The Supreme Court has handed down a long-awaited decision on a complex case. Mrs Staveley died in December 2006, but it was only in August 2020 that the Supreme Court... read more →
More arguments about wills are reaching the High Court. A recent report from the Ministry of Justice revealed that, last year in England and Wales, 188 cases involving contested wills... read more →
HMRC’s recent suspension of IHT investigations during the Covid-19 crisis opens up a brief opportunity for executors to get their IHT accounts in order. HMRC normally investigates around 5,500 IHT... read more →
At present, we are all being advised to stay home whilst the UK fights the coronavirus epidemic. For many people this means more downtime, and whilst this may not be... read more →
One perhaps unsurprising side-effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has been an upsurge of interest in wills and estate planning. However, the lockdown is constraining options. Press reports have suggested that... read more →
It’s never a great time to write about the importance of making a Will, especially when you’re in the middle of a global health epidemic, however the Covid-19 outbreak is... read more →
One of the few surprises in March’s Budget was that the Chancellor never mentioned inheritance tax (IHT) or expected simplification measures. Before 11 March there had been much speculation that... read more →
The intestacy rules for England and Wales have been amended. The intestacy rules automatically apply to the distribution of estates where there is no valid will. There are three different... read more →
The planned reform of probate fees in England and Wales has been scrapped. A year ago the government tabled proposals to increase the level of probate fees in England and... read more →
There are currently long delays in gaining probate on the estates of the recently deceased. Late in 2018, the government issued a written statement announcing its intent to go ahead... read more →
