Stay up to date with the latest news, insights and updates.

The Trust Registration Service “TRS” deadline of 1st September 2022 for non-taxable trusts is now only a matter of weeks away and all the indications are that there are many trusts that remain unregistered.   It is important that all Trustees  understand the need to register a trust, including those that they may not even be […]

Congratulations to our colleagues Jade Peckett and Will Morris for passing their STEP Advanced Certificate in Taxation of Trusts and Estates.   A very tough exam!

When used appropriately, trusts can be a great way to protect assets. However, too often they are sold by unregulated firms as the ultimate solution for everything, promising to protect the family home from care fees, minimise Tax, and prevent probate costs. These schemes are expensive, risky (as they may not work), totally inappropriate for […]

Once you have made an LPA appointing your attorney/s, for your attorney to use the document it must first be registered by the Office of Public Guardian (OPG) Pre pandemic the registration process would take circa 8 weeks, it can now take 20 weeks and the process is littered with errors. An industry body has […]

As of the 1st September 2021, our main office will relocate to Sheffield. The decision for this has been based on opportunities given to us to further grow and develop our team. The management team has not changed and our ethos and commitment to providing a high level of service remains the same. Although the […]

Why reducing your clients inheritance tax should be at the top of their New Year resolutions. If the dawning of a New Year has anything is common with the last, it’s the resolutions that many of us choose to set. Often set with genuine intent, resolutions have a habit of falling by the wayside somewhat. […]

Specialists in Wills and Probate At a glance, we’re a specialist firm providing services in Wills, Powers of Attorney and Estate Administration (Probate). You’ll know many companies who provide similar services, with whom you might even pass referrals to. However, scratch the surface and you’ll see that we’re far more than your average private client […]

You don’t know what you don’t know! Many of us have seen the advertisements for cheap Wills and the DIY kits that are available, but are you really getting a good deal? A Will is a legally binding document that is essential in ensuring your assets and savings are distributed as per their wishes. But […]

This week the Government have announced that they will be introducing temporary legislation to allow people to use video link to witness a will being executed. This legislation does not extend to permitting electronic signatures. Wet signatures of the person making the will and the witnesses are still required. Also, witnessing pre-recorded videos of the […]

This week the Government have announced that they will be introducing temporary legislation to allow people to use video link to witness a will being executed. This legislation does not extend to permitting electronic signatures. Wet signatures of the person making the will and the witnesses are still required. Also, witnessing pre-recorded videos of the […]

HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has announced in a recent update that the backlog of probate grant applications is beginning to fall. With more grants of probate now being issued each week than the number of applications received. HMCTS says it is optimistic that service will return to normal routine ‘very shortly’, in which […]

Robert Buckland, the Secretary of State for Justice, has announced that the huge increase in probate fees proposed under the former Prime Minister Theresa May has been scrapped. The increase would have charged probate applicants up to £6000 depending on the value of the estate. Currently there is a flat fee of £155, if the […]

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has issued guidance for how to get help if you have concerns that someone is being abused or neglected under a lasting power of attorney, enduring power of attorney or deputy court order.

Pavilion Row has been reaccredited as a STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Employer Partner after first receiving the accreditation in 2016. STEP is the worldwide body in the area of Trust and Estate planning. The accreditation recognises Pavilion Row as an employer that encourages continuous learning and professional development, and supports its employees […]

To enable us to deal with our growth and expansion of the team we have moved our offices to Forest Business Park in Fulford, York

Pavilion Row is delighted to announce  two new appointments to the team; Lorna Jessop as director and Head of Finance, and Jenny Slater as director and Head of Legal Practice. Lorna is a Chartered Accountant and has been working with us in a financial capacity for some time. The new role will see Lorna taking on the regulated […]

Back in July the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced that the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) had been over charging court fees for registration of Power of Attorneys and that the overpaid fees would be refunded. MoJ have now published details of the refund scheme; Anyone who registered their Power of Attorneys (LPA or EPA) […]

Pavilion Row has today, 1st February 2018,  become an Alternative Business Structure (ABS) licenced and regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). Angus Houston, Managing Director of Pavilion Row, said “Our new ABS status is a significant milestone in the growth of the business. We continue to offer advice based legal services for wills, […]

In a surprise U-turn last night the Ministry of Justice have scrapped for now the proposed increase in probate fees. They have stated that there is not enough time for the proposed legislation to go through parliament ahead of the general election. Nothing has been said as yet on whether scheme will be brought back if […]

As of the 1st April 2017 the fee charged by the courts for registering an LPA has been reduced from £110 to £82

You may have seen the news recently that Probate Registry court fees will change in May to a banded system based on the value of the estate. The fees in some cases will increase from the current flat rate of £155 to £20,000! (the table below shows the full details) Whilst the need for change […]

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition. Our colleague Dawn, is a trained Dementia Friends Champion volunteer. As a volunteer she runs free 1 hour information sessions where people learn some […]

For sometime now there has been on going debate discussing the pros and cons of regulation in the Will industry with the Legal Services Board commissioning a number of research projects looking at this area.  Angus shares his views on this topic in the STEP journal this month, read the article here.

