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News under Wills, trusts and probate
Date: 21 Feb 2012
Bid for presumed dead certificate
MPs have called for the creation of a single certificate declaring someone presumed dead to help families
Date: 07 Feb 2012
Deathbed wills law needs change
Senior judge has called on Parliament to change the law on deathbed wills
Date: 06 Feb 2012
Man loses battle over £70,000 will
An incident which saw a couple sign each others wills by mistake has caused a man to lose a legal battle for an inheritance
Date: 01 Feb 2012
Two thirds of Britons ‘don’t have a will’
Nearly two thirds of Britons do not have a will in place, a study has revealed
Date: 31 Jan 2012
B P Collins joins forces with Fairchild Dobbs
B P Collins LLP has joined forces with fellow Gerrards Cross law firm Fairchild Dobbs
Date: 19 Dec 2011
Unmarried partners should inherit estate, says Law Commission
A bereaved unmarried partner should be able to inherit the dead person's estate without going to court if they have cohabited for at least five years even if no will has been made, the Law...
Date: 02 Dec 2011
STEP outlines advice to combat cowboy will writers
An industry body has set out a number of ways to help protect the public from 'cowboy' will writers. The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) believes everyone should have a will, as it...
Date: 01 Dec 2011
Partner left with huge bill over will dispute
The pitfalls surrounding leaving financial gifts in wills have been highlighted after a man was ordered to pay back tens of thousands of pounds following a legal dispute over money. Leonard Taylor had been the...
Date: 18 Nov 2011
New partner underlines growth for B P Collins
Buckinghamshire law firm B P Collins has capped a successful 12 months for its private client team with the addition of new partner Paul Lowery.
Date: 03 Nov 2011
Hunt gets behind legacy campaign
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has lent his support to a campaign designed to increase the number of people willing to leave 10% of their estate to charity. Mr Hunt said the Legacy10 campaign, which was...
Date: 28 Oct 2011
Rogue will writing companies wound up at High Court
Three companies involved in the provision of wills and trusts have been wound up at the High Court.
Date: 26 Oct 2011
Orphan lost inheritance because of wills mix-up
An orphan is challenging a High Court ruling that stripped him of his inheritance after a mix-up over the parents' wills.
Date: 14 Oct 2011
Include passwords with wills to ease executor burden
People should include passwords to online accounts in order to make it easier for executors.
Date: 22 Sep 2011
Strong showing for B P Collins in Legal 500
The latest Legal 500 league tables underline the depth of expertise at B P Collins, with top level plaudits for its lawyers across both the commercial and private client arenas. The increasing strength of its...
Date: 21 Sep 2011
Think tank gives green light to higher inheritance tax rate
The Institute of Fiscal Studies has proposed increasing inheritance tax as a means of taxing the wealthy.
Date: 12 Sep 2011
Daughter overturns father’s will in High Court
The daughter of a Sikh man has overturned his will after he left the bulk of his fortune to his sons.
Date: 09 Sep 2011
Petitions presented to wind up 3 will writing firms
Three companies providing will writing services have been presented with insolvency petitions.
Date: 30 Aug 2011
Contractors urged to make wills to simplify inheritance
Toby Harris from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners believes freelance workers must make a will.
Date: 30 Aug 2011
Unregulated will writer jailed for fraud
An unregulated will writer has been jailed after fraudulently charging customers.
Date: 25 Aug 2011
Most Britons reluctant to discuss inheritance
Two-thirds of Britons would not talk openly with their parents about inheritance, despite 40 per cent expecting to receive a legacy.
Date: 22 Aug 2011
Landmark tribunal case protects farmhouses from inheritance tax
HM Revenue and Customs has failed to appeal against a tax tribunal ruling protecting farmhouses from inheritance tax.
Date: 27 Jul 2011
Britons put off making a will because they are ‘too young’
Nearly half of people aged between 25 and 50 do not have a will, according to new research.
Date: 25 Jul 2011
Illegitimate children have claim to estate, court rules
The High Court has said two illegitimate children should be entitled to a share of their father's estate.
Date: 19 Jul 2011
Legal Ombudsman report highlights unregulated will writing danger
The first report from the Legal Ombudsman reveals thousands of people are being "ripped off" by unregulated will writers.
Date: 18 Jul 2011
Will writing investigation launched
The will writing industry needs to be better regulated, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has said.
Date: 14 Jul 2011
Intestacy claim struck out through lack of letters of administration
The Court of Appeal has thrown out a case in which three daughters attempted to claim a share in property once owned by their father.
Date: 04 Jul 2011
Plans to change taxation of non-domiciled individuals outlined
The Treasury has published its plans to change the way non-domiciled individuals are taxed.
Date: 22 Jun 2011
Divorce case highlights treatment of trust assets
A husband has had an appeal dismissed after judges ruled that assets held in trust should be made available to his wife.
Date: 20 Jun 2011
Lack of preparation ‘fuels wills gap’
Three-quarters of parents with children under five have not made a will, new research shows.
Date: 09 Jun 2011
Professional will writing advice ‘prevents court action’
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners is advising people to seek professional advice when drafting a will.
Date: 06 Jun 2011
New charity inheritance tax relief ‘affects everyone with a will’
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners is urging everyone with a will to re-examine its contents.
Date: 03 Jun 2011
Increase in asset value may expose estates to inheritance tax
People are being urged to seek advice on inheritance tax as assets could increase in value over the next few years.
Date: 23 May 2011
DIY wills are a ‘risky business’
Standard Life has cautioned people against using DIY will writing services.
Date: 20 May 2011
Judges abandon 35 years of Hastings Bass trust law
A Court of Appeal ruling is likely to have far-reaching consequences for trustees.
