CLC granted powers to issue licences to probate specialists

9 March, 2015

Government amendments to Deregulation Bill passed today at Lords’ Third Reading
CLC will be able to issue stand-alone licences to probate practitioners who are not also Licensed Conveyancers
Removes an unnecessary hurdle to new practitioners and supports the CLC strategy for the prompting of competition and innovation.   

The Lords yesterday accepted government amendments to the Deregulation Bill that will enable the Council for Licensed Conveyancers to licence specialist Probate Practitioners.

Until now, anyone wishing to be a CLC-regulated Probate Practitioner has also had to qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer. Today’s amendments tidy up that and other quirks in the framework of legislation governing the CLC.

Chair of the CLC Anna Bradley said: ‘We are very grateful to Opposition Front Bencher Baroness Hayter for opening up this route for achieving changes to the CLC’s regulatory framework and we are delighted that the government was able to bring forward its own amendments to secure our objectives. Being able to issue stand-alone licences to specialist Probate Practitioners supports our strategy of specialisation in property law services, maintaining high standards of consumer protection while driving competition and innovation.’

Details of the new stand alone licences and how to apply will be published later in the year.