News & Media

Saving a Farm: How Level’s Inheritance Advance Helped Two Farmers Avoid Repossession

In 2019, following the passing of their neighbour, two farmers were named sole executors and beneficiaries of her estate, which included farmland directly adjacent to their own.

Instead of selling the property, they decided to maintain the land and continue its upkeep. However, over time, financial pressure mounted, and they fell behind on mortgage payments related to their own farm.

After some weeks, their mortgage provider threatened to repossess their farm if they did not clear the outstanding mortgage within a matter of weeks. The couple turned to an intermediary, who introduced them to Level’s team for an Inheritance Advance loan. Level moved quickly to assess the situation and process their application.

Within five working days, the loan was approved, and the funds were paid directly to the mortgage lender. The repossession was avoided, and the couple were able to wait for the completion of probate and sale of the farmland. By unlocking a portion of their inheritance early, they successfully navigated a difficult financial situation in just days.

This is a great example of how Level provides practical, time-sensitive support to beneficiaries during the probate process—bridging the gap between probate delays and customer requirements.

For more information, visit www.thelevelgroup.co.uk or contact +44 (0) 20 7205 2870.

The Level Group provides tailored financial solutions for family law and probate, helping individuals and professionals navigate legal costs and inheritance matters with confidence. Our expert-led lending services ensure fast, flexible support during life’s most challenging moments. Learn more at www.thelevelgroup.co.uk or contact us at [email protected] | +44 (0)207 205 2870.

This article was posted on behalf of the sponsor.

by Admin

Morr & Co promotes two talented lawyers to new roles in the Contentious Trusts and Probate team

We are delighted to announce that Katie Woodcock has been promoted to Partner in our award winning Contentious Trusts and Probate team.

Having joined the team in 2020, Katie focuses on complex contentious trusts and probate disputes. She helps clients solve sensitive family disputes surrounding Wills, estates and trusts and has particular expertise in disputes involving vulnerable individuals. Her impressive ability to navigate these disputes while maintaining her naturally empathetic approach has been instrumental to her success.

The Contentious Trusts and Probate team have also promoted Woodrow Cox to Associate Solicitor.

These promotions within the team further demonstrate the strengthening of our Contentious Trusts and Probate department and our ongoing investment in developing talented individuals who deliver exceptional service to our clients.

Kellie Williams-Jauvel, Head of Dispute Resolution at Morr & Co comments;

"Katie's promotion to Partner is exceptionally well-deserved and represents a significant milestone both for her career and our Contentious Trusts and Probate team. Her ability to navigate complex disputes, while maintaining absolute focus on client outcomes, embodies everything we strive for at Morr & Co. Katie has consistently demonstrated the perfect balance of technical excellence and practical, pragmatic support that our clients value so highly.”

Kellie continues;

“I am equally delighted to see Woodrow Cox's progression to Associate Solicitor. His attention to detail and commercial awareness have made him a trusted advisor to many of our clients and his collaborative approach has been invaluable in many of our cross-departmental matters.”

Catherine Fisher, Managing Partner at Morr & Co adds;

"Congratulations to both Katie and Woodrow. We are incredibly proud of their achievements which reflect both their outstanding individual contributions and our firm's dedication to developing the next generation of specialists."

The Dispute Resolution team were proud winners of Best Contentious Probate Provider at The Probate Industry Awards 2024, which celebrates outstanding achievements and excellence within the probate industry by recognising both firms and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication to their craft.

Morr & Co specializes in contentious trusts and probate, resolving complex estate disputes with expertise and empathy. Learn more at www.morrlaw.com or contact us at [email protected] / +44 (0)1737 854000

by Admin

How Our Zero Fee Selling Option and Property Expense Funding Have Empowered Solicitors and Executors

The Success of the Zero Fee Selling Option

When we introduced our Zero Fee Selling Option in 2020, our goal was to alleviate some of the financial strain on clients who needed to sell property as part of an estate administration or in other legal proceedings. Solicitors often deal with clients who are under financial pressure or facing complex legal and administrative tasks, and this innovative solution was designed to reduce some of the stress involved in selling property.

By removing the need for clients to pay selling fees, the Zero Fee Selling Option has allowed solicitors to offer a smoother, more flexible process for property transactions. The option means that clients don’t have to worry about estate agent selling costs, allowing them to focus on the more important aspects of their case, such as the legal and administrative elements of estate management.

