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The flow diagram outlines when an executor might renounce probate, the effects this has on administering the estate, and which other individuals may apply for a grant instead, in their place. It also additionally covers the circumstance in which a proving sole, or sole-surviving, executor dies, and explains how the chain of representation interacts with renunciation by their own executor(s). If one of several appointed executors dies after obtaining a grant, but there remain surviving, proving executors named in that grant, those executors will carry on acting...
In Scotland, minor offences are prosecuted by a summary complaint. The summary procedure is governed by Part IX of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995...
In this issue: Probate Elderly and vulnerable clients Spouses, civil partners and cohabitants UK taxes for Private Client HMRC Manuals updates Budgets and Finance Bills Digital assets and cryptoassets International Question of the week Additional Private Client updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk®Private Client: a Lexis®PSL community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information Probate Court Funds Office reduces special and basic accounts interest rate Effective 12 June 2024, the Court Funds Office lowered interest across special and basic accounts. Rates on special accounts shifted from 6.00% to 5.25%, while basic accounts dropped from 5.00% to 3.94%. See LNB News 16/07/2024 55. For a roundup of key rates relevant to Private Client work, refer to Practice Note: Key interest rates—Private Client. Elderly and vulnerable clients Discrimination challenge over social care charging policy (R (YVR (a...
In this issue Probate Trusts Court of Protection UK taxation for private clients HMRC manuals: updates Art and heritage property, landed estates and farming families Pensions, insurance and tax‑efficient investments Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland International Question of the week Further Private Client updates this week Daily and weekly news alerts LexTalk® Private Client: a Lexis+® community New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Useful information Probate Unique codes for probate applications can now be issued by email. HMRC’s Trusts and Estates Newsletter (August 2024) confirms that IHT400 filers may provide an email address and sign a disclaimer so HMRC can send the unique code required for the probate application electronically. See: LNB News 28/08/2024 16. Source: HMRC Trusts and Estates Newsletter (August 2024). Following a 3 September 2024 update from HM Courts & Tribunals Service Probate, the MyHMCTS service now allows applicants to...
In this issue: Third party rights Projects Contract law Planning Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Construction trackers Third party rights Third party rights—welcome guidance from the high court (HNW Lending v Lawrence) In HNW Lending Ltd v Lawrence [2025] EWHC 908 (Ch), the judge, Lenon KC, noted a marked scarcity of authority on section 1(1) of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 (C(RTP)A 1999). While that is an accurate point, he could just as well have remarked (though did not) that this shortage of case law spans the Act as a whole, not solely C(RTP)A 1999, s 1(1). This is striking given the increasingly common reliance on the C(RTP)A 1999 in commercial arrangements—and arguably most often in construction contracts—since it came into force in 1999. The decision is, accordingly, especially welcome and, in this insight, Kevin Henderson, associate at BCLP, considers what we can take from it. See News Analysis:...
There are several routes, both uncontested and contested, to remove a personal representative; below is an outline of each method. Renunciation An executor can disclaim the right to apply for a grant of probate by a signed, witnessed written renunciation filed at the probate registry (see Practice Note: Removal, renunciation and retirement of personal representatives). Renunciation is barred where the executor has already intermeddled with the estate (see Practice Note: Intermeddling in an estate). By contrast, an administrator need not make any statement about intermeddling. A template for administrators’ renunciation appears in Form PA16. If an executor declines to renounce or to extract probate at that stage, the proving executors may obtain probate with power reserved to that executor instead (see Practice Note: The type of grant needed). Passing over–section 116 Senior Courts Act 1981 Under section 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (SCA 1981), the court can, in special circumstances, if necessary or expedient, pass over the person otherwise entitled to the grant—even one...
Variation of Will or intestacy after death—Q&As An instrument of variation can be used to alter how a deceased person’s estate is distributed under a Will or on intestacy. It is commonly executed by deed. To secure effectiveness—typically to obtain favourable inheritance tax (IHT) and capital gains tax (CGT) treatment under section 142 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 (IHTA 1984) and section 62(6) of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (TCGA 1992)—certain formalities must be met. These include that the deed is in writing, contains the requisite statement applying the statutory provisions, is not made for any extraneous consideration, and is signed by all relevant parties, including the deceased’s personal representatives (PRs) where additional tax would otherwise arise. For guidance on deeds of variation, see Practice Note: Variation of Will or intestacy after death. See also Practice Note: Post-death rearrangements. Compliance with these requirements will usually deliver the intended IHT and CGT position. The formalities for execution of variation should be followed accordingly. Precedent deed of variation...
Affirmation signifies an intention to carry on with a contract. It may arise where there is: a repudiatory breach of contract (including anticipatory breach (renunciation)), or a misrepresentation entitling the innocent party to rescind the contract It is crucial to understand what affirmation entails and what it demands, so you are alert to the risks if a counterparty commits a repudiatory breach. A lack of understanding could result in your client failing to affirm a contract it wishes to continue, or accidentally surrendering its right to terminate by accepting a repudiatory breach. This Practice Note concentrates on affirmation in the event of repudiatory breach. For affirmation in the setting of misrepresentation, see where other remedies are available below. and repudiatory breach A repudiatory breach is a breach of contract that strikes at the very core of the agreement, empowering the innocent party to treat the contract as disregarded and to decline to be bound by its terms...
Important—this provisional allotment letter (pal) is of value and is negotiable. Your prompt attention is required. This invitation lapses at [ insert time ] on [ insert date ]. The full pal must be produced at the time of payment. Should you be uncertain about any part of this pal, or unsure what steps to take, you should seek your own financial advice without delay from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or another suitably qualified independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (fsma), or, if you are located outside the United Kingdom, from an appropriate qualified independent financial adviser duly authorised within your jurisdiction. If you dispose of, transfer, or have already disposed of or otherwise transferred all of your ordinary shares (other than ex-rights) held in certificated form before [ Insert time ] on [ Insert date ], please send this pal together with form x (form of renunciation) on page [ Insert page number ], completed immediately, to the buyer...
Basic Principles/Instructions for claiming 1 Statutory power for compiling an elected members’ allowance scheme The council, acting under powers granted by the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, SI 1021/2003, hereby makes this scheme. It shall be known as the [ council name ] Members’ Allowances Scheme and takes effect from [ date ], remaining in force until amended or superseded by the adoption of a new scheme...
STOP PRESS: Abolition of non-dom regime and introduction of residence-based IHT regime. The Finance Act 2025 (FA 2025), which secured Royal Assent on 20 March 2025, enacts measures that scrap the remittance basis of taxation and bring in a residence-based framework from 6 April 2025. FA 2025 also replaces domicile as the principal determinant of inheritance tax liability. Further reforms include revisions to the rules that govern excluded property status, the removal of protected settlement treatment for offshore trusts, and adjustments to overseas workday relief. For detailed guidance, see Practice Notes: The abolition of the remittance basis of taxation from 2025–26 and A new residence-based regime for IHT from 2025–26. Also see: Finance Bill Tracking Service: Key dates (Finance Bill 2025) and Finance Act 2025. I, [ insert full name ], of [ insert full address ], to arrange the devolution of my estate upon my death, set out the following: Revocation — I annul all earlier testamentary documents and direct their destruction...