LawSkills Articles

For over 12 months now the once well-oiled workings of the probate registry have been gradually slowing due to the attempts by HM Courts & Tribunal Service to change the service to a money generating digital service. In 2017 the initial move [...]

John Smith has a fairly complex estate and has recently had a meeting with his financial adviser, who has asked whether he has a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This isn’t the first time his financial adviser has asked the question - read more [...]

The Law Society Gazette reports that the SRA conducted a survey of 500 firms which showed how well they were embracing the revised approach to continuing professional development to remain competent. Around half of firms surveyed said that [...]

This article focuses on the UK inheritance tax (IHT) transferable nil rate band (TNRB).  The author does not seek to address issues relating to the residence nil rate band, or the residence brought forward allowance, which are each a topic is [...]

Around this time of year many Brits will be taking the trip across the Channel to house hunt. Despite the extremely long drawn-out Brexit process we have found many are still following their plans to move to France, others to find the best area [...]

Purchasers of residential property pay SDLT under the punishing Table B rates of SDLT whereas purchasers of non-residential property pay much lower rates of SDLT under Table A. There is also no 3% additional rate of SDLT on non-residential which [...]

First published to wide consumer acclaim in 2010 this is an updated version of an original book aimed at enabling family and friends ensure they cope with dealing with the difficult questions surrounding death and its aftermath. It was [...]

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) were tasked by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in January 2018 to review a wide range of administrative and technical aspects of inheritance tax (IHT). The first report published in November 2018 covered [...]

Calming ‘upset’ clients is different from dealing with ‘difficult’ ones. When a reasonable person gets upset they may have momentary lapses of unreasonableness but basically that person is still rational and reasonable. By contrast difficult [...]

The Deceased’s wishes, whether expressed or not, ought to be taken into account in accordance with Article 8 – the right to private and family life. But how does this sit with the position that there is no property in a corpse? How then can a [...]