25 January 2021
The rise in contested probate cases over recent years has been attributed to increasing wealth through greater property ownership and increased house prices, complex family relationships and a rise in homemade Wills. Solicitors have been warned that Lockdown Wills could prompt a future wave of contentious probate claims, raising questions about the witnessing of documents and over undue influence and capacity. Read more
24 October 2020
Unfortunately, the death of a person can lead to disputes over his or her Will or estate. Whatever the size of the estate, there is always the possibility of complex, emotional and drawn-out disputes regarding contesting a Will. Read more
19 October 2020
In 2019 the Business and Property Court in London saw an all time high in the number of contested probate cases with the amount being almost double the number of cases in 2016. Whilst the latest figures for the second quarter of 2020 (April – June) show a decrease in the number of cases from the first quarter (88, down from 116) it is expected that following the Coronavirus pandemic this number is likely to increase again. ** Read more
8 June 2020
In the first of our series of Lawyer lockdown diaries, Amy Taylor principal Solicitor from our Private Client team reviews what the 12 weeks of working in lockdown has meant to her and her clients. Read more
2 April 2020
During these uncertain times of Covid-19, many people are wondering how they can make a Will and a Lasting Power of Attorney. Read more
11 December 2018
Karen Bacon explains just a few of the tricky issues that probate presents that can mean It’s far from a DIY matter. Read more
25 July 2018
A: Even if your business is unlikely to continue in the event of your death, because it relies on your personal skills and expertise, chances are that you will still need Business Executors if you are still trading when you die. Read more
18 October 2017
Death duty has been payable, in one form or another, for over 300 years but until comparatively recently, it was only of concern to the wealthiest in society. For example, following the introduction of estate duty in 1894 (the forerunner of the current inheritance tax), many landed estates were broken up, as landowners could not afford to pay the tax. Read more
10 November 2016
On 2 November, the Catholic Church remembered and prayed for the dead on All Souls’ Day. Read more
15 March 2016
We are often asked to prepare Wills by clients who do not wish their children to benefit from their death. This can be for a variety of reasons but it is usually because they have either fallen out, or have been estranged for some time. Read more