As this service has grown in popularity, an increasing number of solicitors have recognised the value it provides to their clients. With 80% of our solicitor clients now choosing this option, it has become a trusted method for facilitating property sales, particularly when time or financial constraints are a concern.

Introducing Property Expense Funding in 2024

In 2024, we introduced Property Expense Funding, a service designed specifically to support solicitors, executors, and personal representatives dealing with the financial challenges of managing a probate property. Executors often face significant upfront costs associated with the administration of estates, including property maintenance, insurance, legal fees, and other testamentary expenses. However, in many cases, they may not have immediate access to funds to cover these expenses.

Our Property Expense Funding is designed to bridge this gap, providing financial assistance to cover the costs associated with managing a probate property and handling testamentary expenses. This allows executors and personal representatives to continue with the estate administration process without the burden of having to pay for everything upfront. By alleviating financial pressures, this funding ensures that the property can be properly managed and sold, which in turn facilitates the probate process.

For solicitors, this service has proven invaluable, as it allows them to offer their clients a seamless way to handle the often-complex financial responsibilities involved in estate administration. Executors can continue to act on their duties without worrying about securing immediate funds, while solicitors can ensure that all costs are met and that the estate is administered efficiently.

A Collaborative Approach for the Future

The success of our Zero Fee Selling Option and the introduction of Property Expense Funding in 2024 represent just two examples of our commitment to providing effective, solicitor-focused solutions. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, we aim to offer services that complement the needs of solicitors and their clients, enabling them to navigate property transactions and estate administration with confidence.

By offering these services, solicitors can help clients handle the complexities of property sales and probate administration in a way that’s financially manageable. Whether it's assisting in the sale of a property without upfront fees or providing support for executors to manage the expenses of administering an estate, we are here to support the legal community with practical solutions that ease the burden of property-related matters.

Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to working closely with solicitors to ensure that our services continue to meet the evolving needs of their clients, providing a seamless, stress-free process for property sales and estate management.

PSG provides solicitors, executors, and personal representatives with practical solutions to streamline property sales and estate administration. To learn more about our Zero Fee Selling Option and Property Expense Funding, visit our website: www.psg.co.uk. Alternatively, you can contact us at: [email protected] or call us on: +44 (0)1234 567890.

This article was posted on behalf of the sponsor.

by Admin

The Estate Registry: Transforming Estate Management with Cloud-Based Solutions

Estate management has long been a complex and time-consuming process, requiring careful coordination between financial advisers, legal professionals, and beneficiaries. The Estate Registry is revolutionising this space with cloud-based solutions designed to simplify estate planning, probate, and inheritance management. Serving professionals across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., we provide a seamless, secure, and efficient way to manage inter-generational wealth transitions.

At The Estate Registry, we offer three products to address various estate management needs.

NotifyNOW is designed to ease the burden of notifying financial institutions, government agencies, and service providers when an individual passes away. By providing a structured, efficient way for estate executors and administrators to manage notifications and final arrangements, NotifyNOW simplifies estate administration. Automated notifications instantly inform banks, credit bureaus, pension providers, and utility companies, reducing the manual workload of estate administrators. Status tracking allows users to monitor confirmation of account closures and transfers in real time. Compliance support ensures that all necessary parties are legally informed, preventing fraudulent account activities. By saving time and reducing administrative burdens, NotifyNOW allows estate executors to focus on beneficiaries and legal matters while ensuring a smooth, stress-free transition for families and professionals.

With the recent launch of InheritNOW in the U.K., beneficiaries can now access a portion of their inheritance quickly, without waiting months or even years for probate to be finalised. This inheritance advance provides much-needed financial relief during what is often a difficult time. As repayments come directly from the estate rather than the individual, beneficiaries are not personally responsible for repayment. The streamlined approval process ensures funds can be accessed in just a few days, helping beneficiaries  cover urgent expenses or make financial decisions without unnecessary delays. InheritNOW is structured to ensure fairness and transparency, making it an essential tool for estate planners and legal professionals handling probate cases in the U.K.

