Getting Your Affairs in Order: Why Now is the Time to Review Your Will
August 13th 2026Life rarely stands still. Families grow, relationships change, finances evolve, and new opportunities arise. Yet one task that many people put off is reviewing or updating their Will. Deborah Flynn, Director & Head of Wills, Probate & Inheritance at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, explains why regularly reviewing your Will is just as important as making one in the first place. While making a Will is one of the most important steps…
Farming Wills: Why It’s Important to Keep Them up to Date
August 3rd 2026By Robert Hudson, Senior Associate Solicitor and Head of Agricultural Wills and Probate For many farming families, the farm is a home, a livelihood, and often a legacy that has been passed down through generations. With many demands on your time, updating your Will may not be top of the priority list. However, taking the time to update your Will ensures that it remains fit for purpose in light of…
Recognition for two Cartmell Shepherd solicitors
July 21st 2026Two members of the Wills, Probate and Inheritance team at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors have been promoted, rewarding them for the high level of expertise they bring to the team. Claire Wilson, who heads up the West Cumbrian office in Cockermouth is now Head of Trusts, while Robert Hudson, who is based at Rosehill, Carlisle, has become Head of Agricultural Wills and Probate. Claire has been a solicitor for 18 years…
Pension Inheritance Tax Changes: Why 2026 is the year to review your estate planning
June 26th 2026From 6 April 2027, the Government intends to bring most unused pension funds and death benefits within the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT). This represents one of the most significant changes to estate planning in recent years and may affect many individuals who have viewed pensions as one of the most tax-efficient ways to pass wealth to future generations. Amy Shaw, Legal Assistant in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance Team…
Taking control of your future: the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney
May 11th 2026Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) allow you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so. While many people assume this is something to think about later in life, the reality is that loss of capacity can happen at any time, whether through unexpected illness, injury, or a longer-term diagnosis. Putting LPAs in place sooner rather than later ensures…
Is your Will still right for you?
March 4th 2026This Update Your Will Week (2nd – 8th March 2026), we are proud to support The Association of Lifetime Lawyers in highlighting the importance of not only making a Will, but also reviewing and updating it whenever personal circumstances change. A Will is far more than just a legal document. It captures your wishes, protects your loved ones, and safeguards the legacy you want to leave behind. Modern families are…
Government announces major uplift to Inheritance Tax Threshold
January 23rd 2026Emma Pringle, Senior Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors provides an update on the government’s inheritance tax (IHT) reforms and their impact on succession planning for farmers. After 14 months of campaigning and protests across the country, the government has watered down its proposals to tax inherited farmland. The new £1 million threshold on IHT relief will be increased to £2.5 million when the changes come into force in April…
Cartmell Shepherd makes senior appointment in Wills, Probate and Inheritance team
November 24th 2025AN EXPERIENCED solicitor has joined Cartmell Shepherd’s Wills, Probate and Inheritance department. Emma Pringle joins the firm’s Hexham office as Senior Associate, bringing nearly two decades of experience and a specialist knowledge of rural estate management. Emma previously worked for respected law firms in Manchester and Newcastle and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the global professional body for experts in inheritance and succession…
Cartmell Shepherd recognised in prestigious legal rankings
October 17th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been recognised for the outstanding achievements of its agriculture and Wills, probate and inheritance departments. Published this week, the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026, has ranked the firm’s agriculture team as one of the best the in the country for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition comes just a few weeks after the team also retained its Band 1 rating in the Legal 500 professional legal…
Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors announces promotions in Private Client department
September 23rd 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has announced a new round of promotions within its specialist Wills, Probate and Inheritance team. Reflecting the firm’s ongoing commitment to staff development, Megan Wilkinson has been promoted to Senior Associate Solicitor, while Claire Ackerlay is promoted to Associate Private Client Executive. Cartmell Shepherd’s Private Client department is regarded as one of the largest and strongest in the region offering services including Will drafting, powers of attorney,…
