Once viewed as the assistant to a solicitor with a main aim of aiding them in the development of a case, the role of a paralegal is now unrecognisable. Gone are the days when a
Avoidable mortality rates increased slightly between 2017 and 2018 but have fallen by 67 per cent since 2001. According to the most recent data set on avoidable mortality, released by the Office for National Statistics
The Chancellor is considering closing perceived inheritance tax (IHT) loopholes in the upcoming Spring Budget which could add £800 million to Treasury coffers. Currently, inheritance tax relief is offered for owners of agricultural land when
The UK’s leading financial services regulator has found that the current pensions sector is going to leave a huge number of future retirees at risk of lower living standards. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) argue
Legacy income is set to increase by 3.6 per cent per annum over the next five years. According to revised forecasts by Legacy Foresight, legacy income will rise from £3.2 billion in 2019 to £3.9
Suggested changes to UK inheritance tax could have a potential impact on the property sector. Earlier this month, an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) encouraged the Government to consider making serious reforms to inheritance tax (IHT)
The world of probate research was formally recognised and celebrated when examples of excellence and best practice were praised at the 2020 UK Probate Research Awards on 6 February at London’s DeVere Grand Connaught Rooms.
In a technology driven world, how does your law firm inform, educate and communicate with clients? Kingsley Napley’s Laura Phillips, a Senior Associate who specialises in Contentious Trust and Probate Disputes, has looked to utilise
A contentious probate family feud the judge dubbed ‘a fight to the death’ is currently being heard in court. Shirley Guymer, 78, died childless in 2016, two years after her late husband had passed away.
Over a quarter of all couples in the UK do not discuss their pensions and later life plans with their loved ones. 25% of respondents have failed to discuss their later life plans or pension
Rumours suggest that Sajid Javid’s budget on March 11th is set to reduce the amount of tax relief offered to higher earners on their pension contributions. Those inside the Treasury intimated to the Financial Times
Impressionist Jon Culshaw welcomed and entertained the swathes of legal professionals in Manchester last night as the Modern Law Awards took centre stage. The evening delivered an abundance of talent in the sector and highlighted
Legendary Hollywood actor, Kirk Douglas, has died at the age of 103. Kirk Douglas is best known for inspiring the Golden age of cinema with unforgettable roles such as Spartacus, Ace In The Hole and
18 probate offices have now closed as sub-registry requests increasingly migrate to a central national courts and tribunals service. The Government’s £1 billion court reforms and modernisation will now see sub-registries in Bodmin, Caernarvon, Carmarthen,
Last week the Commons debated the polarising issue of assisted suicide before Lord Falconer officially reintroduced the first reading of the Assisted Dying Bill on January 28th, whilst the Lords heard a first reading of
A cross parliamentary group of MPs have urged the government to reduce inheritance tax from the current 40% to 10% for the majority of estates. Yesterday evening, a All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has encouraged the
Two thirds (64%) of UK adults have faced a legal issues over the past four years with over half (53%) of issues considered contentious. According to a joint report commissioned by The Law Society and
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has launched a call for evidence to examine how regulators should ensure the law firms and the legal service providers they regulate remain competent and up to date with changes
The important link between in-memory and legacy giving has been highlighted in new research with in-memory connections three times more likely to pledge a legacy to the charity than regular donors giving via a direct
Legal professionals are increasingly turning to support frameworks because of the stresses in their work lives. The number of legal professionals asking LawCare for help and advice in 2019 increased by 8%. In total, the
An American Cryogenics firm is counter-suing the son of a deceased scientist after a communication debacle resulted in the decapitation of the cadaver. A recent case in America has highlighted the importance of adhering to
All professional deputies entitled to general management costs will need to use the Court of Protection’s e-filing system from today (Monday 20th January 2020.) Professional deputies are obliged to send a Bill of Costs, N258
The most common age of death for men has increased over the last four years, peaking at 86 in 2018. According to recent data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 10,730 men aged
The lawyer representing the estate of deceased suspected sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, is confident the majority of Epstein’s accusers will drop their lawsuits and join the victim compensation fund. A letter filed in Manhattan federal
A quarter of women are bewildered and nervous when it comes to making decisions regarding their retirement. When it comes to later life planning, almost a quarter (23%) were worried about making poor decisions that
The average cost of a funeral has increased by 3.4% to £4,417 since last year. The increase is forcing a lot more grieving families into financial difficulties according to the latest ‘Cost of Dying’ Report
The High Court has ruled on a case involving an incapacitated man (QD) a habitual resident in Spain who was brought back to England by his adult children (TD and BS) against the wishes of
The Acceptance in Lieu scheme ended the year acquiring six Rembrandt etchings to settle an inheritance tax debt worth in excess of £150,000. UK tax law introduced the Acceptance in Lieu scheme to allow inheritance
Younger women could be creating difficulties for their retirement as more look to opt out of their workplace pension schemes. According to data obtained from Royal London’s auto-enrolment records, over 1 in 10 (10.6%) women
The new decade is now in full swing and the plethora of proposed private members’ bills making their way through the House of Lords could have huge implications for private client legal service practitioners. In
All probate sub-registries face total closure by the end of the first quarter of the year. According to the Gazette, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) aims to close the remaining 18 sub-registries by the
At the end of last year, a grieving mother lost her appeal to reclaim money from her deceased son’s estate after he used the loan to help purchase his first home. The contentious case is