Latest news
Guidance on supporting neurodivergent employees
- Helpsheets and support
- 08 Sep 2026
ICAEW has published guidance to help firms support neurodivergent employees and develop more inclusive workplace practices. The guidance draws on findings from ICAEW’s 2025 Diversity Survey, which found that 11% of employees at ICAEW-accredited legal services firms identified as neurodivergent and that 67% of those employees had not disclosed this to their employer.
Supporting vulnerable consumers during probate and estate administration
- Helpsheets and support
- 10 Aug 2026
ICAEW guidance for accredited legal services firms on recognising and responding to consumer vulnerability during probate and estate administration. The guidance aims to support firms to identify and address avoidable barriers, provide proportionate support to vulnerable consumers and ensure firms meet their ethical and regulatory obligations when providing legal services.
Adopt LeO’s new Model Complaints Resolution Procedure
- Website
- 05 Aug 2026
The new procedure is a framework designed to help legal service providers resolve complaints in a way that is clear, fair and focused on achieving an outcome as early as possible. The procedure encourages a resolution-focused approach, recognising that many complaints can be settled through early engagement and constructive dialogue, while still providing a clear route for more detailed investigation where needed.
2027 Probate and oaths fees consultation
- ICAEW consultation and response
- 13 Jul 2026
This consultation ran between 13 July – 14 August 2026 and is now closed. Recognising inflationary and other pressures on registered firms and to continue delivering our programme of activity to fulfil our objectives under the Legal Services Act, we proposed a 1% increase to 2027 probate and oaths accreditation fees and a 95% reduction in the levy.
Have your say on proposed changes to LeO Scheme Rules for complaints handling
- Article
- 08 Jul 2026
ICAEW-accredited probate firms are invited to respond to the Office for Legal Complaints’ consultation on proposed changes to the Legal Ombudsman’s Scheme Rules, case fees and publication of decisions. Share your views by midday on 2 September 2026.
Supervision, delegation and accountability guidance following the Mazur appeal
- Article
- 18 Jun 2026
This guidance explains the Court of Appeal’s decision in Mazur and its broader relevance to ICAEW-accredited legal services firms carrying out probate work. While the appeal decision does not change the position for ICAEW accredited firms, it reinforces the importance of effective supervision where work is delegated to unauthorised staff.
Legal services regulatory update 2026 webinar recording
- Article
- 09 Jun 2026
Watch back this webinar for an opportunity to hear from a range of speakers providing updates on the regulation of the reserved legal services of probate and oaths administration.
HMCTS update for probate firms: June 2026
- Article
- 05 Jun 2026
Read the latest updates from HMCTS including information on current probate service waiting times, action being taken to reduce stopped cases, developments to digital applications, and HMCTS’s latest guidance for professional users following recent legal developments.
All available issues of Probate News e-newsletters
Probate News, Issue 27
- Newsletter
- 31 Jul 2025
Explore resources for firms and information to share with clients including a new article on inheritance tax. Read about updates to the engagement letter template, annual return FAQs for probate firms, the 2026 fees consultation, and webinar to go through the 2025 Probate Diversity Survey results.
Probate News, Issue 26
- Newsletter
- 08 Apr 2025
Register for our June Legal Services Update webinar, find out how we performed in the Legal Services Board’s annual assessment, read the latest information from HMCTS and join our Legal services reference group to share your views with our Policy Team.
Probate News, Issue 25
- Newsletter
- 27 Jan 2025
Give your view on proposed changes which, among other amendments, will introduce the service of the administration of oaths, sign up to the Probate Diversity Survey webinar to learn what’s new for 2025 and access resources and an update from HMCTS.
Probate News, Issue 24
- Professional standards
- 07 Aug 2024
Sign up to our Legal Services Update webinar, give your view on ICAEW’s proposed fee scales for 2025 and use our consumer guides as a resource for your clients. We also share upcoming changes to professional indemnity insurance requirements and the ICAEW Code of Ethics.
Probate News, Issue 23
- Newsletter
- 05 Feb 2024
In this issue, alongside our headline stories, you can also find out about our recent meeting with HMCTS, check the complaints information you are publishing is correct and find reminders of key updates for probate firms via our refreshed news webpage.
Probate News, Issue 22
- Newsletter
- 28 Jun 2023
In this issue, access our updated engagement letter helpsheet, see what's changed in the Legal Services Regulations, respond to our consultation on proposed probate fees for 2024 and read our review of the Mercia training course.
Regulation & Conduct News
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Useful links
Please make use of the following resources to ensure you are up to date with the latest regulatory information and news:
- Regulatory hub
- Anti-money laundering - the essentials
- Audit News
- ATOL News
- Designated Professional Investment Business (DPB) News
- Probate News
- Insolvency News
- Regulation & Conduct News
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- Regulatory webinars
- Legal Services Board's strategy
- ICAEW Regulation & Conduct 2030 Strategy