Whilst the main IHT thresholds will remain frozen until April 2031: namely:-

• The Nil Rate Band – £325,000
• The Residence Nil Rate Band – £175,000
• The IHT rate remains at 40%

several significant changes have come into effect as of 6 April 2026.

Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) are IHT reliefs that can reduce, or even eliminate, the IHT due on qualifying agricultural or business assets when someone dies. This includes IHT that may arise on certain lifetime gifts of qualifying assets that become taxable on death.

Until now, qualifying assets could often pass 100% free of IHT, regardless of their value.

Instead, full relief will now be capped at £2.5m for each individual, with any excess attracting 50% relief.

There have been two significant changes since the measures were first announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget. The first was that any unused allowance will be transferrable between spouses and civil partners (announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget); and the second was that the allowance would be increased from £1m to £2.5m per person (announced on 23 December 2025).

Changes to AIM shares

Until now, ‘unlisted’ shares, including qualifying Alternative Investment Market (AIM) shares could attract 100% Business Property Relief (BPR).

Instead, BPR on these shares will now reduce from 100% to 50%. This therefore means that only half the value of the AIM shares will be disregarded for IHT purposes, providing all conditions are met. In practice, this effectively means that this change creates a 20% IHT charge on qualifying AIM investments at death.

Looking Ahead – Pensions

At present, individuals can accumulate unlimited tax-free savings in their pension, draw on other means to fund their retirement and leave their unused pension assets to be inherited by beneficiaries without any Inheritance Tax charge.

From 6 April 2027, all unused pension funds and death benefits will be brought into a person’s estate for IHT purposes on death.

For many families, particularly those with land-rich or asset-heavy businesses, the above changes could result in a significant IHT bill where there may not have been any IHT expected previously.

These changes mean that it is essential to:

• Review the value of your assets
• Revisit your Wills and succession plans
• Consider whether the changes will have an impact on the Inheritance Tax position of your estate.

Contact our Wills and Probate Team on 01743 248545 (Shrewsbury) or 01948 663361 (Whitchurch), or complete a Contact Form.

The post Changes to Inheritance Tax Rules from April 2026 first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

Please join us in congratulating three outstanding colleagues whose contributions continue to make a meaningful impact across our teams.

Edward Christie – Associate Solicitor

Since joining the firm in early 2024, Edward has made a positive lasting impact within our Wills & Probate team. His approachable manner and commitment to delivering high-quality client service have quickly established him as a trusted advisor to clients and colleagues alike. Edward’s promotion to Associate Solicitor is a testament to his hard work and professionalism. We are particularly pleased to support him as he continues his professional development and works towards completing his STEP qualification.

Michelle Grey – Associate & Residential Property Executive

Michelle has been working in our Residential Property Team for over 15 years. Michelle is consistently delivering outstanding results as well as building long-standing relationships with clients and other professionals in the field. Michelle has recently qualified as a Conveyancing Technician – an outstanding personal and professional achievement. Her progression reflects both her depth of experience and her ongoing commitment to her firm!

Emma Rigby – Associate Solicitor

Since joining the firm in 2025, Emma has quickly become an integral part of our Commercial Property team. Her strong relationship with clients and her exceptional experiences has made a significant contribution to our Commercial Property department. Emma’s promotion to Associate Solicitor recognises the positive impact she has made in a short space of time. We look forward to supporting her continued growth and seeing her career flourish in the years ahead.

We remain committed to investing in our people and supporting their professional development at every stage of their careers.

Congratulations once again to Edward, Michelle, and Emma on these well-earned achievements.

The post Celebrating Our Latest Promotions first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

What will happen if I die without a will?

If you don’t decide what happens to your estate, the law will.

Without a will, your estate will be distributed under the UK’s intestacy rules.

These rules set out who inherits – and in what order – regardless of personal wishes, family dynamics, or verbal promises. For many families, that outcome isn’t what was intended.

Why is it important to have an up-to-date will?

Family circumstances can change – and so can relationships, finances and intentions.

Recent research by the Association of Lifetime Lawyers shows that 78% of UK lawyers have seen an increase in contested estates over the past five years. Many disputes arise due to:

• No will being in place
• Poorly drafted DIY wills
• Unequal distribution between children
• The complexities of blended families

How can we help?

