Mark Walley, CEO of STEP, gave evidence at the House of Common’s Justice Committee’s evidence session on the performance of the probate service on 30 April. The committee of MPs was established as a follow up to the Justice Committee’s written inquiry into the probate service and its poor performance in November 2023. The significant… Read More Justice Committee’s Evidence Session into the Probate Service
The UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has proposed reforms that would see original paper wills dating back to 1858 converted into digital form, with the original then destroyed. The only wills that would be kept in paper form, if this reform goes ahead, would be those of famous people. Historians and others have criticised the… Read More Reforms to storage of wills in the UK: STEP’s view on the challenges and solutions
STEP is responding to the House of Commons’ Justice Committee’s inquiry into the probate service of England and Wales and the causes of delays. The consultation examines resource and capacity of the probate service to process applications, while considering long-lasting solutions to alleviate future case backlog. Background The quality of the probate service has declined… Read More Justice Committee’s inquiry into probate service of England and Wales
STEP is a member of the Probate User Group, which brings together His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Services (HMCTS), professional bodies and charities to address issues with the probate service. At a recent meeting, the challenges that HMCTS (in England and Wales) faces in catching up with an increasing workload and reducing timeframes were discussed.… Read More HMCTS Probate User Group update – May 2023
Predatory marriage is a marriage where one party is vulnerable and has been induced to enter into it by the other party who will make money from it.… Read More Predatory marriage: warning signs and preventative action
The Chancellor’s Spring Budget coincided with a challenging set of global circumstances. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank just days prior emphasised the need for economic confidence, investment and growth here in the United Kingdom. Coined as the ’back-to-work’ Budget, the Chancellor’s focus was on incentivising the skilled workforce to remain in work longer. Among… Read More UK Spring Budget: key updates for STEP’s members
The government is reforming the law on making lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) in England and Wales. The main purpose of the legislation is to reform the overall process of making and registering a lasting power of attorney to make it safer, easier and more sustainable.… Read More The Powers of Attorney Bill – Reforming LPAs in England & Wales
There has been a great deal of speculation in relation to potential tax measures that could be announced at the Autumn Statement on 17 November. It has been reported that that the Treasury has been working on a range of options for cutting or abolishing some tax reliefs for the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, to consider.… Read More The UK Autumn Statement – will inheritance tax proposals re-surface?
The European Commission has recently adopted and published its latest Supranational Risk Assessment (SNRA) Report.… Read More European Commission launches its Supranational Risk Assessment Report for 2022
The UK government has rejected a call from a cross-party Commons Select Committee to reform law for cohabiting couples. The Women and Equalities Committee called for reform to family law in England and Wales to better protect cohabiting couples and their children from financial hardship due to separation. The Committee holds the government to account… Read More STEP disappointed by government inaction on reforming legal protections for cohabiting couples
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