Increase in registration fees for Lasting Power of Attorneys
September 18th 2025In August, the Ministry of Justice announced that the fee for registering a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will increase later this year. Kathryn Barnett, Associate Solicitor and member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL)* provides an update. From 17th November 2025, the fee will rise from £82 to £92 per application. Anyone submitting an LPA registration with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) after this date will be required…
Cumbrian legal firm shortlisted for national law award
August 28th 2025A Cumbrian legal firm has achieved national recognition after being named as a finalist in the British Wills and Probate Awards 2025. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is shortlisted for the best Contentious Wills & Probate team (Boutique) at the awards which celebrate legal excellence across the country. Rebecca Armstrong, who is Head of Will and Inheritance Disputes at Cartmell Shepherd, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our specialist expertise in…
Robert Hudson steps into senior role at Cartmell Shepherd
July 4th 2025Cartmell Shepherd is proud to announce the promotion of Robert Hudson to the role of Senior Associate Solicitor within the Wills, Probate and Inheritance team. The promotion comes less than twelve months after Robert joined the firm in September 2024 which is one of the leading private client teams in the region. Robert qualified as a solicitor in 2009 after studying law at Cambridge University. He then went on to…
Planning for the future when you have a blended family
June 3rd 2025Blended families are now more common than ever, with many people starting new relationships, getting married, and entering into civil partnerships later in life, often bringing children from previous relationships. Being part of a blended family comes with unique legal and financial considerations that need careful planning. When it comes to planning for the future, a “one-size-fits-all” approach simply doesn’t work. Without clear legal documents in place, your wishes might…
Legal firm expands private client team with new appointments
June 2nd 2025A Cumbrian legal firm has strengthened its team with the appointment of two experienced solicitors. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has welcomed Alex McAll and Jennifer Robinson to its private client department, which deals with legal matters related to Wills, probate and inheritance. The pair bring several years of experience to Cartmell Shepherd, which has seven offices across Cumbria and Northumberland. Alex will be based at the firm’s offices at Rosehill, Carlisle,…
Cumbrian legal firm named as finalist in four categories at Northern Law Awards
May 16th 2025A Cumbrian legal firm is in the running for four awards in the North of England’s most prestigious law awards. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, which has seven offices across Cumbria and Northumberland, has four finalists in the upcoming 2025 Northern Law Awards. The firm’s Dispute Resolution, Family Law and Private Client departments have been shortlisted for Team of the Year in their respective categories, while apprentice trainee solicitor Joseph Halvorsen has…
Survey shows more people making a Will, but confusion remains
April 30th 2025More people than ever are making a Will yet there is still widespread confusion among the public about the process and its importance, according to a new survey. Kathryn Barnett Associate Solicitor in our Wills, Probate and Inheritance reports on this recent case. For the first time since IRN Legal Reports began monitoring trends in Will-making, more than four in ten UK adults now have a Will — a notable milestone in…
Son successfully challenges his mother’s Will in claim over £700,000 estate
April 8th 2025In a case widely reported in the media in March 2025, John Baverstock pursued a claim against his sister Lisa Baverstock on the basis of video evidence produced by Lisa herself which showed Lisa placing a pen in their mother’s hand before guiding her hand to sign a Will (drafted by Lisa) with the effect that John stood to inherit nothing from their mother’s estate and Lisa to inherit the…
Will written on food box found valid
February 27th 2025A High Court judge has recently ruled that an unorthodox Will written on food packaging – specifically a frozen fish packet and mince pie box – valid and can be submitted for probate. Elisabeth Chattin, Paralegal working with our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team, reports on this recent case. Shortly before his death in 2021, Malcolm Chenery wrote his final wishes on the back of a Young’s frozen fish packet…
Preservation of Original Wills in England and Wales
January 27th 2025The UK government has decided to retain original paper Wills indefinitely, following a public consultation. Previously, there was a proposal to scan and destroy older Wills after 10-12 years to cut costs. However, this faced strong opposition due to concerns about scanning errors, durability, security, and authenticity. Leading historians described the plan as ‘sheer vandalism’. Thanisha Sharma, Paralegal, provides an update. The Ministry of Justice has now decided against any…
