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2026 Will-Making Trends: What Families Should Prepare For This Year

20 January 2026

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
As families look ahead to a new year, many take the opportunity to put important legal affairs in order. At Ives & Co, our wills and probate specialists see January as a key moment when people pause, reflect, and plan for the future. In 2026, will-making is being shaped by changing family structures, evolving assets, and greater awareness of long-term planning — making this the ideal time to review what really matters.

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Autumn Budget 2025: Key Inheritance Tax Changes

19 December 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Planning ahead becomes even more important when tax rules shift — and at Ives & Co Solicitors, our will & probate specialists help families protect their estates with clear, tailored advice. The Autumn Budget 2025 has brought inheritance tax (IHT) back into focus, with updates that could affect thousands of households from next year.

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What High Profile Estate Disputes Teach Us About Executors

6 December 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Celebrity estate disputes often grab attention, and the recent headlines about Paris Jackson challenging the executors of Michael Jackson’s estate highlight how quickly tensions can arise during probate. While these cases involve global estates and high-value assets, the underlying issues are very similar to those we see every day in UK probate administration.

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The 2025 Probate Fee Increase — What’s Actually Going Up?

4 December 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
This year brings a major shift worth paying attention to: a steep increase in the cost of obtaining official copies of probate documents. Let’s break down exactly what’s changing, when, and what it means for anyone managing an estate.

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Calls Grow for Standardised Bank Processes in Probate Cases

2 November 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Recent findings from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) highlight a key challenge faced by professionals — inconsistent practices among banks when handling funds from deceased estates.

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Dementia in the UK: A Growing Factor in Probate Disputes

24 June 2025

Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Rising dementia diagnoses are contributing to more complex probate disputes, particularly where a person’s testamentary capacity is questioned. Medical evidence, witness accounts and detailed solicitor records can be crucial when determining whether a Will reflects the deceased’s wishes.

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Reforming the Wills Act 1837: Progress or Pitfall?

13 June 2025

Reading time: 2 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Proposed reforms to the Wills Act 1837 could introduce digital Wills, greater flexibility over signing requirements and a new approach to testamentary capacity. Although modernisation may make Will-making more accessible, concerns remain about fraud, undue influence and an increase in estate disputes.

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Council Tax Warning for Inherited Homes

21 May 2025

Reading time: 3 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Inheriting a property can create unexpected council tax responsibilities while probate and estate administration are underway. Executors and beneficiaries should notify the local council, check which exemptions or discounts apply and keep clear records to avoid unnecessary charges.

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