Solicitor Simon Armitage (65) of Baydale, Clyst St George, Devon, a conveyancing and probate specialist has been jailed for four years following a large scale fraud. A sole practitioner at the time, he fraudulently pocketed
Recent studies recommended that those of retirement age should be made to save some of their pension pot so they have an income in retirement, with researchers suggesting pension freedoms be partially reversed. It was
The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA’s) programme of regulatory reform will aid pro bono work in the legal sector, the head of the SRA has said. Speaking on the first day of National Pro Bono Week,
The recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court to allow divorce settlements to be revisited by ex-spouses may yield more business for practitioners in its wake. Family law solicitors, will writers, probate practitioners and estate
Yet another professional from the wills and probate industry has been jailed for stealing from their clients. Is there a way to stop this increasing burden on a deceased’s loved ones from happening? Who can
Inheritance tax (IHT) is big news right now. With the new changes being phased in from April 2017 whereby the Government has introduced “the family home allowance” which is worth up to an additional £175,000
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is helping law firms that want to expand their business beyond traditional legal services by publishing new guidance on the Separate Business Rule. From November, the SRA will change its
Research conducted by unbiased.co.uk has further highlighted the big problem the UK of not writing a will, an issue that is especially prevalent in younger generations. The UK research advisory search website, unbiased.co.uk, has launched
Beaumont Legal, one of the fastest growing law practices in the UK, has announced Libby Holding as its latest recruit, joining the firm as Head of Wills & Probate. Based in Wakefield with a turnover
Figures suggest the number of estates now forecast as liable to pay inheritance tax (IHT) are set to increase to one in ten by 2021. Over the last few years IHT has increased boosting the
A couple from Alburgh, Norfolk were handed a prison sentence this month, after an elderly woman was conned out of her life savings of more than £280,000. Nadia Dervish, 48 and her partner Michael Kenevan,
With October being one of the allocated national Wills Months, many will writing practises and law firms are taking heed and doing their part for the cause. There are a number of months throughout the
With the recent changes to pensions giving people greater freedom of choice, with that comes the need to be more diligent than ever. In recent years pension scamming has increased, with recent figures revealed by
First Names Group is delighted to announce the continued expansion of its corporate and institutional service offering with the appointment of Malcolm Macleod as Head of Corporate Services in the Channel Islands. The appointment is
New research from charity, Will Aid, shows that solicitor drafted wills have not lost their popularity post-deregulation in 2011 Will Aid has now been championing its cause of encouraging the population to write solicitor-drafted wills
Recent reports demonstrate how equity release lending has rocketed The rate of equity release lending has excelled expectations by jumping an impressive 11% on an annual basis, to a reported £710 million in the early
This week’s #SolicitorHour on Twitter, brought to you by The Law Society, has highlighted the efforts the regulator has taken to encourage people of the UK to create a will. With video being such a
A recent family legal dispute has shed more light on testamentary capacity, for professionals. McCabe v McCabe [2015] EWHC 1591 (Ch) has provided greater clarity for industry professionals regarding the importance of testamentary capacity when
Decennial Life Tables, who release statistics each decade regarding life expectancy figures for England and Wales, have recently published data that could raise key concerns over pensions and will writing for both current and future
When most people think of a solicitor they relate them to trust and respect, which are integral when someone is choosing a professional to draft their will and manage their estate. Unfortunately this was not
The Law Superstore (www.thelawsuperstore.co.uk), a new web-based comparison site for customers and legal service providers is to be launched with substantial institutional shareholder support and an experienced management team led by Matthew Briggs, former CEO
The Legal Services Act 2007 enables practitioners, other than lawyers, to become authorised to provide reserved legal services. This means new multi-disciplinary business structures between accountants and lawyers can be set up to provide further
Taking into consideration shifting family dynamics is vital for drafting an effective will. Families that are expecting a new arrival should consider creating or amending their will in order to ensure their child gains the
This week Co-owner Karen Babington and Editor Heather Cameron attended the 19th Society of Will Writers (SWW) Annual Conference in Redditch. The conference was attended by 123 will writers, up by 10 on last year.
Providing sound financial advice or referring your clients to the right source of information is vital for will writers, as it ensures clients are getting the most out of their savings and investments, as well
Hidden away from public interest lies the shocking truth that many large pension providers are thought to not provide. These providers are said to be not allowing beneficiaries to access savings that are bequeathed to
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), the specialist property law regulator, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), an Ofqual recognised awarding body, have announced a partnership for the delivery of a suite of qualifications, enabling
The SRA has opened the application process for this year’s practising certificate renewals. The window remains open until 31st October 2015. To help those completing applications, the SRA has put in place a range of
In his Certainty Expert Webinar on 22nd September 2015, Tom Dumont, the well-known barrister of Radcliffe Chambers, Lincoln’s Inn, comprehensively answered the questions: how safe are wills from adult children’s 1975 Act claims, and can
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today outlined proposed changes to its pension rules to address the risks and challenges faced by consumers in the new retirement market. The FCA’s paper contains a number of proposals
This week’s tweet is all about the CILEx Practice Rights Roadshow – with events running throughout October and November. Legal professionals are said to gain knowledge into how to develop their careers and enhance earning
Should consumers be more aware of the indirect costs of their pension plans? New research indicates this may be the case. Many UK residents are unaware of the additional costs they may incur from their