Government proposals unveiled this week could result in a hundredfold increase in probate fees for some families, reports The Financial Times. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published its plans to reduce the £1.1bn annual cost of running the court system by introducing a revised probate fees structure in England and Wales.

The death of David Bowie last month caused a generation to mourn the loss of one of the world's most charismatic musical stars. The man associated with numerous wild and wacky on-stage personas was perhaps one of the last people you would associate with planning for his death and making sure that his financial situation was left in a highly organised manner.

Ordinary individuals inheriting assets from overseas could risk criminal charges if they miscalculate the tax owed, reports The Telegraph.

The BBC has reported that the cost of public health funerals, also known as paupers’ funerals, has risen by almost 30% to £1.7m in the past four years. The number of these funerals taking place has also risen by 11% over the same period.

Following sustained and increasingly vocal lobbying from customers and consumer groups, a number of leading UK banks have increased the amount of money that can be released from deceased customer accounts to their grieving families without first having to apply for probate, This Is Money reports.

We came across this piece of news recently in the Lincolnshire Echo, but whilst this is a regional story the topic is one of national importance. The article tackles unregulated probate providers and how they may target and take advantage of elderly individuals through practices such as cold-calling.

We came across this story in the Birmingham Post a few days ago and, due to its landmark status as an inheritance case, thought we'd share with you some of the details. The case involved the partner of Ms Elizabeth Walker – a noted ecologist – fighting a legal challenge presented by her daughters regarding what he had inherited in her will.