A clearly drafted, regularly reviewed will can significantly reduce the risk of disputes.

Whether you need to update an existing will or put one in place for the first time, our Wills & Probate Team can help.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at mail@hatchers.co.uk, or by telephone on 01743 248545. You can also get started by filling out our Contact Us form.

The post Update Your Will Week 2026: Do You Have An Up-To-Date Will? first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

Megan Goodwin

Megan is an Apprentice Solicitor in our Commercial Property Team. She first joined Hatchers in 2017 as a Business and Administration Apprentice. After successfully completing her Level 2 National Vocational Qualification, Megan progressed into a Team Support role within the Commercial Property team, continuing her professional development within the firm.

Daisy Pearce

Daisy is a Finance and Administration Apprentice within our Accounts Team. Alongside her role at Hatchers, she is also working towards her accounting qualification through Shrewsbury Colleges Group, combining practical experience with formal study.

Lucy Pugh

Lucy joined Hatchers in September 2025 as a Receptionist and Business Apprentice. Prior to joining the firm, she studied Sport at college and played for Leicester City’s Under-21s team, demonstrating strong commitment and discipline both academically and professionally.

Sinead Smallcombe

Sinead  joined the firm in 2023 as a Paralegal and started her Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship in January 2025. Her role is varied, it includes legal research, drafting documents, progressing cases, and attending meetings and hearings. Sinead has said that she would recommend the apprenticeship route because its practical experience and offers financial benefits. She value Hatchers for its supportive, collaborative culture.

Interested in Becoming a Solicitor Apprentice?

We are currently seeking a motivated and ambitious individual to join our Personal Injury Team at our Shrewsbury office.

For the first six months, the successful candidate will provide administrative and paralegal support while becoming familiar with the firm, our systems, and our procedures. Following this initial period, the role will progress to the Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme, commencing in September 2026.

Find Out More

For further information about careers and apprenticeship opportunities at Hatchers, please visit: https://hatchers.co.uk/careers/

The post Meet Our Apprentices and Apprentice Solicitors first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

The new OPG registration fee is £92 per application, or £46 for applicants who are eligible for a fee reduction.

This fee is payable on every application (unless an exemption is applicable) and is in addition to legal fees.

How Can We Help?

For more information, or for help with setting up your LPA, you can get in touch with our Wills, Trusts and Probate Team on 01743 248545 or 01948 663361, or email mail@hatchers.co.uk.

The post LPA Registration Fees Increase – What You Need To Know first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

CQS is a mark of excellence within the conveyancing industry, assuring clients that we adhere to the most rigorous standards in practice management, client care, and legal expertise.

Achieving and maintaining this accreditation year after year reflects our dedicated team’s professionalism and ongoing efforts to continually improve and implement conveyancing best practices.

A huge well done to our staff on this excellent achievement, and a thank you to all our clients for their continued support!

If you need any assistance with conveyancing, speak with our team now on 01743 248545, or fill out a quick enquiry form

The post Celebrating Another Year of CQS Accreditation! first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

• A UK resident
• A first-time buyer
• Purchasing an additional property
• Acting through a company

Since September 2022, homeowners have benefitted from a temporary relief in SDLT, which is due to come to an end on 31^st March 2025. Therefore, any transaction that completes after this date will be affected by the change.

From 1^st April, SDLT will go back to being charged at the standard rates, and it is important that anyone purchasing a property is aware of how this will affect them.

The standard rates are as follows:

It is important to note that the buyers who may be most affected are those purchasing properties between £125,000 and £250,000, as they would have previously been eligible for a 100% relief on SDLT.

Those purchasing properties at a higher value will be subject to an increase in their SDLT liability due to the re-introduction of the lower bracket, being the 2% of £125,001 to £250,000.

There will also be changes to the relief available for first-time buyers, who will now be able to purchase a home of up to £300,000 in value without being liable for SDLT. If the price exceeds this, SDLT will be payable at 5% on the value between £300,001 and £500,000. If the property value exceeds £500,000, no relief will be available.

