared for their later years Leading provider of live-in care services, Elder, has announced a new partnership with Co-op Legal Services, in a bid to empower

Eleventh-hour EU-UK deal ratification welcomed by legal sector

News the European Parliament has ratified the UK’s deal with the EU brings a degree of certainty to our future relationship – even if many questions remain to be resolved, solicitors’ leaders said. Law Society

Final category spotlight: Solicitor and Will Writing Firms of the Year

The British Wills and Probate Awards are taking centre stage once again this October, and we are excited to shine a spotlight on some of the returning categories for this year’s awards. Alongside our headline

Inherited wealth set to impact social mobility

“A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair” – Niccolo Machiavelli It’s been talked about for a number of years now

Oxfordshire Council awarded land gifted by Robert Fleming for school use by UK Supreme Court

In a landmark ruling, the UK Supreme Court has awarded Oxfordshire Council private land, which was left to the Parish of Nettlebed in the early 20th Century to be used as a school. This ruling

Secret trust not made rules Court

The England and Wales High Court (EWHC) ruled that the late owner of a valuable collection of jewellery did not create a secret trust, in which her niece would inherit the pieces, despite the deceased

Michael Collins Apollo 11 astronaut passes away

The news broke on Wednesday that Michael Collins, part of the Apollo 11 mission which saw man walk on the moon for the first time, lost his battle with cancer and passed away surrounded by

Join SFE for their insightful upcoming webinars

Over the next few months, SFE are covering an important range of topics in older client law in their upcoming online webinars, including tax updates, advice for probate practitioners and welfare benefits for the older

Daughters lose court battle over £7m fortune

Two daughters have lost a court battle which pitted them against their step-mother after being cut out of their father’s inheritance when he died. Tony Shearer was referred to as “The Chequebook” by his daughters

Regulators must set quality standards in the public interest

It is in the public interest for regulators to set standards, rather than leave it to consumers to work out the quality of a solicitor or law firm said the Law Society of England and

Judges chair in a courtroom

The Legal Aid census has been launched and the Legal Aid Practitioners Group is urging lawyers in England and Wales to have their say, and help inform the Legal Aid workforce of the future. The

LSB set out how regulators can use technology to increase access to legal servicesq

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has outlined how legal services regulators can actively support technology and innovation that safely increase access to legal services. By working together, regulators can create an environment that ‘de-risks’ innovation

Category spotlight: Technology, Marketing and Contentious Wills

The British Wills and Probate Awards are taking centre stage once again this October, and we are excited to shine a spotlight on some of the returning categories for this year’s awards. Alongside our headline

Children receive ‘reasonable provision’ following court battle

The England and Wales High Court (EWHC) have awarded two children born from a deceased man’s first marriage a total of £186,000 from his £814,000 estate (Re R (Deceased), 2021 EWHC 936 Ch). Although the