Posted on August 11, 2026
If you've been an executor waiting on a grant of probate that seems to have vanished into a black hole, there's finally a formal route to do something about it. HM Courts and Tribunals Service confirmed this week that it has introduced a dedicated escalation pathway for probate applications that have been stuck for more than 12 weeks, or for cases that have already been queried and need further investigation. It's a small administrative change, but for anyone stuck mid-probate with a house sale on hold or bills piling up, it could matter a great deal.
Read More Posted on August 11, 2026
If you're separating and were counting on free mediation to sort out arrangements for your children or your finances, a new report should give you pause. The Justice Select Committee's "Access to Justice: Legal Aid" report, published this month, found that legal aid capacity for family mediation has become "significantly constrained" — and backed urgent calls to fix it. The reason is stark: the number of mediators still offering legal aid has fallen by 50% since 2018, largely because the rates paid to them have been frozen for 25 years and no longer cover the cost of the work.
For separating couples who assumed mediation would be the affordable, low-conflict route through their split, that's a serious problem. Here's what's actually going on, and what your options are if you can't find a legal aid mediator near you.
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