Power of Attorney should be made at the same time as the Will, says the Government

The Law Commission has published a consultation paper setting out proposals to amend the law of intestacy and family provision claims in England and Wales. The most controversial topic discussed in the paper is whether cohabitees should sometimes be granted a legacy. The Law Commission recommends that there should be an automatic entitlement after two years of cohabitation.

The Law Society has collected a sheaf of case studies showing that unregulated will writers are a severe risk to the public.

Lord Hunt's report on regulation of legal services, published this week, urges regulators to restrict will-writing and probate work to qualified lawyers.