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Darlington solicitor welcomes government U-turn on ‘grief tax’

Anne Elliott, CEO of Latimer Hinks Solicitors, Darlington, has welcomed the government announcement by the justice secretary that plans to increase probate fees have been scrapped.

The original proposal called for fees on estates worth more than £2 million to increase from £215 to £20,000, however it was confirmed on Saturday 12 October that the bill would not be included in the Queen’s speech and had been scrapped.

The plan had been referred to as a ‘tax on grief,’ and had been considered by many legal professionals as unfair, as it was set to generate money to fund other areas of the judicial system not linked to estates.

Anne Elliott said: “At Latimer Hinks, we welcome the government’s decision to scrap the suggested increase to probate fees for estates worth more than £2 million.

“The U-turn has come following pressure from solicitors locally and nationally who know their clients and understand the real human impact the proposal would have had.

“I am delighted the government has listened to common sense coming from professionals working in the field and hope it will consider consulting with local solicitors before taking any decisions about probate in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by News Gathering .