Hope Shaw granted probate licence

The chartered accountancy firm, Hope Shaw, has become the first sole practitioner to be authorised to conduct probate work by a non-legal regulatory body; the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Hope Shaw provides fixed-fee general accounting services for local businesses and private clients, and is based in Sherborne, Dorset.

The ICAEW became the first non-legal body able to regulate probate services and a licensing body for alternative business structures (ABS) in August, and granted an ABS license to Kingston Smith earlier this month.

David Robinson, director of Hope Shaw commented: "It was a logical step to apply to become regulated to do probate work. It is an extra service we can provide to clients. At this firm we are very much part of the extended family and it gives me and my team immense job satisfaction to help our customers, many of whom I have known for a number of years. It was natural to use ICAEW as the regulator given that it already regulates the other services I provide as a chartered accountant."

The ICAEW has been keen to receive applications from chartered accountancy firms since its licensing authority status was confirmed by the Lord Chancellor.

Vernon Soare, ICAEW executive director, said: "Hope Shaw Ltd is exactly the type of firm that we wanted to apply to do probate work and why ICAEW became a licensing authority and regulator. It makes sense for practices such as Hope Shaw to provide this extra service when they are already providing inheritance tax and succession planning advice."

Binyamin Ali is assistant editor of Private Client Adviser