Wills & Probate

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A leading probate researcher has urged the government to explore ‘safer’ ways to unite long-lost heirs with the estates they are due, following the discovery fraudsters have targeted the Bona Vacantia list

Predatory marriages are exploiting the weaknesses of current wills law: Sarah Everington, Alex Adams & Farida Hindi set out what can be done to safeguard vulnerable adults

Writing in NLJ this week, Sarah Everington, Alex Adams and Farida Hindi of Penningtons Manches Cooper expose how English law enables ‘predatory marriage’—where vulnerable adults are manipulated into marriage for financial gain

Clients are paying more for legal services, but have more pricing transparency and a greater selection of remote options available

The Law Commission has proposed increased protection against undue influence, an end to the ‘automatic revocation’ rule and the introduction of electronic wills

Could we soon be tapping out wills on our phones, ask Brendan Udokoro & Kiera Quinn

Electronic wills—inevitable in a digital era, or an abomination liable to wreak fraudulent chaos? In this week’s NLJ, Brendan Udokoro, associate, and Kiera Quinn, associate (New Zealand qualified), Howard Kennedy, examine the pros and cons, risks and rewards of allowing people to tap out their will on their phone or laptop.

The famous phrase, ‘All rise’, is being changed to ‘All rise, if able’, to be called out by the usher upon the judge or magistrate entering court. NLJ columnist and former district judge Stephen Gold notes, wryly, ‘if there is an usher, of course’.

This year’s Probate Industry Awards, also known as the Probies, were announced in London last month at a sparkling ceremony hosted by broadcaster Steph McGovern

The application of the forfeiture rule in assisted dying cases: Sukhninder Panesar examines a delicate balancing act for the courts

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS

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NLJ this week: Big tech for small firms

Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs

NLJ this week: Days numbered for upwards-only rent reviews

Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

NLJ this week: SLAPPed shut?

From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics

NLJ this week: Justice delayed, justice denied

Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly

NLJ this week: Dispute resolution in the metaverse

Lawyers can no longer afford to ignore the metaverse, says Jacqueline Watts of Allin1 Advisory in this week's NLJ. Far from being a passing tech fad, virtual platforms like Roblox host thriving economies and social interactions, raising real legal issues

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Wills & Probate

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Keoghs—four appointments

Brabners—Ben Lamb