Probate work breakthrough for Scottish accountants

Probate accountancy work in England and Wales is to be opened up for tender to Scottish accountants, it has been reported.

Currently dominated by the legal profession, wills and probate work will now be available as a service from members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (Icas), according to the Scotsman.

Executive director of regulation and compliance at Icas Vivienne Muir told the newspaper: "In gaining probate rights in England and Wales, we have had to satisfy strict criteria relating to training, expertise and consumer protection."

Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales will also be able to bid for wills and probate work, following the approval of the applications made to the Ministry of Justice.

Final approval will still be required from Westminster; however, Icas has already made a similar application to the Court of Session in Scotland to open up similar accountancy work north of the border, the newspaper reports.

The Icas was the world's first body established to represent the needs of accountancy professionals and received the Royal Charter in 1954.