The revised fee applies to all requests for copies of grants of probate, letters of administration, and wills held by the Probate Registry. It affects both initial applications and subsequent requests, including those for historical records. Whether ordered during the probate process or years later for research or legal purposes, each copy will now incur the significantly higher cost.

Implications for practitioners, families, and researchers:

• Those administrating estates should reassess how many copies are absolutely necessary. Multiple originals are often required to deal with banks, insurers, share registrars, and property transactions.
• Legal professionals and genealogists accessing archived probate records will need to factor in the higher retrieval costs.
• Some institutions now accept scanned or sealed digital versions. It’s advisable to confirm requirements before ordering multiple originals.
• Copies can often be returned after use – this may help reduce the number needed overall.

This near-1000% increase raises broader concerns about affordability and access to public records, particularly for individuals navigating probate without legal representation. It also places additional financial pressure on those managing modest estates or conducting historical research.

The last major change came in 2017, when the fee doubled from £5 to £10 following the closure of many public probate registries. As the process moved online and became less labour-intensive, the price later dropped to £1.50. The Ministry of Justice has now justified the latest hike in price as a reflection of the operational costs incurred by HMCTS.

This change is likely to affect a wide range of stakeholders – from solicitors and probate practitioners to genealogists, financial institutions, and families managing estates. For those managing estates or researching family histories, adapting early will make a meaningful difference.

Speak to our team about how we can help matters stay efficient, cost-conscious, and client-focused in the face of rising fees.

The post Probate Copy Fees to Rocket from £1.50 to £16 appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

The much-anticipated National Will Register annual will writing report was published recently, and as ever, its findings make for interesting reading.

Whilst the headlines will no doubt focus on the statistic that just 37% of the 2,000 adults surveyed actually had a will in place, there are other interesting insights and trends emerging, such as 36% of people being comfortable with the concept of having a ‘digital will’.

Changing Attitudes to Will Writing in the UK

In fact, the report covers plenty of traditional and more technology-led questions around will writing in the UK, highlighting how attitudes and expectations are beginning to change. That said, over half of those with a will had used the services of either a solicitor or a will writer, with just 14% relying on a ‘DIY’ will writing option.

Perhaps as expected, older generations were more likely to have succession plans in place, with only 20% of respondents aged 18 to 24 currently holding a will. Although the overall number of people with a will decreased compared to the previous year, 34% of respondents said they intended to write one within the next 12 months – a significant proportion.

Maybe the most worrying aspect of the report was the fact that 25% of people advised that they didn’t actually know how to write a will. This suggests that despite continued efforts to raise awareness of will writing across the country, some were still not getting – or listening to – the message.

More positively, the report revealed a noticeable increase in the amount of people now comfortable in talking about death with their loved ones, representing a sizeable 8% increase against last year.

Lastly, on the question of where a will is stored, 25% said that they kept their will at home, with half giving the responsibility to their solicitor or will writer. Rather worryingly, 29% of people haven’t told anyone where their will is stored.

The link to download this report directly can be found here: https://www.oneadvanced.com/campaigns/legal/the-national-wills-report-2025/

How Anglia Research Can Help

As a probate genealogy firm, we can of course assist in cases where there is a will AND where there is not.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹: We can trace missing beneficiaries who have been named in a will that can’t be located, whether that’s a straightforward address check or a more complex case requiring international research.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝘄𝗶ll: We are extremely well-versed in dealing with intestate matters. We offer probate practitioners help and assistance, whether verifying a family tree and establishing entitlement, or giving other support around the rules of intestacy.

Do get in contact us to find out more.

The post The Will Writing Wake-Up Call: 1 in 4 Don’t Know Where to Start appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

Bereavement is hard enough – additional stress is the last thing grieving families should face. Yet research from Which? shows that for many executors, navigating banks bereavement services is far from straightforward.

Probate is the legal process of settling a deceased person’s estate and is already an emotionally and administratively demanding responsibility. Executors must apply for probate, settle debts, manage tax obligations, and distribute assets, and each bank has its own approach to things. Which? found that banks often make this already challenging process harder than it needs to be.

The reality for these executors is laid out in this study by Which? who found that one in five executors surveyed described their experience with banks as “difficult”, reporting delays, lost documents, and contradictory advice from staff. For some, these issues directly impacted funeral payments or extended the time it took to settle estates.

