Reforms to storage of wills in the UK: STEP’s view on the challenges and solutions

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

February 27, 2024February 27, 2024 STEPeditorLeave a comment

The Powers of Attorney Bill – Reforming LPAs in England & Wales

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

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 STEPeditorLeave a comment

MoJ announces consultation on court fee increases

The UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced a public consultation on increasing selected court fees in line with historical inflation dating from August 2016 to April 2021, or from the year the fee was last amended (capped at August 2016). The proposal is limited to fees which are under-recovering compared to the estimated cost… Read More MoJ announces consultation on court fee increases

April 6, 2021 STEPeditorLeave a comment

Modernising Lasting Powers of Attorneys in England and Wales

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) have jointly initiated a project to modernise the process of making and registering lasting powers of attorney (LPAs), which may include an element of digitisation. They will be collaborating on a series of scoping events, roundtables and surveys to obtain research that… Read More Modernising Lasting Powers of Attorneys in England and Wales

November 23, 2020December 16, 2020 STEPeditor2 Comments

Government changes E&W probate procedure without consultation

This Blog was updated on 26/11/2018 – for latest developments, please see the update at the end of the article below. The government has announced amendments to the procedure for applying for probate in England and Wales, with less than a month’s notice. The Statutory Instrument (The Non-Contentious Probate (Amendment) Rules 2018) will come into… Read More Government changes E&W probate procedure without consultation

November 8, 2018November 26, 2018 STEPeditor1 Comment

MoJ in special measures on charges?

STEP was one of the bodies most actively engaged in the furore that developed around the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) proposal to raise probate fees for some estates from £155/215 to as much as £20,000. One of the things that enraged many STEP members was not just the scale of the increase, but the fact… Read More MoJ in special measures on charges?

July 25, 2017July 25, 2017 STEPeditorLeave a comment

Probate fees – will common sense prevail?

The government’s threat to radically increase probate fees next month (Probate fee rise ‘a new tax on bereaved families’) may be receding, following a meeting of the House of Commons Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments on 29 March. Using some very welcome common sense, the committee raises the issue (para 1.12) that it is a… Read More Probate fees – will common sense prevail?

April 5, 2017April 6, 2017 STEPeditor2 Comments

The STEP Blog

Tag: Ministry of Justice