In tax year April 2016 the government’s receipts of Inheritance Tax (IHT) leaped to £4.66bn. This is a 22 per cent increase on the previous year and as house prices continue to rise, more and more family estates are becoming liable for the tax (a 40% tax payable on the portion of a person’s estate […]

STEP is profiling Angus this week Article taken from STEP’s website, Friday 5th August 2016, http://www.step.org/interviews/60-second-interview-angus-houston What does your firm do? Pavilion Row is a firm of TEPs that specialises in wills, powers of attorney and estate administration and provides a private client department for our professional introducers. What has STEP done for you, individually, or […]

Pavilion Row, has chosen to become a member of the Business Partners scheme to highlight its commitment to Yorkshire’s thriving artistic life and, in particular, to celebrate the work of Opera North, the only national opera company based outside London. Angus Houston, Pavilion Row’s Managing Director, said: “At Pavilion Row, we pride ourselves on our individual, flexible approach […]

The new pension freedoms introduced in April 2015 have given retirees the option to keep investing their pension pot and draw an income directly from it, as well as the option to pass their pension pot on to their beneficiaries when they die. While this greater flexibility is very attractive to some retirees, there is […]

Pavilion Row has become one of only 20 in the UK to be accredited as a Training Partner of the STEP Employer Training Scheme. Through issuing accreditation as a training provider, STEP, which is the global association for professionals who advise on wealth planning, recognises Pavilion Row as an employer that encourages continuous learning and […]

As you all know, new rules regarding inheritance tax were announced in the summer budget, the main change being the introduction of a new “residence nil rate band” or “RNRB”. This is being introduced as part of an ambition to enable people to leave their family home to their families. Putting matters into context IHT […]

Today new rules come into force for the laws covering people who die without a will.

In response to the UK government’s decision not to regulate Will writing STEP has launched a new Code of conduct for Will Preparation.

It is a simple fact that the number of probate claims continues to rise year on year. There are, in my experience, four major reasons for this.

When a marriage breaks down and it comes to dividing up finances often people often ask 'What about my inheritance?'

What happens to your digital assets when you die?

The question of domicile is fundamental to how a person’s worldwide assets are taxed in the UK during their lifetime and on their death.

Pavilion Row has for sometime been a supporter and member of Remember a Charity in your Will.

Is it who YOU would choose?

The Lord Chancellor yesterday rejected the recommendation made be the Legal Services Board to regulate will-writing activity.

In George Osborne’s most recent Budget further provisions were made to prevent Inheritance Tax avoidance schemes.

It was announced yesterday that the nil-rate band for IHT will be frozen until 2017/18.

How many of us have said ‘I must make a Will’ but never got round to it. Better things to spend your time and money on, maybe?

It is now being reported that the government will freeze the IHT threshold.

HMRC has successfully appealed the decision.

We see all too often the mess left behind when somebody has not got their affairs in order, so to help avoid this we’ve created a checklist.

George Osborne revealed in his Autumn statement that the tax free nil-rate band for inheritance tax (IHT) will increase in year 2015/16.

Today sees the start of ‘Remember a Charity Week’ which seeks to bring awareness about the importance of charitable gifts in Wills.

The SRA has asked us to point out that Elisabeth Davies, Chairman of the Legal Services Consumer Panel, did not state that the SRA had "failed to act."

The SRA is failing to take action against solicitors who produced sub-standard wills.

Pavilion Row is very excited by the LSB announcement last week of their proposals to regulate the area of will-writing and estate administration.

The LSB has published new research into probate and estate administration.

The ruling states that the let was not an investment.

2011 - What a year for the Probate and Will industry.

STEP has published a very helpful leaflet stating their views and position.

Financial Planning Week aims to raise awareness of how important financial planning is.

Pavilion Row fully support the need for regulation.

The Yorkshire Post's 'On the Spot' is profiling Angus this week.

The Law Society has been running a 'Choose quality advice' campaign.

Pavilion Row has always supported regulation.

Pavilion Row is proving to regional businesses that funding streams are available for business improvement.

STEP is the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.