-
Dec 17, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
The Supreme Court ruled for the appeal and against the recovery of success fees in a landmark inheritance case that saw a mother and her estranged daughter go head to head over the family estate.
-
Dec 10, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
Cornerstone Tax unveils 26% of Brits unable to afford property due to stamp duty costs, while 15% of landlords are selling up amid rising costsDavid Hannah, Group Chairman of Cornerstone Tax, discusses the impact of changing stamp duty thresholds will have on the UK’s suffering property marketThe UK government has revealed that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) revenue fell by 24% in 2023-2024, dropping from £15.3 billion to £11.6 billion, alongside an 18% decrease in transaction volumes.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
The latest Mortgage Lending data from the Bank of England and FCA shows that the value of outstanding mortgage balances with arrears is 18% higher than a year earlier and has risen to £21.9 billion, albeit this has declined by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
New data from client due diligence platform Thirdfort reveals that one fifth (22%) of red flags in completed Source of Funds (SoF) verification are raised for because the buyer has no mortgage, followed by buyers receiving a gift. Having completed around 20,000 SoF verifications via the Thirdfort app every month, the firm can see the most common sources of red flags when completing SoF verification.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
Refuge, the largest specialist domestic abuse organisation in the UK, is marking 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by shining a light on survivor experiences and reiterating that there is no excuse for abuse. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign led by the UN, is commencing on 25 November.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
The number of disputes over wills and estate divisions in England and Wales is climbing, with over 10,000 cases reported annually. A recent report from The Guardian noted a 5% rise in court claims related to contested wills between 2023 and 2024, a trend that shows no signs of slowing. Experts from B P Collins’ contested probate team have analyzed the factors driving this surge.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, London, also known as the Actor’s Church, held its annual Advent Service on 8th December with hundreds in attendance. The service featured a range of classic carols and some choice favourites of the 30-strong choir, like Gabriel’s Message, a Basque Folk carol. All were welcomed to this service on a wet and windy London evening, the capital city still shaking off Storm Darragh.
-
Dec 9, 2024 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
Legal support charity Support Through Court have launched their Christmas campaign, ‘Be a light for litigants’. The campaign shines a light on the challenges faced by people facing court alone. It features stories from individuals who share how they found going through court, highlighting how emotionally difficult the process can be.
-
Dec 5, 2024 | 
todayswillsandprobate.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
Poor communication, delays and progression failures are among the top grievances cited by consumers using wills and probate services. The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) have published their annual report on customer complaints, collecting case studies and customer feedback to paint a picture of areas that need improving within the legal landscape.
-
Nov 4, 2024 | 
todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk | Eve Tawfick
The transparency pilot allowing the reporting of family court proceedings has been expanded to cover both public and private law cases before magistrates. As of Friday, magistrates in all 19 pilot areas are now included in the scheme. Additionally, from today, November 11, the pilot for reporting financial remedy proceedings will extend to the Royal Courts of Justice. This scheme has been in place at the Central Family Court, Birmingham, and Leeds since January.