Whilst Santander led the way with 80% satisfaction, other banks scored far lower, with HSBC and Barclays leaving many executors frustrated. The gap shows that good bereavement services are possible but that consistency across the industry is lacking.

The Financial Conduct Authority has already cautioned banks against complacency, urging better staff training and clearer processes. End of life charities such as Marie Curie have also called for simpler, more compassionate “sadmin”, death administration that recognises the human impact behind the paperwork.

Behind every statistic is a grieving family trying to do right by their loved one. Delays and errors don’t just cost time and money; they add to emotional strain at an already vulnerable moment. Executors often feel they’re left carrying both the administrative and emotional burden alone.

We offer a range of services that can assist lay executors fulfil their obligations, such as locating missing beneficiaries, undertaking bankruptcy or financial asset searches, or even proving missing beneficiary insurance quotes. Please get in touch with our team of legal experts to find out how we can help.

The post Banks & Bereavements: The Hidden Cost of “Sadmin” appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces and the end of the Second World War. This year is the 80th anniversary of that historic moment.

Across the UK, many events are taking place to commemorate the occasion. Buckingham Palace have announced that King Charles III will address the nation, while the Royal British Legion will host a National Commemorative Event at the National Memorial Arboretum. The day will see 400 Armed Forces members in attendance, a Red Arrows flypast, and live performances by military bands.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also pause to remember the lives lost. There were more than 90,000 British casualties in the conflict with Japan, and over a third of them were held as prisoners of war.

One of the most tragic episodes was the sinking of the Lisbon Maru in 1942, a Japanese freighter carrying over 1,800 prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Japan. Unaware that British and Commonwealth soldiers were onboard, a US Navy submarine torpedoed the ship. In the chaos, Chinese fishermen gallantly risked their own lives under open fire to rescue survivors.

Many of the 828 soldiers who lost their lives originated from Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. Anglia Research Services Ltd played a key role in tracing the descendants of those who lost their lives, and our work was featured in the documentary film “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.” Our team of probate genealogists were able to locate the living relatives of the prisoners who had been on board and allowed them to attend the premiere of the documentary.

We are honoured to share that the film will be available to view from today, only in the UK and Ireland.
You can watch the film here: “The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru” Watch Online

On this 80th anniversary of VJ Day, we remember not only the victory, but the sacrifices and courage of all who served and suffered during the Second World War.

 

The post VJ Day 80th Anniversary appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

What began as a curious garden find has now blossomed into a touching piece of local family history.

When gardener Adam Elshaw discovered a pristine letter dated 21st January 1955 under an acer tree in a Wolverhampton Garden, he had no idea it would connect him – and us – to a love story nearly 70 years old.

The letter, typed on paper from Ashleigh Court in Torquay, was addressed to JR Gwilt Esquire of Stafford Road, Fordhouses. It outlined hotel rates for a stay, including meals, and appeared to respond to a booking enquiry. How it ended up buried beneath a tree, untouched by time, was a mystery.

Or at least it was, thanks to the team at Anglia Research and the work of one of our genealogists, the mystery has now been solved.

After reading this article in passing on a train journey, our Head of Probate Richard Tinkler knew this was exactly the kind of thing we could help with. He passed the story to our Regional Head, Eileen Lavelle, who set to solving it.

The letter was written to John Raymond Gwilt, born in 1933, and it turns out it was part of the arrangements for his honeymoon with Barbara Mary Lawley. The couple married on 4th April 1955 and the timing of the letter lines up perfectly with their plans.

Their son, David John Gwilt, confirmed the details after being sent a photo of the letter by his sister, Jane via WhatsApp. He responded:

“I am absolutely sure my father was arranging accommodation for my parents’ honeymoon – the dates match up. I know that their honeymoon was in the Torbay area.”

David and his sister Jane were delighted to learn the letter had been discovered, as well as surprised at how quickly the story had travelled.

The address on the letter 501 Stafford Road, Wolverhampton. It matched that of John Raymond Gwilt’s parents, Major Harry Gwilt and Lily Gwilt (née Dalton), who were recorded as living there in 1939. It was the address of the flat above the family butchers shop established by Harry & Lily, John continued the family business for decades (photo below).