LegacyNOW is an estate lifecycle management platform designed to help individuals and families organise and securely store key estate planning documents. With secure digital storage and controlled access for trusted professionals and family members, LegacyNOW supports proactive estate planning. Automated alerts and updates help ensure documents remain current. While not yet available in the U.K., this platform is shaping the future of estate planning by making the process more streamlined and accessible.

At The Estate Registry, we combine industry expertise with cutting-edge technology to offer solutions that bring efficiency, security, and peace of mind to estate management. Whether you are a financial adviser, funeral professional, estate planner, or probate solicitor, our tools provide the support needed to manage estates more effectively. By simplifying the complexities of estate transitions, The Estate Registry ensures that individuals and organisations can navigate these processes with confidence and ease. Contact us today to learn how The Estate Registry can support your estate planning and administration needs.

The Estate Registry provides professionals with cloud-based tools to streamline estate management and probate administration. Our solutions simplify wealth transitions, ensuring efficiency and security. Learn more at www.estate-registry.com or contact us at [email protected] | +44 (0)1234 567890.

This article was posted on behalf of the sponsor.

by Admin

Driving the digital future of estate management

About The Estate Registry

The Estate Registry is a true pioneer of estate management services, providing cloud-based tools and services for inter-generational estate management. We use the term ‘pioneer’ deliberately, since we have quite literally been immersed in the subject for 25 years or more.

The organisation was created by a team of professionals with decades of service experience, supporting other professionals, organisations and individuals throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The team recognised the challenges of estate management after a death and established The Estate Registry to provide individuals and organisations with a range of services to automate, simplify and accelerate the transition of assets to beneficiaries.

Our services

The Estate Registry delivers a suite of services to support lawyers, solicitors, accountants, Trust companies, financial services and utilities firms, and indeed all companies and personal representatives of estates and other intermediaries in delivering the best advice and support to their clients.

First among these services is NotifyNOW, a digital notification service for the bereaved (or the representatives of a deceased) to notify creditors of the death of one of their customers. Already award winning, the ambition over time is for NotifyNOW to become the single route for the bereaved and/or their representatives to inform ALL creditors of an individual’s death.

In the future will also be launching InheritNOW, a range of financial services products that help beneficiaries (and/or the professional representatives of an estate) to cover the expenses of a death or to receive their inheritance funds prior to probate being granted. InheritNOW will be launched to the intermediary community and direct to customers. In terms of future development, we will also be launching our LegacyNOW digital vault product in the UK which  is a digital estate lifecycle-management suite to help navigate the estate process.

What makes us different?

We are committed to continuous digital innovation and seek to develop digital solutions that enhance the lives of lawyers, their clients and families. So it’s not one single service or product that sets us apart, but rather the sum of the parts, and the inter-relation of services that makes us different. We also have significant financial backing and a proven track record, which enables us to invest in future product development with an agility that others will find difficult to match.

Our UK Awards

Technology Development Award for NotifyNow – British Credit Awards 2024

Best Use of Technology Award for E.ON using NotifyNOW - Vulnerability Awareness Awards 2023

Innovation Award for NotifyNow – Credit Services Association Awards 2023

For more information, please contact

Sales: Name: Luke Cheadle Tel: 07841 042 369 Email: [email protected]

by Admin

Kate Garraway Announced as Probies Host for 2024 Ceremony

The Probate Industry Awards is delighted to announce the much-loved broadcaster and journalist Kate Garraway will be the host for the upcoming 2024 ceremony. The Awards, set to take place on the 18th April 2024, will see Kate Garraway lend her unique brand of charisma and warmth to an evening dedicated to honouring excellence within the probate industry.

With more than thirty years in the media, Kate’s extensive and illustrious career in television and radio, coupled with her dynamic presence as a journalist, has showcased her talents across the various platforms we have become accustomed to. Kate has become an integral part of the British broadcasting landscape from her early days at ITV News Central to her roles at ITV News Meridian, the BBC 24-hour News Channel, and Sky News Sunrise. Her transition to morning television, hosting GMTV and later becoming one of the main hosts on Good Morning Britain, solidifies her status as a trusted and beloved figurehead in the media.

Having accepted to host the Probies initially in 2023, Kate’s remarkable career history and distinctive ability to host and connect with her audience brand her as an exceptional choice to lead the Awards this year, and we are honoured to be able to announce her participation.

