Page 78 • The HERALD • 20th November 2025 v THE HERALD - INDEPENDENT AND PROUD OF IT v ASK A PROFESSIONAL Wills and Illegal Goods - Ivory Issues Advice from Jasper Vincent Solicitors Working on the edge of the New Forest, we sometimes encounter probates where the person who died owned decorative items made of antlers or animal horn. Very rarely though, we deal with probates where the deceased owned items made of ivory instead. Ivory is much more problematic to deal with than antler - along with rhino horn, it is one of the most tightly controlled non-drug substances in the UK. is is because of an English law called the Ivory Act 2018. It almost completely bans dealing in any ivory items in the UK, even when it forms part of an estate. Under this law, it is generally illegal to buy, sell or o er ivory to another person. ere are four very rare exemptions to this general rule. You are allowed to deal with ivory if it meets any of these criteria: 1. Pre-1918 portrait miniatures under 320cm²; 2. Musical instruments made before 1975 with less than 10% ivory; 3. Items of outstanding artistic, cultural or historic value (certi cation of these types of items is required as proof of their background); or 4. Pre-1947 items with less than 10% ivory. If you handle a probate privately and deal with ivory without realising how restricted the material truly is, you may be ned, have the goods seized and see signi cant delays a ect that probate. e watchword is always caution with these items. Dealing with ivory could unwittingly lead you to a criminal record if you mistake it for something like bone. Antler and bone are usually unrestricted. Antler can sometimes be restricted if it has originated from an endangered species or a non-native deer species. In the context of dealing with an estate, we would always advise clients to obtain professional valuations of such items, in particular to ensure that no mistakes are made with their handling and that restricted items are not mis-identi ed as freely handled items. For an initial Will or probate consultation, feel free to contact our senior associate solicitor Edward Kennard at Jasper Vincent’s Waterside o ce on 023 8089 0919. Bake Off Raises Dough for Whizz Kids e team from Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton Division has been cooking up a storm, taking part in a charity bake o , raising £143 for children’s wheelchair charity Whizz Kids, which supports young wheelchair users with the equipment and skills they need to live independently. Part of a nationwide group initiative, the Big Barratt Bake O invited divisions across the country to show o their culinary air by baking cakes or pastries for colleagues to purchase. From aky pastries to showstopping sponges, this year’s competition saw 11 members of sta bake for a spot in the grand nal. With spooky season in full swing, there were plenty of Halloween-themed sweet treats among the entries. Held in a Great British Bake O style tent near Barratt David Wilson Homes’ headquarters, the nal will see each division’s top entrants go head-to-head to be crowned star baker. From the housebuilder’s Southampton division, Sasha May was chosen to go through to the nal with her millionaire loaf cake. Marketing Manager at Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton Division Megan Hamlyn said: “We’ve had a terrific turnout this year. I was delighted to see so many of my colleagues taking part – we ended up with an amazing spread! A fantastic effort was made when it came to the visual element. The Big Barratt Bake Off is a fantastic initiative that brings our teams together while supporting charities that make a real difference in our communities. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get involved, showcase their creativity.” Big Barratt Bake Off at Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton Division
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