The winter 2026 edition of Title Research’s news digest, Entitlement, is now available.
Entitlement is our industry-focused magazine aimed at Solicitors and legal professionals. Our winter edition is out now.
This quarter, we feature the following:
A lead article from guest author Andrew Bishop, Partner at Rothley Law. Howe v Howe attracted significant attention in early 2025, with commentary suggesting that the Courts were undermining testamentary freedom. In truth, the decision was a careful and orthodox application of the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, and the first to follow the Supreme Court’s ruling in Hirachand v Hirachand. In this article, Andrew reflects on the case, cutting through the headlines to examine why provision was made, how the Court approached issues such as conduct, estrangement, and debt, and what the judgment reveals about the continuing principles governing adult child claims in contentious probate litigation.
In our second article, Vanessa Ugatti, Keynote Speaker, Trainer/Coach, and Author, tackles one of the profession’s most persistent and uncomfortable challenges: how Private Client Solicitors can be paid their true worth without compromising their values. Drawing on her extensive experience working with Lawyers, she explores why fee discomfort, undervaluing work, and over-servicing clients are so prevalent in Private Client Practice, and how these issues affect both firm profitability and Lawyer wellbeing. The article makes a compelling case for shifting the focus from price to value, arguing that ethical billing, commercial confidence, and personal integrity are not only compatible but essential to sustainable and healthy legal practice.
We also bring you two articles from Title Research in this edition. The first examines the reinstatement of the Bona Vacantia unclaimed estates list, a significant development for the probate and genealogy industries. After the list was removed in July 2025 amid concerns about potential fraud, it has now been republished in a more restricted form, providing essential details that help identify unclaimed estates without exposing sensitive data. The piece explores the implications of these changes for the genealogy industry and for Legal Practitioners involved in tracing heirs and administering estates, highlighting both the opportunities and the practical challenges that come with the list’s return.
Finally, we conclude this edition with a second article from Title Research, which looks back at a transformative year in probate, estate administration, and tax reform in 2025. It explores how landmark changes in the UK’s Inheritance Tax regime, evolving genealogical research practices, and the growing complexity of cross‑border estates have impacted Executors, Legal Practitioners, and families alike. The article highlights the key legislative, technological, and practical developments of last year, offering insights to help legal professionals navigate the trends and challenges likely to shape 2026 and beyond.
We hope you enjoy the winter issue of Entitlement. If you'd like to contribute to future editions at any point, please email: marketing@titleresearch.com.
To access the winter 2026 edition of Entitlement, please use this link.
If you’d like to find out more about how Title Research can help you with probate genealogy or foreign asset repatriation, then please call our team on 0345 87 27 600 or fill in the form below.
Topics: Entitlement, Title Research, Bona Vacantia, Overseas Assets, Disputes, Guest writer, Solicitor, Ethical approach, Legal Professionals
