Probate fees update

July 10, 2017

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Justice put forward a proposal to change the way in which probate fees are charged.

As you may remember, the Institute of Legacy Management strongly objected on behalf of members to the proposal at the time. These proposals were put on hold after the announcement of the General Election in May.

It has recently come to our attention that the proposal remains dormant and could be reactivated at any time. We want to ensure that MPs and Lords understand the full implications of these proposals so have brought together a consortium of interested parties to sign a joint letter which was sent to MPs earlier this week and has subsequently been picked up by several publications:

The Times (registration required)
The Times – the Brief
Daily Mail
Civil Society
Today’s Wills and Probate
Law Society Gazette

We are grateful to the following partners and organisations who were co-signatories to the letter:

  • John Barrett, Chief Executive, Small Charities Coalition
  • Angela Bowman, Partner and Head of Legacies, Freeths Solicitors
  • Jonathan Eshkeri, Director, E&G Solicitors in Spain
  • Henry Frydenson MBE, Chairman, ACTAPS – The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists
  • Lucy Gill, Partner, Foot Anstey LLP
  • Daniel P Harris, Partner, Stone King LLP
  • George Hodgson, Chief Executive, STEP
  • Ashley Rowthorn, Managing Director Legacy Link
  • Alison Talbot, Head of Charities, Penningtons Manches
  • Andrew O’Brien, Head of Policy and Engagement, Charities Finance Group
  • Peter Jeffreys, Partner, Wilsons Solicitors LLP
  • Richard Bray, Vice-Chairman, Charity Tax Group

We are very pleased with the level of coverage we have been able to achieve, and hope this will help to influence the decision of MPs and Peers should the proposals ever be voted upon.

We will of course keep our members updated with any developments.

By Sonya Dallat

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