The widow of construction tycoon, Ian Wooldridge, has taken her stepson to court for "a few million quid more" from the family fortune. Ian Wooldridge died in a helicopter crash in Northern Ireland aged 52
As previously reported by Today’s Wills & Probate, there is frequent call on social media for either will writers, probate practitioners and estate planners to join local networking groups, as well as requests for help
The Court of Protection has always been a closely guarded entity, with cases heard in private or only with those directly involved. However, it was recently announced that from January 2016, a six month pilot
George Osborne’s Inheritance Tax reforms are “a mess of complexity and uncertainty” according to the Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) Andrew Tyrie MP. As announced in Osborne’s Summer Budget, the main residence nil-rate
US-based legal services firm are to acquire Yorkshire-based Beaumont Legal, subject to regulatory approval. Wakefield’s Beaumont Legal are one of the UK’s leading conveyancing firms. Managing Partner at Beaumont, Nick Masheder has stated they hope
The average over 55 home owner underestimates the value their home has gained by nearly £200,000, according to research published by the Equity Release Council. According to the research, the average over 55 home owner
The Council for Mortgage Lenders (CML) has called on the Treasury to introduce tax relief on professional advice at retirement as part of a wide ranging report on borrowing in retirement. The report itself outlines
As the 2015 Certainty Expert Webinar season draws to a conclusion, with a successful seminar on 26th November having been delivered to around 800 delegates, Certainty are calling for feedback and ideas for who you
An app has been launched that aims to encourage will writing. Is this what the country needs in order to increase the number of people holding a valid will? Will revolutionary products such as this
Matt Walkden runs online will writing service www.wills.org.uk and has just launched an app with the aim of inspiring and enabling everyone in England and Wales to write a legal will. He told Today’s Wills
North West law firm, Butcher & Barlow, recently discovered a member of staff working at their Bury office had been making improper transfers and withdrawals for a period of 11 years undetected. Seemingly with no
Yorkshire and North-East England based firm Newtons Solicitors have made two appointments to their team, one solicitor and one conveyancing executive joining from other North-East law firms. Solicitor Joanne Jackson joins the nine
This week, Today’s Wills & Probate attended the Kings Court Trust Conference hosted at Haydock Racecourse. They announced the newly updated Insight system – helping enhance the working relationships between Kings Court Trust and their
Price of average single will from a Solicitor falls to £118 from £126. Average single will from a will writer also falls. The price of an average standard single will from a law firm has
An old age pensioner (OAP) has been given a suspended sentence for using an invalid will to stay in her former partner’s home. Joyce Lovelock of Derby showed the document to the family of her
The Later Life Academy (LLA), the commercial and training organisation for later life advisers, has today (24th November 2015) announced the appointment of Bob Champion as its new Chairman. Bob will take up the new
Stonebridge Group, the mortgage and insurance network, has today (23rd November 2015) launched its new wills proposition for appointed representative (AR) firms via a new relationship with ULS Technology (ULS). Stonebridge will be integrating the
The Government recently introduced an additional inheritance tax allowance under the guise of the ‘family home allowance’ and which will eventually be worth an additional £175,000 per person. The current allowance of £325,000 which all
Once I’ve Gone, the support and advice network for end of life planning, are conducting a survey to question and establish consumer thoughts surrounding key issues and concerns regarding end of life. Many of the
The SRA’s interactive ‘A Question of Trust’ campaign has caught the attention of law firms, with a number asking the regulator for help to explore the issues with their staff. The campaign, which runs through
LPA revoked because person with power of attorney buys too many cakes Kerry Hay from law firm Hart Brown, warns that advice should be given on appointing the right Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): “We
According to this week’s Tweet of the Week, less than half of people instruct a solicitor to handle probate. Yes, there is no legal requirement, but do you think the growing disputes could be reduced
This week, the Legal Services Guild (LSG) has issued a reminder to all barrister intermediaries to issue all outstanding lasting powers of attorney (LPA) cases by 1st December. Caroline Sandiford, Project Development Manager at the
With the announcement that the Kings Court Trust seminars will be returning this autumn, there are some important dates to note down. The opening seminar that is set to be held in the Kings Court
A High Court judge recently dismissed a daughter’s claim to overturn her late father’s will Chloe Brennan, 40, of Reading was the only daughter of Francois Devillebichot, the son of French diplomat Georges Devillebichot and
National newspapers have this week been reporting on a court case which sees 4 charities accusing a 95 year old woman of using a “suspicious” will to falsely secure a £1.6 million inheritance from a
As a solicitor or qualified practitioner practising in wills, trusts and probate there can be certain probability that you will have come across or have heard about a matter concerning unequal gifting of child beneficiaries
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has today (9th November) unveiled a new initiative to support legal services firms that want to innovate and grow their business in creative ways. ‘SRA Innovate‘ provides online guidance and
The appointment of Chris Linton as a new Partner at Wollen Michelmore is an action that increases the firm’s total number of partners to an impressive sixteen. The Private Client Department in which Linton will
It isn’t compulsory to appoint a solicitor or qualified practitioner to carry out probate, but complex cases, such as the one in this week’s tweet of the week, are becoming more frequent occurrences. As a
Accountancy firm, PFK Cooper Parry launch new probate service after being granted an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licence With the arrival of the new probate services, PFK Cooper Parry aim to stand out from the
The Legal Services Board (LSB) have agreed to amend the method the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) use to authorise sole practitioners The changes proposed by the SRA in regards to the way they authorise sole