There are special rates and different rules in circumstances where a buyer:

• Already owns a property
• Is not a UK resident
• Is acting under a corporate body
• Is dealing with a shared ownership property
• Is making multiple purchases

It is imperative that appropriate advice is obtained. It may be appropriate to instruct an accountant in these circumstances.

How Can We Help?

Thinking of moving house? Our team can help – we’re CQS accredited and committed to making the moving process as smooth as possible. When you instruct Hatchers to assist with your purchase, you will also have the ability to include the services of our third-party advisors, Stamp4, in respect of your SDLT liability.

Call our team today on 01743 248545 to get your enquiry started.

The post Stamp Duty Land Tax – The Changes You Need To Know About first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

This campaign is hosted by Remember A Charity, a registered UK charity launched in 2000 and part of the Chartered Institute of Funding – their goal is to encourage people to consider leaving a gift to charity after taking care of friends and family.

According to Remember A Charity, currently 6% of people leave a gift to charity in their Will. But if this increased to 10%, another £1 million could be generated for good causes each year.

Remember A Charity’s mission is for people to remember that every gift to a charity, no matter the size, is extremely valuable. If a charity has touched your life or someone you care about, Remember A Charity are encouraging people to consider saying thank you by leaving a gift in your Will.

Additionally, from an estate planning perspective, you can reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax payable by your estate by leaving a gift to charity in your will. For more information, click here: https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax

If you are considering leaving a gift to charity in your Will, you can speak with our Wills and Probate specialists on 01743 248545 or send an email to mail@hatchers.co.uk.

The post Remember a Charity Week: 9th–15th September first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

In a recent research project that involved observing magistrates’ courts over six months, the researchers (‘courtwatchers’) found that more than one in five defendants are unrepresented at trial (21%), often to their disadvantage. There were multiple reports of defendants not receiving papers for hearings in advance, and in one (protest) case, the prosecutor was apparently reluctant to go through the hassle of having to print out documents for each defendant.

Defendants struggled to understand the nature of the process that they had become embroiled in, a confusion shared by the court watchers.

A significant minority of defendants appeared without a lawyer.

Courtwatchers felt that unrepresented defendants were severely disadvantaged by their lack of legal advice, even though court staff and judges made efforts to explain things.

Defendants who needed interpreters were some of the worst served by the court. And courtwatchers were alarmed to see hearings going ahead despite some defendants being clearly unwell.

A few courtwatchers picked up on inconsistencies in how defendants were dealt with which they saw as evidence of racial bias.

The researchers conclude:

“The fundamental flaw in our courts system highlighted by courtwatchers – that many defendants don’t know what’s happening in the court and so can’t meaningfully participate in the process – needs urgent action. We need simpler court proceedings so the process is intelligible to a layperson, and legal aid available for a wider range of circumstances. At the very least, we recommend introducing a support service for defendants, available in every magistrates’ court.”

How Can We Help?

We strongly advise against conducting your own legal defence. We can tell you whether you are eligible for legal aid and, if not, outline the alternative options available to you. Speak with our team on 01743 248545 for more information.

The post The Risks of Representing Yourself at Court first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.

Jacinta was inspired to enter the London Marathon after an encounter with Lynn Billington at Pwllheli parkrun in April 2023. Lynn (then aged 78) had already finished the course – she then ran back towards Jacinta to cheer her on and run alongside her to the finish line.

Lynn was a pioneer in women’s marathon running in the 1970s, and ran in the very first London marathon in 1981.

Inspired by Lynn’s story – and her fitness – Jacinta entered the ballot for the TCS London Marathon 2024 and was delighted to win a place.

Training started in Autumn 2023 and moved into serious gear after Christmas, following a 17-week training plan.

Sporting bib no. 72138, Jacinta set off from Greenwich last Sunday at 11:25am. Cheered on by her family and friends, she received many messages of support enroute and finished with a time of 6:26:26!

On completing the London Marathon, Jacinta commented:

“I am delighted to have completed what is often regarded as the best marathon in the world, and I will be forever grateful for the chance meeting with Lynn Billington and the support and encouragement that I have received from family, friends and colleagues all the way along my ‘1 year marathon journey’”.

Well done on this fantastic achievement, Jacinta!

The post Jacinta Walmsley Completes the London Marathon first appeared on Hatchers Solicitors.