This is good news although the HMCTS didn’t say which Christmas!
In a meeting with the Law Society, HMCTS said grants of probate currently take around four weeks to be issued, but the process should take just two weeks by Christmas. It is also working to clear stopped applications that are blocking the system. HMCTS previously said the system would be back to normal in November.
Solicitors allowed to work for Unauthorised Businesses
Solicitors allowed to work for unauthorised businesses, that is, businesses not authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, (SRA), from the end of next month.
Solicitors considering taking advantage of more liberal practising rules have been urged to beware of the potential pitfalls.
Researching how to report to a Regulator is protected
The case of Bilsbrough -v- Berry Marketing Services [2018] involved an employee who researched how to blow the whistle. The Tribunal confirmed that because the employee was researching how to report to a regulator he can rely on the same legal protections as actual whistleblower’s.
No “reasonable financial provision” after living together for 42 years
In the case of Thompson v Ragget & others [2018] an unmarried couple lived together for over 42 years prior to the testator’s death in 2017. This case is similar but less acrimonious than Martin v Williams [2017] , also regarding an unmarried couple, with the addition of an estranged spouse. Both cases involve claims for reasonable financial provision and present and
How an Out of Date Will Can Lead to Costly Litigation
Having an out of date Will can mean no reasonable financial provision and lead to unexpected and acrimonious litigation that can be very expensive. The recent case of Martin v Williams [2017] EWHC 491 (Ch) illustrates this as follows:-