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08 February 2021
Issue: 7920 / Categories: Legal News , Wills & Probate
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Finders International: the missing inheritance

About 11% of British adults have experienced wrongly distributed inheritance, either personally or through a member of their family, research has found
Some 255 of 2,334 adults polled by YouGov had personal or family experience of an inheritance being sent to the wrong recipient, by accident or for some other reason. A further 77 people had a close friend who had experienced this. The research, conducted in January, was commissioned by probate research firm Finders International, which reunites next-of-kin with inheritance they did not know was due when someone dies intestate.

Family feuds were commonplace, with 15% saying they were likely to consider cutting out siblings from their will, 10% disinheriting parents, 5% leaving out their partner and 5% disinheriting their own children.

Three-fifths of adults didn’t have a valid will and three-quarters knew little about the effect of dying intestate. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused one quarter more British adults to consider making a will in the past year than in previous years.

The survey also highlighted how families have become increasingly international.

Geoffrey Odds, chair of the International Association of Professional Probate Researchers, said: ‘From an international perspective, this research went on to uncover that more than a quarter of younger adults had at least one foreign born grandparent, compared to just 10% per cent of over-50s. 

‘This is a consequence of post-World War Two immigration, and ease of travel and transport over the past seven decades.’

Issue: 7920 / Categories: Legal News , Wills & Probate
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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys—James Paterson

Charles Russell Speechlys further bolsters Private Equity expertise with the appointment of James Paterson

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons—Samuel Flower

Ellisons strengthens Rural Affairs team with senior appointment

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley—Carl Hotton

Sidley adds insurance mergers and acquisitions partner to London office

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A deputy costs judge correctly exercised his discretion to allow late service rather than strike out the point of dispute, the Court of Appeal has held
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Public confidence in the justice system is being undermined by a lack of accessible, useable data, magistrates have warned
The Sentencing Council has launched draft guidelines for facilitation and endangering another person during a sea crossing to the UK
Government proposals to make independent written legal advice a prerequisite for workplace non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) may prove unworkable, according to a senior employment lawyer
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