Aidan Grant: Probate fees - will deathbed planning come back to life?

In recent months, despite the parliamentary timetable being filled with Brexit discussions, the government has persevered with the introduction of a sharp hike in the probate fees on larger estates, which is due to take effect from April 2019. Putting to one side discussions about whether the increase should be considered a 'tax' or a 'fee' - that is an argument perhaps best left for the politicians - it is important for advisers to consider the ways in which this increase will affect their clients and where the opportunities may lie for savings. As things stand, probate applications ...