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…
Solicitor promoted after return to firm where she trained
December 2nd 2024A solicitor has been promoted less than 12 months after returning to the law firm where she trained. Hexham-based Nicholson Portnell Solicitors has appointed Laura Murphy to the role of Senior Associate Solicitor. Laura initially joined Nicholson Portnell in 2008 as a trainee and worked there for eight years, qualifying as a solicitor in 2010. She returned last December after time away working for a Newcastle city centre law firm…
Solicitor’s ongoing commitment to providing counselling support to clients
November 25th 2024A recently promoted solicitor is going the extra mile for her clients by further widening the level of care provided by the law firm she works for. Coinciding with her promotion to the position of Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, Sarah Griffiths has gained a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills from the Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body. She has already embarked on the Level 3 qualification as…
Law firm strengthens specialist legal team with key appointments
October 15th 2024One of the North’s leading legal firms has expanded its specialist Wills, Probate and Inheritance team by taking on several new recruits. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has made five appointments to the team which is regarded as one of the largest and strongest Private Client departments in the region. The new recruits take the number of members in the department to 41, comprising 14 solicitors, 12 paralegals and 15 support staff.…
Raising Awareness for Alzheimer’s Month: Why a Lasting Power of Attorney Matters
September 12th 2024As we observe Alzheimer’s Month this September in the UK, it’s a critical time to raise awareness not only about dementia but also about the importance of planning for the future. One essential step in this planning is setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Kathryn Barnett, Associate Solicitor and member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL)* explains. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, gradually impairs…
England’s dementia diagnosis are among the highest in the world
August 27th 2024England has one of the highest dementia diagnosis rates in the world, according to figures released by the NHS. Laura Murphy, Associate Solicitor in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team reports. The number of people being diagnosed with dementia reached a record 487,432 in June. The diagnosis rate of 65% is the highest since the start of the pandemic but still below the NHS target of diagnosing 66.7% of the…
Family disputes over Wills and probate continue to rise
May 20th 2024The number of family disputes over Wills and probate rose by just over 5% in 2023, according to the latest family court statistics. Selina Gonzalez Associate Solicitor in our dispute resolution team reports. There are several reasons why this might happen. The increase in the number of second and even third marriages make life more complicated these days. People making a Will may have to weigh up the conflicting interests of their children…
We’re proud to support Update Your Will Week 2024
March 7th 2024This week is Update Your Will Week (4th–10thMarch), an annual campaign hosted by The Association of Lifetime Lawyers. It aims to raise awareness around the risks of not having an up to date Will and encourages people to update their Will to ensure their wishes are carried out when they die. Why is it important to have an up to date Will? Having an up to date, well-drafted Will is…
Inheritance TV show highlights real life issues over making a Will
October 25th 2023The Channel 5 TV series, Inheritance, has been gripping audiences with its dramatic story of a family at loggerheads over a Will. Selina Gonzalez Solicitor in our dispute resolution team reports on the case featured in the show. The show features two sisters and a brother who expected to inherit their father’s estate, only to find that he had changed his will without telling them and left everything to his new wife. They…