How the letter ended up under a tree in Tettenhall remains a mystery. It may have been tucked away in an attic and slipped from a moving box or van as the property changed hands. The house has changed ownership three times since David Gwilt’s parents lived there.

What is clear now is that it was never just a random scrap of old paper – it was a preserved memory from the early days of a marriage that would last a lifetime.

“Our parents and grandparents were very kind people, and it’s wonderful that their memory can be honoured in this way.”

We’re grateful to the Gwilt family for allowing us to share their story and to Adam for recognising the letter’s significance. It’s not every day you uncover a honeymoon booking from the 1950s in someone’s flower bed.

By Chloe Pipe

The post Lost In Time: A Honeymoon Letter Discovered After 70 Years appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

News from His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) confirms a major shift in the probate landscape, as reported by Todays Wills & Probate. According to their annual report, the total open probate caseload has been reduced by nearly 50% in the past year, from over 69,000 to under 35,500.

This certainly appears to be a positive development. A longstanding source of frustration within the legal sector, the backlog of probate cases has previously attracted criticism due to lengthy wait times and delays to the estate administration process. Now, with increased staffing and a more robust digital infrastructure, HMCTS appears to be making progress.

The headline numbers are encouraging. Workable cases have dropped by 75%, and digital applications are now processed in just over five weeks which is four times faster than the paper route. The government’s digitisation efforts have clearly begun to provide tangible results. In fact, 80% of all probate applications are now submitted online, a remarkable leap from just 17% in 2019.

But a closer look reveals that this milestone may have its own hurdles to overcome.

Beneath the surface, a sizeable portion of the remaining caseload is not simply sitting in a queue – it’s stuck. Over 26,000 applications are currently on hold, waiting on further information or clarification from the applicant. These are not cases that can be pushed through with faster processing times. These cases are stalled by missing information, unresolved queries, or complex legal issues.

This is where professional support becomes essential.

Expertise still matters. For legal professionals, particularly those dealing with estates that involve missing heirs, unclear family structures, or international beneficiaries – where probate genealogists can help the processing times become irrelevant as the underlying problems remain unsolved.

Although speed is preferred with these processes, the quicker turnaround for digital applications could bring added pressure to get things right first time. This leaves less room for error, and more risk for those trying to navigate probate alone online.

For professional users, the improvements may ease some frustrations, but they also raise questions. How would the system handle a sudden surge in new applications? What happens when speed meets complexity? And crucially, where are the safeguards for ensuring that only the rightful heirs benefit? As these services move online we are seeing an increase in fraudulent wills and inheritance fraud.

Probate may be moving forward, but without the right checks and balances, there’s still a risk of vulnerable estates slipping through the cracks.

By Chloe Pipe

The post Probate Backlog Halved – Digital Wins and Digital Limits appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

Our latest bite-sized webinar offers invaluable insights into the often-complex world of adoption records, directly from our experts at Anglia Research.

In this concise yet informative session, we delve into the crucial elements to consider when navigating adoption records accompanied by some interesting case stories from our experts. Understanding the processes and potential pitfalls in these documents is vital for anyone seeking to trace family histories or resolve heirship cases.

You’ll hear directly from two of our leading figures at Anglia Research: Eileen Lavelle, our esteemed Regional Head, and Joe Lander, our knowledgeable Business Development Director. They share their extensive knowledge and practical experience, discussing matters that are integral to the daily work of probate genealogists.

Whether you’re a legal professional in the probate world or simply interested in the intricacies of looking into family history, don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your genealogical expertise and gain valuable perspectives from the frontline of probate research.

The post Adoption Webinar with Eileen Lavelle and Joe Lander appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

We’re delighted to share some exciting news from the recent Modern Law Private Client Awards honouring our team here at Anglia Research Ltd. It was an evening filled with celebration, topped off with a great dinner and a proud moment as we received a Highly Commended award in the category of “Supporting the Industry 26+ Employees”!

This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our entire team. We’re passionate about what we do, and it’s wonderful to see our commitment to supporting the industry acknowledged in such a significant way.

It is always a pleasure bringing together groups of leading professionals and firms from across the UK’s private client sector. A huge congratulations to all the winners and highly commended companies at this year’s awards. We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to the team at Modern Law for hosting yet another memorable event.

