ICAS accountants working in England and Wales look set to challenge lawyers by being able to offer probate services in the winding up of deceased estates.
This follows the legal services consultative panel, chaired by Lord Justice Moore-Bick, recommending to the Ministry of Justice that ICAS be granted approved body status for the provision of probate services.
A report in The Scotsman said 1,300 ICAS members working in England and Wales were about to be granted rights to offer these services.
The market for probate services is worth millions of pounds and, until now, the preparation of papers to obtain a grant of probate has been the solely undertaken by solicitors.
ICAS chief executive Anton Colella said: ‘We think allowing chartered accountants to provide probate services is a good thing for the public in terms of providing more choice without compromising quality, and a good thing for our members.’
Further reading:
ICAS urges FRC contingency plans for Big Four collapse
What’s the big ICAS secret?
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