The Bank of Mum and Dad (BoMaD) are now the 11th largest mortgage lender in the UK, eclipsing the Help to Buy schemes in helping younger buyers gain a foothold on the property ladder. In
HM Courts and Tribunals representatives have claimed the probate application backlogs are under control in a recent blog review of the current problematic situation. The current waiting times were said to be between six and
An experienced probate solicitor has been struck off the roll for consistently overcharging clients for administering an estate. Harold Anthony Newell qualified as a solicitor in 1963. Despite working in law for more than 50
Multiple legal regulators have warned that impersonation fraud and spoofing using highly detailed and sophisticated social engineering techniques is rife in the legal sector at the moment. In the past week both the Council for
Funeral specialists, Dignity, are proud supporters of the second upcoming prestigious British Wills and Probate Awards, which is brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in
Industry experts have condemned probate fee delays, considered staff well-being, discussed how to prepare for future success and contemplated the present and future issues in the growth of DIY Wills and online Will services. Probate
Official Government statistics suggest that the mean average waiting time for probate applications between April and June, the peak period of the delays in service, was just 5.6 weeks. During a recent parliamentary written answer,
The various trials regarding HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) new online probate service for personal applicants throughout England and Wales last year have been very positive. Throughout the second half of 2018, HMCTS trialled
Pension scam reports have decreased by 75% since 2015. According to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request made by AJ Bell, pension scam reports submitted to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) have tumbled from
Jeffrey Epstein, financier and former teacher worth over £475 million, signed a final Will just two days before committing suicide in his New York jail cell. According to court papers filed in the Virgin Islands
Retirees are increasingly shackled and fettered to their debt according to an equity release advice specialist. According to research carried out by equity release experts Key, over half of over-55s are using equity release products
Over half of the UK population does not understand how pensions work, when they can access their money and how their money would be paid to them. According to recent research by MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk, 56% of
Following the discovery of a number of hand written Wills found stuffed into the cushion covers of Aretha Franklin’s plush sofa in one of her luxurious mansions, a Michigan based judge has allowed a hand
The Government is set to accrue over £5.35 billion from death related taxes and fees in 2019/20, the largest amount ever recorded. According to ‘The Cost of Death‘ report, carried out by The Taxpayers’ Alliance,
Excessive delays within the probate registry is leading to many families being forced to pay unreasonable rates of interest on the deceased’s inheritance tax (IHT) obligations. Currently, following the death of donor, families and executors
Following a recent case, deputies and attorneys representing donor’s in irreversible comas may have increased powers to offer gifts from the estate. What happens if a person unexpectedly loses capacity without making a clear estate
A landmark decision to refuse a widow’s request to contest the Will and Trust of her late husband’s estate because the request was made after the six-month deadline has been overturned by the Court of
A recent study has claimed that more needs to be done to help people with mental health issues to better manage their finances. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute have found that 42% of
23% of all estates liable to pay inheritance tax are investigated by HM Revenue and Customs. According to a recent Freedom of Information request, made by financial planners Quilters, 5,000 of the 22,000 estates liable
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic landing on the moon. Unfortunately, it also represents a settlement victory paid to Neil Armstrong’s estate. The hospital where legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong died has
It has been revealed that Elizabeth Hurley’s son, Damian, has won a long-fought legal battle with his estranged millionaire grandfather in regards to an inheritance trust that aimed to cut certain grandchildren out. The trust’s
An unmarried woman, forced to put her grief on hold whilst she fought for her rights to her partner’s military pension, has won a landmark case against the Royal Air Force (RAF). Jane Langford had
A Sunday Telegraph report into the social care system has found a widening epidemic of declining quality, misleading information and local authorities (LA) consistently overlooking their financial responsibilities. A number of NHS and social services
Law firms are becoming increasing adept at successfully handling client complaints without the issue being passed onto the Legal Ombudsman (LeO). According to the ‘First Tier Complaints’ Report, published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA),
As the Office of the Public Guardian publish their business plan for 2019/20, the governmental department’s facts and figures for the last year suggest this is one area of Government fulfilling their obligations. For the
The inheritance rule involving inheritance gift giving before death could reduce from seven to five years. Currently, any estate gifted within seven years of a person’s death are liable to be included in any inheritance
In recent decades, private client Solicitors have observed an increasing requirement to assist Will clients with their digital assets. And this trend will only continue with each passing year as we each establish a larger
The Law Society met with HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) officials last week to discuss their concerns regarding the prolonged delays to the probate service. On Thursday 27th June 2019, the Law Society implored
The average of age a person making a Will in the UK has risen significantly to 57-years-old in 2019. According to recent industry trends and patterns, carried out by will writing software provider WillSuite, the
The Government has finally triggered legislation to ensure that grieving families in England are not faced with the added burden of finding the money to fund a funeral if their child, under the age of
Nick Goodwin has been appointed to the role as Public Guardian for England and Wales and Chief Executive of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Mr Goodwin will take over from Alan Eccles who
The long-running BBC Radio 4 soap opera, The Archers, has been praised for highlighting the importance of ensuring farming families consider estate planning implications following life and family changes. A story line, which reached a