Date: 19 May 2011
Millionaire estate agent’s partner ‘faked will’
The partner of an estate agent faked his will after she learned his divorce was not settled.
Date: 16 May 2011
Triple celebration for legal team
Three lawyers at leading Buckinghamshire law firm B P Collins are celebrating after each achieving promotion to senior associate.
Date: 13 May 2011
Inheritance tax break ‘will benefit charities’
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners has said new inheritance tax rules will mean more charitable giving.
Date: 27 Apr 2011
A fifth of over-65s without a will
New research from Standard Life reveals a large percentage of the UK population has not drafted a will.
Date: 15 Apr 2011
Will inheritance tax changes mean more people leave money to charity?
The Chancellor has offered an inheritance tax break to encourage people to leave money to charity in their will, but it may not work.
Date: 06 Apr 2011
Appeal court ruling ‘sets dangerous precedent’
Charities have warned that a Court of Appeal judgment could allow more people to challenge wills.
Date: 10 Mar 2011
Wills and later life planning ‘need to be discussed’
Many people in Britain are putting off discussions about wills and financial planning.
Date: 03 Mar 2011
Will writers must be regulated, says Law Society
The Law Society is calling for the will writing market to be regulated.
Date: 28 Feb 2011
Banks pulled up on will writing services
The big four banks have been taken to task by the Office of Fair Trading for their will writing services.
Date: 28 Feb 2011
The importance of will-making for business owners
The host of BBC2's Can't Take It With You has offered some wills and probate tips to business owners.
Date: 08 Feb 2011
Trust disputes rise as government proposes reforms
The number of trust disputes has risen sharply in recent years.
Date: 03 Feb 2011
Regulation vital to stamp out ‘cowboy’ will writers
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners is calling for regulation of will writers.
Date: 11 Jan 2011
Will writing regulation proposals gather momentum
Numerous consumer bodies favour regulating the will writing sector.
Date: 05 Jan 2011
B P Collins has strengthened its team for 2011 with the addition of five new solicitors.
Date: 08 Dec 2010
Documentation ‘vital when writing a will’
People have been urged to take all necessary measures to ensure their will is uncontested.
Date: 03 Dec 2010
Will disputes on the rise as system becomes ‘out of date’
More contested wills are reaching the High Court.
Date: 01 Dec 2010
RSPCA loses £2m estate will dispute
The Court of Appeal has upheld a 2009 ruling that overturned a will that left a £2 million farm estate to the RSPCA.
Date: 16 Nov 2010
Power of attorney ‘not dealt with properly’ by banks
Many financial institutions are not carrying out transactions using power of attorney properly, the Office of the Public Guardian has revealed.
Date: 10 Nov 2010
Care home fees could abolish wills
Rising care home costs could leave people with nothing to leave in their wills, the Law Society warns.
Date: 05 Nov 2010
Recognition across the board for legal team: Chambers UK 2011
The expertise of lawyers in both commercial and private client work at Buckinghamshire law firm B P Collins has been recognised
Date: 29 Oct 2010
Power of attorney ‘doesn’t give the right to spend money’
Individuals who have been granted power of attorney do not have the right to spend a person's cash as they please, an expert claims.
Date: 22 Oct 2010
Wine investors may face inheritance tax sting
Avid wine investors could find themselves facing high tax bills, despite being advised to the contrary.
Date: 17 Sep 2010
Charitable donation from legacy denied tax exemption
A court case has shed light on when gift aid can be applied in relation to a will.
Date: 15 Sep 2010
DIY wills ‘can easily go wrong’
People are advised against writing their own will, as it may contain costly mistakes.
Date: 08 Sep 2010
Top honours as B P Collins impresses the Legal 500
B P Collins' legal teams have made an impressive charge up the rankings of the annual Legal 500 league tables.
Date: 18 Aug 2010
Beneficiary dispute leads to repayment of inheritance
Two sisters who wrote a joint will have had their wishes scrutinised in the High Court, after one decided to alter the document just days before her death.
Date: 13 Aug 2010
Rogue will-writers causing problems for consumers
A survey has revealed the extent of the rogue will-writing industry in the UK.
Date: 12 Aug 2010
Joint bank accounts ‘not equally shared’
Individuals who open joint bank accounts will not be equally entitled to the money stored within them, a court ruling has determined.
Date: 04 Aug 2010
Crash victim ‘struggles to regain control of finances’
A man injured in a motorcycle accident is trying to overturn a Court of Protection order that means he cannot control his own financial affairs.
Date: 28 Jul 2010
Revised will leaves sisters’ fortune to hairdresser
A will prepared two months before the death of a pair of sisters has written their family out of proceedings and left the bulk of their fortune to a close friend.
Date: 01 Jul 2010
Brother ‘ordered to divide assets among siblings’
A family dispute over a large sum of money has been settled by a High Court judge.
Date: 30 Jun 2010
Farming industry ‘largely unscathed by Budget’
Agricultural industries throughout the UK will be largely unaffected by the Budget.
Date: 30 Jun 2010
Capital gains tax rise to affect wills and trusts
The new 28 per cent capital gains tax rate shall have an impact on wills and trusts, the Law Society has warned.
Date: 28 May 2010
Lawrence’s artful recipe for success
England rugby World Cup winning legend and Wasps star Lawrence Dallaglio ensured local legal firm B P Collins had the recipe for success when he was guest of honour at a charity art exhibition on Thursday.
Date: 05 May 2010
Triple success for new partners at B P Collins
Leading Buckinghamshire law firm B P Collins has appointed three new partners and this month (May) welcomes two new faces to the practice. Stepping up as a new partner within the Corporate and Commercial team,...
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