On Thursday 11 April 2024, Anti-Money Laundering Europe (AME) hosted a symposium at the European Parliament in Brussels about the European Union’s (EU) new Anti-Money Laundering package. Under this package, the EU will establish a new Anti-Money Laundering Authority that will have supervisory powers over national financial institutions. The package aims to strengthen cooperation on… Read More Anti-Money Laundering Europe symposium
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
There have been two opportunities this month for our industry to come together and address emerging challenges of evolving financial crime. The Organisation of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) held its Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum in Paris on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. This was followed by the… Read More Update on recent FATF and OECD forums to tackle financial crime
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
Delegates from across the world attended STEP’s Special Interest Spotlight Sessions in London, UK on 9 December. Expert panellists discussed the latest issues affecting philanthropic giving, cross-border estates, international clients, business families, contentious trusts and estates, mental incapacity and digital assets. This is the final in a series of blogs capturing the sessions and the… Read More Key highlights from expert discussions about mental capacity, philanthropy and international clients
Delegates from across the world attended STEP’s Special Interest Spotlight Sessions in London, UK on 9 December. Expert panellists discussed the latest issues affecting philanthropic giving, cross-border estates, international clients, business families, contentious trusts and estates, mental capacity and digital assets.… Read More Digital assets: risks, liabilities and solutions for estate planners
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
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