The Probate Industry Awards 2024 promises to be a once again sold-out night of glamour and celebration – a fitting tribute to the incredible achievements of the legal maestros, researchers, and vital industry allies with whom we acknowledge and stand by. We anticipate the return of familiar faces and the warm welcome of new ones as we persist in honouring excellence within the ever-evolving landscape of probate. 

The Probate Industry Awards, known as ‘The Probies’ and founded by Meerkat PR, is an awards ceremony dedicated to recognising and celebrating those working within the Probate Industry. For any enquiries, please contact the team at [email protected]. 

by Admin

2023 AWARDS

by Admin

DS Researchers: Proud Sponsor of the 'Best Deputyship Firm' Award Category at the UK Probate Research Awards

As one of the leading Probate Research firms in the UK and internationally, DS Researchers is thrilled to be sponsoring the 'Best Deputyship Firm' award category at this year's UK Probate Research Awards. This is our first time participating in the ‘Probies’, and we are honoured to be involved in recognizing the important work of the deputyship firms across the country.

Deputyship work is a critical part of the legal industry that often goes unrecognised. These firms play a crucial role in helping those who are unable to manage their financial affairs and personal welfare due to physical or mental incapacity. It is a challenging area of law that requires a high degree of expertise, empathy, and dedication.

At DS Researchers, we understand the importance of this work and the value it brings to individuals and families who are facing difficult circumstances. We are proud to be associated with the firms that have been nominated in this category, and we wish them all the best of luck.

We are also delighted to have our own Richard Eglan nominated in one of the categories. Richard is an integral part of our team, and we are thrilled that his contributions have been recognized. He will be announcing the winner of the 'Best Deputyship Firm' award on-stage on the night and is excited to be doing so.

As a sponsor, we are committed to promoting excellence in the legal industry and recognize the significant contribution made by the finalists in this category. We believe that recognizing their hard work and dedication will encourage others to continue to provide the highest levels of service to their clients.

In conclusion, we would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists of the 'Best Deputyship Firm' award category. Your commitment to excellence is a testament to the values of the legal profession, and we are proud to be associated with you. We look forward to celebrating your achievements on the night!

DS Researchers find heirs & distribute assets to their rightful next of kin. To read more, please visit our website at: https://www.dsresearchers.co.uk/. Alternatively, you can contact us at: [email protected] or phone us on: +44 (0)1482 658635.

This article has been posted on behalf of DS Researchers.

by Admin

Finders International honoured to be a part of the 5th Probate Research Awards 2023

Finders International is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for a number of awards at the for the Probate Research Awards, including Best UK Probate Research Firm. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional probate research services to our clients.

In addition to being shortlisted for the award, Finders International is proud to sponsor the Outstanding Achievement in International Probate Research category at this year's event. As a leading provider of probate research services, we believe in supporting the development of the industry and recognising the outstanding work of our colleagues and peers.

The Outstanding Achievement in International Probate Research award recognizes the exceptional performance, innovation, and professionalism of probate research firms operating internationally. We understand the challenges involved in conducting probate research across different jurisdictions, and we believe that this award is a vital platform for promoting best practices and recognizing outstanding achievements in this field.

At Finders International, we have a team of experienced probate researchers who have worked on cases in numerous countries around the world. We understand the complexities involved in conducting research across different legal systems, cultures, and languages. We believe that our international experience and expertise enable us to provide the highest standard of probate research services to our clients. We are honoured to be shortlisted for the Best UK Probate Research Firm award and to sponsor the Outstanding Achievement in International Probate Research category at this year's Probate Research Awards. We believe that these awards are an important platform for promoting best practices and raising awareness of the challenges involved in conducting probate research.

Danny Curran, Managing Director of Finders International comments, “These nominations are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, who strive to provide the highest standard of probate research services to our clients. We are proud to be part of an industry that plays a crucial role in helping families and individuals access their rightful inheritance, and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of our colleagues and peers at the event."

We would like to extend our congratulations to all of the short listers and wish them the best of luck. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the probate research industry at the event on the 20^th April.

Finders International is a leading probate research firm who tracing heirs to estates, property and assets. Our expert genealogists and probate researchers have worked on cases around the world, providing accurate and reliable research, excellent customer service, and a deep understanding of the complexities involved in probate research. For more information, please visit our website: www.findersinternational.co.uk.

This article has been posted on behalf of Finders International.

by Admin