Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is crucial to later life planning. It’s how you can allow someone to make decisions on your behalf about health, property and finance matters if you lose the ability to do so yourself.
It must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) to take effect. The registration fee is going up from 17th November. Now is the time to get it sorted.
The OPG won’t accept the LPA application if it isn’t accurately drafted, so getting an expert to support you with the process is key to preventing costly errors. It’s also how you can ensure that it suits your specific circumstances.
Pavilion Row is celebrating a double victory at the British Wills & Probate Awards, which recognises exceptional companies and individuals in the private client law sector, marking their achievements and the innovations they have shown.
We wowed the judges and took home the trophy for ‘Probate Provider of the Year – North & Midlands’ and were highly commended for ‘Private Client Team of the Year – Boutique’. It was stiff competition, as we were shortlisted amongst several well-established law firms from across the UK. The glitzy ceremony took place at Manchester’s Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and was hosted by TV presenter Ben Hanlin.
Since moving our headquarters to Sheffield four years ago, we have seen an 85% increase in turnover. The relocation hasn’t just been a success financially; we have been able to reap the benefits of Sheffield’s exceptional pool of talent within the private client law sector, growing our team and doubling the headcount.
Founding director of Pavilion Row, Angus Houston, says: “What an honour to receive two awards! The ceremony is run by specialist publication Today’s Wills & Probate, with industry experts acting as judges. You can imagine how delighted we are to be recognised by our peers.
“Our move to Sheffield was a strategic decision. Since then, we have grown our talented team and seen financial success, putting us in a strong position to progress through the next chapter of our business.
“I’d like to congratulate all the other winners. It was a fantastic evening and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about the work being undertaken by my peers in the sector.”
Pavilion Row is one of around 50 firms worldwide which is a platinum accredited STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Employer Partner, the professional body for inheritance and succession planning. Platinum is the highest accreditation, and all of our advisors have already achieved STEP qualifications or are currently progressing through development programs to attain them.
Angus served on the STEP Yorkshire Branch for 14 years, including a term as Chair. He also chairs STEP’s Worldwide Branch Development Committee and sits on the Professional Standards Investigation Panel, demonstrating commitment to the development of the wider industry.
You can view all of the winners of the British Wills & Probate Awards 2025 here.
Boutique law firm Pavilion Row is celebrating its 15th anniversary with strong growth. The Sheffield based company has reported an 85% increase in turnover since its move to Sheffield four years ago, where there is an exceptional pool of talent within the private client law sector. It reflects heightened demand for specialist legal advice, driven in part by recent changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT) and the growing complexity of estate planning.
A specialist private client law practice focused on wills, trusts and probate, Pavilion Row has earned a position few achieve. The firm has been selected as a preferred legal partner by several of the UK’s leading wealth management companies, resulting in hundreds of financial advisers across England and Wales referring clients to Pavilion Row for legal support. The team is also a recognised authority in the sector, regularly delivering insights to top wealth management organisations.
As IHT thresholds remain frozen until 2030 and pensions become liable for IHT from 2027, many individuals are seeking trusted advice to ensure they can pass on assets effectively. Ahead of the imminent Autumn Budget, Pavilion Row has reported growing demand from clients keen to protect their wealth and leave a meaningful legacy for loved ones.
Founding director of Pavilion Row, Angus Houston, says: “We’ve experienced exceptional growth recently, making our anniversary year feels like the start of an exciting new chapter. Our strong reputation within the financial advice community has expanded our client base and enabled us to go from strength to strength.
“Today, individuals face increasing complexity in financial and estate planning, which may be further compounded by announcements in the upcoming Autumn Budget, and the inevitable changes that will follow. More than ever, people are seeking clear, specialist advice to simplify what can be a daunting process.
Over the past five years, Pavilion Row has not only seen a boost in the number of private clients it serves but also doubled its employee headcount and moved headquarters to Sheffield. This month the firm was shortlisted in two categories for October’s annual British Wills & Probate Awards including Private Client Firm of the Year: Boutique.
Angus continues: “Celebrating our 15th anniversary at a time when we have built such a strong team makes it more special. One of the key reasons for our relocation from York to Sheffield was to capitalise on the talent the region offers. We’re now positioned close to many law firms that offer specialisms, giving us access to a pool of ambitious legal practitioners.
Pavilion Row is one of fewer than 50 firms worldwide which is a platinum accredited STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Employer Partner, the professional body for inheritance and succession planning. The platinum accreditation recognises Pavilion Row’s strong investment in learning and development pathways for all employees, as well as its wider contribution to the industry. All Pavilion Row’s advisors have already achieved STEP qualifications or are currently progressing through development programs to attain them.
Angus served on the STEP Yorkshire Branch for 14 years, including a term as Chair. He also chairs STEP’s Worldwide Branch Development Committee and its Professional Standards Investigation Panel, providing insights to the team at Pavilion Row and the wider sector too.
Pavilion Row is a supporter of ‘Remember a Charity’.
This week is ‘Remember a Charity Week’ which seeks to bring awareness about the importance of charitable gifts in Wills.
Did you know that whilst 50% of people give to charity in their lifetime only 7% leave anything in their Will?
But it is worth remembering IHT is reduced from 40% to 36% for people who leave at least 10% of their net taxable estate to charity.
