The sixth annual British Wills and Probate Awards was hosted in Manchester on 11^th October recognising and celebrating excellence in the Wills and probate sector.

The awards are increasingly recognised as a badge of honour for practitioners who must demonstrate adherence to carefully selected category criteria. Each submission is scrutinised by a panel of expert judges drawn from across the legal services spectrum who independently score the entry. The top scoring firms in each category are recognised as winners and highly commended.

The process is necessarily stringent and designed to recognise the individuals and organisations who deliver technological and operational innovation, excellence in the technicalities of the law, and exceptional client service.

The winning Wills, Trusts and Probate team

With a record number of entries competition was fierce with Phillips Law coming out top in the prestigious Solicitor of the Year – South category. Commenting on their triumph, Sian Lias said

“We are delighted to be recognised for this award and it is a testament to the whole department for their hard work and high level of service provided to our clients.”

The British Wills and Probate Awards is the largest event dedicated to recognising excellence in the industry. It is hosted by Today’s Media, the publishers of trade publication Today’s Wills and Probate, an online news publication for solicitors, will writers and probate practitioners.

According to research conducted by charity consortium Remember a Charity, only 46% of over 40’s have a Will[1]. In most cases the issue is inertia, with many simply “not getting round” to writing their Will, or not considering they have enough wealth for it to be relevant. There are also common misconceptions about the way in which assets and wealth are distributed in the event of death with many assuming assets and wealth would pass to their partner. However, according to the Rules of Intestacy, this may not be the case.

Commenting on the evening, Andrew Houston of Headline Sponsor CTT Group said

“As we look back on the BWAP Awards, it’s evident that the event was a remarkable testament to the hard work, innovations and inspiration from our industry leaders. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation, with each nominee deserving of recognition for their outstanding contributions. We hope you all enjoyed the event as much as we did, and we can’t wait to see you all again next year!”

Further details about The British Wills and Probate Awards 2023, and a full recording of the evening’s celebration, are available at www.britishwillsandprobateawards.co.uk.

[1] https://todayswillsandprobate.co.uk/only-46-of-over-40s-have-a-will/