You can find the full list of winners and nominees from this year on the Modern Law Private Client Awards website.

The post Modern Law Private Client Awards appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

Episode four of the BBC podcast series “The Grave Robbers” airs on Wednesday 30^th July 2025. The series follows the investigative journalist Sue Mitchell as she tracks down fraudsters who were able to take advantage of systemic weaknesses to claim estates that were never theirs, leaving rightful heirs omitted.

The team here at Anglia Research has been instrumental in the podcast, providing details of three of the cases that form part of the series so far. In fact, it was our founder, Peter Turvey, who first approached Sue Mitchell with the troubling story.

“I contacted the BBC investigative journalist Sue Mitchell, whose work I knew from an impressive radio series about the misuse of Powers of Attorney. She was immediately keen to take it on, and I passed all my information on to her and then worked closely with her on continuing investigatory work.”

“There’s a slackness in the online system which the fraudsters have manipulated to their benefit.”

As the investigation gathered pace and concerns mounted over how estate details were being sourced, the Government Legal Department temporarily suspended the publication of the Bona Vacantia list (also known as the Unclaimed Estates list) on 7th July 2025.

When someone dies without a valid will and with no known relatives, their estate – if valued at £500 or more – is added to the unclaimed estates list. We have written previously about the Bona Vacantia list. As of 28^th July 2025, the list is yet to be republished, and a backlog of new cases is growing daily.

The temporary suspension has prompted serious reflection within the legal sector about how best to protect the vulnerable and prevent fraud in an increasingly digital world. It’s important to note, however, that not all the cases we identified originated from the Bona Vacantia list. This is an important detail that has been somewhat lost as the story has developed.

Importantly, the instructed work we undertake for solicitors and other legal professionals is entirely unaffected. We continue to operate as normal, and new instructions can be submitted in the usual way.

The podcast highlights the key role played by probate genealogists in unearthing unusual activity with their years of experience, keen eyes for detail, and having a professional instinct for when something doesn’t seem right.

“Anglia Research’s reputation for integrity and competence has been enhanced further and every day we are seeing new referrals from within the legal world.” Says Peter.

For more information on any part of this article or to discuss any other matter, please do get in contact with us.

The post From Research to Reform: Anglia Research’s Role in Breaking the Story appeared first on Anglia Research Services.

The way probate is being dealt with in England & Wales is changing. As DIY probate applications rise by 25%, it reflects a broader transformation happening in the legal services world. It begs the question, what is driving people to take matters into their own hands?

The increased use of digital paperless systems by the HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) can provide people a cheaper and sometimes quicker option when it comes to dealing with probate. However, this “easy approach” can be an illusion which lulls people into a false sense of security.

Although it may be more economical attempting these processes themselves, it can lead to issues later down the line that are time-consuming and expensive to rectify. The risks involved are plentiful – errors with calculating and paying inheritance tax, or dealing with complicated and sometimes uncooperative financial institutions, or not finding missing beneficiaries, to name just a few. In addition to this, the eye of a professional may be essential to identifying crucial details that could result in a much larger estate or inheritance and minimising the risk of surprise liabilities emerging later.

HMCTS’s digital system is a route for many to take matters into their own hands if they want to save costs. However, it can come with a huge amount of administration pressures and additional unnecessary stress. Help is always required in instances where there are disputes among heirs, unclear or contested wills, as well as high-value estates or taxable estates.

Is it empowering or risky to take the reins? It is no secret that the role of lay executor carries a great burden of responsibility and legal liability. Whether handling the estate of a dear friend or close family member out of a personal duty or perhaps to keep a promise made, it certainly doesn’t make the job any easier.

From an administrative perspective, there is plenty for an executor to do, and plenty which can go wrong, even in the more straightforward cases. The road is fraught with potential pitfalls, especially for those unfamiliar with the estate administration process.

In England and Wales, the stakes are high; executors can be held personally financially liable for any loss to the estate resulting from a breach of their duties. This daunting prospect is enough to drive many to instruct a professional.

It is not just the administration side that is often underestimated – the emotional burden can be overwhelming, especially when dealing with the estate of a loved one.

There is certainly plenty for a would-be executor to ponder.

Written by Chloe Pipe

The post Navigating DIY Probate: Unseen Dangers and the Value of Expertise appeared first on Anglia Research Services.