ICAS members to offer probate services

Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) working in England and Wales are set to be granted the right to offer probate services.

This would represent a landmark decision, given the fact that until now probate services - related to handling a dead person's estate – have been undertaken by solicitors.

The decision to give chartered accountants these powers was made after the Legal Services Consultative Panel recommended that ICAS should be granted the approved body status to provide probate services to the Ministry of Justice.

Chief executive Anton Colella said: "We think that 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, recognising as it does, their expertise in tax planning, estates and trusts.

"We intend to roll out a training programme for chartered accountants in England and Wales who wish to provide these services, ensuring that the public can have confidence that our members will offer a service which is of the highest quality."