Private Client

The supposed beneficiary of a will of a deceased solicitor that cut out his daughter failed to establish that it is genuine, the High Court has ruled.

A solicitor who changed the terms of a lasting power of attorney and the date on a cheque without the client’s consent did not act dishonestly, the SDT has ruled.

The Octopus Group, the £13bn financial services and energy business, claims it is now the second largest estate planning business in the country after buying WSL Will Writing.

Plans to modernise will making – including allowing electronic wills – and reduce the number of disputes were today published by the Law Commission.

The proportion of consumers using solicitors for their wills has dropped below half for the first time, a report has found, with unbundling growing in popularity.

Private equity-backed Beyond Law Group has completed its consumer law offering after launching a private client law firm as part of significant expansion plans.

A badly drafted will which has caused “untold anguish” to relatives of the deceased shows the dangers of using unqualified will-writers, the High Court has warned.

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has warned solicitors of the dangers of acting for family members after fining one who preferred his wife in the distribution of an estate.

The UK legal services market grew by 10% to £52bn last year and is heading towards a strong 2025 too, according to new research.

Improvements in the probate system are not filtering through to complex cases, according to a solicitor who has lodged a complaint over “outrageous” delays she has suffered.