This means if you plan to give 4% of your net taxable estate to charity you can increase the gift to 10% without reducing the amount of inheritance the other beneficiaries receive. The tax man pays the difference! See example below:
Example 1
Charity receives: £4,000
Other beneficiaries receive tax free allowance £325,00 plus remainder: £382,600
Example 2
Charity receives: £10,000
Other beneficiaries receive tax free allowance £325,00 plus remainder: £382,60
It’s a fantastic way of maximising the amount you leave behind for charity.
#RememberACharityWeek
Recently, trusts have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Let’s get to the truth.
A trust is a legitimate forward-planning tool that enables you to protect assets for your loved ones. They are particularly advantageous for people with disabled and/or vulnerable beneficiaries.
Putting an asset in a trust means that the beneficiary doesn’t have control over the asset, nor are they legally responsible for administering the trust. Perhaps they can’t or shouldn’t have the ability to do so, for a variety of reasons.
But the beneficiary can still benefit financially from the trust, as per the wishes of the person who created it.
With a trust, you can ensure:
🔺 Protection: safeguarding assets for future generations.
🔺 Stability: giving loved ones the support they need.
A professional can advise you on whether setting up a trust suits your circumstances.
The Government has announced that the court fee for registering a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will rise from £82 to £92 for any applications submitted from 17th November.
An LPA can not be used until it has been registered by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Typically, it will take OPG around 12 weeks to process the registration. Therefore, we would always recommend that somebody registers their LPA as soon as it has been signed.
If you have an unregistered LPA and are considering registration, we recommend doing so now to take advantage of the current fee.
Delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for two awards at the British Wills & Probate Awards!
We’re nominated for:
? Probate Provider of the Year – North & Midlands
? Private Client Firm of the Year – Boutique
Congratulations to everyone else who has been shortlisted.
We look forward to October when we’ll be celebrating success and innovation in the sector.
We are proud to announce that Pavilion Row has been successfully awarded STEP Platinum Employer Partner status.
This recognition places the firm among a select group of organisations recognised for creating best-in-class learning and development environments within the Private Client sector.
Achieving Platinum status reflects our continued commitment to building an open collaborative culture where individuals are supported to grow, develop technical excellence and realise their full potential. We believe that investing in people is fundamental to delivering consistently high standards of service and achieving positive outcomes for our clients.
Our approach to learning and development is intentional and structured. From clear career pathways to ongoing professional qualifications and leadership development, we aim to create an environment where ambition is supported and progression is achievable.
The accreditation also recognises the contribution of our senior leadership team, whose active involvement in mentoring, professional development and wider industry engagement helps to shape both our internal culture and our external reputation.
This milestone is the result of the collective effort, professionalism and commitment of the entire Pavilion Row team. We are grateful for the continued support of our colleagues and partners and look forward to building further on this achievement.
Congratulations to our colleagues Natalie Tijanic and Ellie Denton for passing the STEP Advanced Certificate in Will Preparation.
We are super proud of them for all their hard work. It is not an easy exam and it demonstrates their commitment to ensuring that clients receive the best possible advice.
The Government has announced that the temporary legislation to allow the remote signing of Wills, is not being extended beyond 31st January 2024, marking a significant move backwards towards traditional legal formalities.
The temporary measures were put in place during the COVID pandemic, to allow people to get their Will in place whilst respecting the limitations imposed by lockdowns. Originally allowed until January 2022 and then further extended until January 2024, the legislation was particularly invaluable for those self- isolating due to health concerns.
Whilst removing the flexibility for some, it does highlight the importance of ensuring the correct witnessing of critical documents. Wills are highly contested documents and security of the signing process needs to be protected particularly for the vulnerable.
A Will is not just a document. It sets out a person’s final wishes and we have a duty of care to protect these wishes once the person has died. For us at Pavilion Row, this also extends to checking any concerns regarding undue influence, potential fraud or lack of capacity so that we can put in place measures to minimise the success if a claim is ever made.
The digitalisation of making a Will, both regarding how we give the instructions and the signing of the document, will continue to be debated and evolve. However, it remains that the process for creating and signing of a Will must be robust so that a person’s wishes can be protected and fulfilled.
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 aware of!
Which trusts are affected?
The majority of non-taxable trusts are now within the scope of the registration regime.
This includes lifetime Trusts but, importantly, also Trusts set up by a Will when somebody dies.
Will Trusts are often “passive” trusts which can easily be overlooked or forgotten about by Trustees. For example, a Life Interest Trust containing a share of the property. If the life tenant (often the spouse) remains living in the property, it is easy to forget or not realise that there is a Trust which needs to be registered.
What are a trustee’s responsibilities?
Legal responsibility for registration falls on the trustees, and it is a matter for trustees to decide and appoint a lead trustee to do this.
The trustees are required to keep accurate and up-to-date written records of the beneficial owners, including settlors (the people who established the trust), trustees, and beneficiaries.
The lead trustee is also required to update the register within 90 days of any changes/ updates occurring.
What happens if you do not register a trust with the TRS?
There is a legal obligation for trustees to register the trust. If you do not register the trust or keep the details on the register up to date, HMRC may impose penalties and fines for non-compliance.
Please contact us if you would like any advice.
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!
