As of Monday 14th October 2019, the proposal to increase probate fees has been withdrawn. Click here to read our latest blog post on the matter. On 22 July 2019, HM Courts & Tribunals Service released revised probate fees including costs for applications and additional copies of the Grant of Representation. Although the cost of the application has not changed, any additional copies will now be charged at £1.50 per copy, rather than the 50p that was previously charged.

A substantial number of people act as an Executor every year, however, many people are still unaware of the responsibilities that come with the role. This guide aims to explain what it means to be an Executor, as well as what tasks could be involved. It also shares the risks you’ll face in the role, and inform you of your options when it comes to acting as an Executor.

The number of inheritance disputes reaching the England and Wales High Court has dramatically increased over the last 15 years. In 2005, there were just 15 cases brought to the High Court under the Inheritance (Provisions for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, compared to 158 cases in 2016. These statistics only cover a small proportion of the overall number of inheritance disputes as many arguments will be settled before reaching the High Court.

Aretha Franklin died on the 16th of August 2018 at the age of 76 after an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer. Recent news reports have now revealed how a handwritten Will has been discovered under a sofa cushion in the Queen of Soul’s home in Detroit. To ensure the Will’s validity, it is being examined by a handwriting expert.

At Kings Court Trust we’ve always been passionate about helping families at the difficult time of dealing with a bereavement. We achieve this by taking care of the practicalities after death so you can focus on life’s important moments. We’re pleased to announce a group of new estate solutions that will allow us to help even more families.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) opened a staggering 5,537 Inheritance Tax investigations in the 2018-2019 tax year, which is a 3.4% increase in comparison to the previous 2017-2018 tax year. To put this number into perspective, this equates to nearly a quarter (23%) of the 22,000 estates where Inheritance Tax is due. With such an incredibly high proportion of estates affected, it raises concerns about whether those responsible for paying Inheritance Tax are aware of the risks if they make mistakes.

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published its second report on Inheritance Tax. The report comes after the Chancellor requested a review of administrative and technical aspects of the tax back in January 2018. The first report was released in November 2018 and covered the administration of Inheritance Tax. This second report now explores the key complexities and technical issues that arise from the way the tax works.

Back in May 2019, we wrote about how probate registries in England and Wales were suffering from processing delays on Grant of Probate and Grant of Letter of Administration applications. We’re now a couple of months down the line and the backlog continues. Therefore, we wanted to provide our clients and business partners with another update.

Following a bereavement, there are a number of tasks to be considered and completed. These tasks are not always straightforward and can include dealing with difficult legal and tax affairs. We understand that this can make an already difficult time even more stressful. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand your responsibilities and options, as well as what needs to be done.