‘With probate applications now taking three times longer to approve, more than 8,000 estates remain unclaimed.’
The Independent, 6th October 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘There is no doubt that contentious probate work is growing. We do not like paying more than a couple of hundred pounds for a will, but then are seemingly happy to spend thousands taking our relatives to court, and the two do not sit happily together.’
Legal Futures, 6th July 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Every part of Cardiff Youth Offending Service (YOS) has been rated “inadequate” by inspectors. It was given the lowest possible performance rating by HM Inspectorate of Probation and told to improve every aspect of its work.’
BBC News, 2nd July 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The exigencies of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a high demand for will writing services, and the challenges of meeting that demand whilst observing social distancing, have brought the issue of will reform into sharp focus. At a time when technology provides a solution to so many of the problems that we currently face, the insistence on wet ink and the physical presence of witnesses for the making of a valid will appears increasingly archaic. Citing the dignity and peace of mind that putting one’s affairs in order brings and the urgent need people have to make provision for those they may leave behind, Gina Miller and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC have this month called on the government to extend the provisions relating to privileged (wartime) wills to the current situation so as to allow purely oral testamentary statements to be admitted to probate.’
Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd June 2020
Source: hardwicke.co.uk
‘Conditional fee agreements have been a facet of contentious probate and estates litigation for many years and are, in many cases, the only realistic way for disappointed beneficiaries to fund litigation. This is particularly true of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.’
St John's Buildings, May 2020
Source: stjohnsbuildings.com
‘A solicitor who persuaded a vulnerable client to pay £4,700 into her personal bank account, pretending the money would be spent on repairs to a property had inherited, has been struck off.’
Legal Futures, 3rd March 2020
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A veteran solicitor who failed to complete several probate matters promptly – with one taking 15 years – has been fined by a tribunal.’
Legal Futures, 2nd December 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The buzz around distributed ledger technology (DLT), including blockchain, is much more than hype and the tech will eventually transform conveyancing and probate, an academic specialising in innovation has indicated.’
Legal Futures, 24th October 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘Children jailed for criminal offences are being “set up to fail” by authorities who fail to give them the support they need to stop offending, a watchdog has found. Half of the 12 to 17-year-old boys whose cases were examined by HM Inspectorates of Probation and Prisons, were being investigated by police again within three months of being released from young offender institutions.’
The Independent, 8th October 2019
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A deputy master hearing a probate dispute in the High Court said the way litigants in person ran their defence justified a decision not to adjourn the case so they could instruct new lawyers.’
Litigation Futures, 20th September 2019
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘A solicitor’s 55 years of practice have come to an end after he was struck off for overcharging probate clients.’
Legal Futures, 23rd August 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The body that regulates licensed conveyancers is looking at steep reductions in the cost of practising, arguing that “good regulation does not have to come with an onerous price tag”.’
Legal Futures, 14th May 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A paralegal who stole £70,000 from people’s estates to splash out on designer clothes and handbags has been jailed for more than three years.’
Legal Futures, 23rd April 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘The High Court has given the personal representatives of deceased steelworkers more time to register their compensation claims under a group litigation order (GLO).’
Litigation Futures, 7th February 2019
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘Online will providers are 77% cheaper than solicitors on average, new research has found.’
Legal Futures, 1st November 2018
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A litigant in person’s contentious probate claim, part of which was dismissed by a High Court master as “no more than tittle tattle”, needs a proper hearing, a judge has decided.’
Litigation Futures, 5th April 2018
Source: www.litigationfutures.com
‘On 13 October, the High Court handed down the judgment Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council & Ors v Robin Makin & Ors [2017] EWHC Case No: HC-2017-002064 (Ch) concerning the arrangements for the disposal of the body of Ian Stewart-Brady, formerly Ian Brady (the “deceased”), one of the infamous Moors murderers. We posted some initial comments based upon the Court’s judgment and the Summary which it produced “to assist in understanding the Court’s decision”.’
Law & Religion UK, 8th November 2017
Source: www.lawandreligionuk.com
‘Controversial plans to raise the legal fees payable after death are to be scrapped ahead of the general election.
Probate fees had been due to rise from £155 or £215 to up to £20,000 for some estates in England and Wales from May.
The Ministry of Justice said there was now not enough time for the legislation – dubbed a “stealth death tax” by critics – to go through Parliament.’
BBC News, 21st April 2017
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Government plans to raise £300m by increasing probate fees – payable when claiming inheritances – may not be legally enforceable, a parliamentary committee has said. A report by the joint committee on statutory instruments has suggested that the Ministry of Justice may not have the authority to introduce the charges of up to £20,000 per estate.’
The Guardian, 6th April 2017
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
‘The Ministry of Justice has confirmed a massive overhaul in probate charges, which will see some estates charged up to £20,000. From May this year, subject to parliamentary approval, the MoJ is planning to introduce a sliding scale of charges for probate fees to replace the current flat fees.’
Law Society’s Gazette, 27th February 2017
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
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