What is an executor? An executor is someone who is appointed in a will to carry out the administration of somebody’s estate after they have died. If there is no will, then the person who carries out this role is known as an administrator (and the...
If your farm is in Catchment Sensitive Area and produce or spread organic material such as slurry on your fields, then you may have had a letter from the Environment Agency (EA) recently about complying with the Farming Rules for Water this winter. I have...
On 29 November 2024, our MPs are due to debate and vote on the new Assisted Dying Bill. If passed, this bill will allow terminally ill adults to be given medical assistance to end their own life. There will be strict requirements to protect vulnerable...
It is a common misconception that people who live with their partner (known as cohabitees) enjoy the same rights as married couples. A recent survey conducted by Will Aid revealed that 32% of cohabitees mistakenly believed that their estate would...
As the dust begins to settle on the Budget, lawyers like me have had opportunity to get to grips with the changes made and to start thinking about tax and estate planning. Roythornes co-hosted a Succession event on Tuesday 5 November (which was put in the...
Unfortunately for some yard owners there will be the occasional livery who will not pay your invoice. There are a number of reasons why this might happen: The livery has ‘done a runner’ They claim not to have any money They...
Wills are a crucial part of planning for the future and yet only 44% of UK adults have made a Will according to the latest National Wills Report. This same report also found that 42% of adults have not talked to their loved ones about what happens upon their...
News 📰 Labour’s Employment Rights Bill has been released The Labour government’s new Employment Rights Bill was released on 10 October 2024. As yet, there is no firm implementation date for the new legislation, although commentators are...
When court proceedings are threatened, it can often be scary and daunting for people. This may be because of the complicated legal nature of the dispute, or because of the rules that need to be followed. In England and Wales, civil litigation is governed by...
It seems that almost all yard owners have the same three problems: the weather (either there’s too much rain or not enough); liveries falling out with each other (and expecting us to sort it); and the ridiculously low price of livery meaning that 99%...
A year ago, my colleague Caroline Elliott posted a blog regarding the possibility of reform of the law in England and Wales surrounding cohabitating couples. This followed the statement made at the Labour Party conference in 2023 by the then shadow...
As demonstrated in our previous blogs, food businesses face many challenges when marketing their products both in terms of labels and claims made when promoting and advertising their business and products. Here, we discuss whether there are any solutions to...
On 19 September 2024 the Care Quality Commission published its report on the state of Maternity Units in England. The report was based on inspections of 131 Maternity Units over a two year period. It found 47% of services were inadequate or required...
Many sufferers of allergies arising out of products of animal origin, for example lactose from dairy, have rightly identified that food shopping is fraught with difficulties and the range of truly ‘safe’ products is small. They have therefore...
Following a flurry of news reports involving individuals who have been injured at fairgrounds, this article discusses the obligations of theme park, funfair and fairground attractions and how we can help should an injury occur. A family day out at an...
Rebecca Ironmonger provides a legal update following the passing of the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act 2024 (“DMCC Act”) earlier this year and explores the potential impacts of this piece of legislation on businesses. In May...
Recent equine news reports have been full of the court case involving Eric Lamaze and a $572,000 dispute. Whist disputes on this scale are quite rare, disputes over alleged mis-selling are becoming commonplace in the UK. There appear to be a number of...
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has just reported on it’s main findings after seven years. The Chairman, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, architect Thouria Istephan and housing expert Ali Akbor spoke. The inquiry has found that decades of failure led to the fire in...
News 📰 Compressed hours proposal At the end of August, it was suggested that, as part of their employment law reforms, the Labour government may allow employees to work a four-day week. Beyond the current provisions allowing employees to request...
Over the last thirty years the number of divorces between men and women aged 60 and over has increased by an astounding 85% despite an overall decline in divorce rates. The last decade has shown men over 65 divorcing has risen by 23% and the number of women...
Disputes concerning finances, inheritance and property are often complex, and therefore expensive to resolve through court. These types of disputes also frequently involve family members, which can make them particularly distressing. These factors mean that...
Providence Building Services Ltd (“Providence”) entered into a JCT Design and Build Contract (2016 Edition – “the JCT Contract” ) with Hexagon Housing Association Ltd (“Hexagon”). Hexagon were late paying on...
In this short blog, Julie Robinson looks at whether tenant farmers faced with a Case B notice to quit can successfully challenge that notice where land continues to have some agricultural use following development. The grounds for a Case B notice to quit...
In the recent case of Coulson v Paul the court considered whether Emma Coulson could inherit from the estate of her biological grandfather, Allan Paul, despite having been adopted. Allan Paul died in 2021, leaving a Will that dated back to 2012. Allan had...
Testamentary capacity is the ability of someone (a “testator”) to give instructions for, and then execute, a Will. The test for testamentary capacity is determined by the court, and follows principles laid down in case law. This is different from...
Every horse owner knows the hard work and cost that comes with it. The payoff, however, is having a deep connection with your horse, and forming a team with them. This applies to people who ride simply for pleasure, as well as those who compete. It is...
The expansion of renewable energy projects across the UK has significant legal implications for the farming sector. These projects, ranging from wind turbines to solar farms and bioenergy production, offer both opportunities and challenges for farmers....
“Testamentary freedom” is a fundamental principle of English and Welsh Law. This means that the starting point is that a testator (someone making a will) can leave their estate to whoever they wish; they are not under any obligation to leave a...
The details of the recent case involving the children of Lauryn Goodman and Kyle Walker have been played out in the tabloids and on social media for all to comment. Quite understandably, it may seem arguing about hot tubs, bespoke stair gates and astro turf...
The Daily Mail recently published an anonymous article titled “ I got Mum to change her Will so I’ll get more than my sisters without them knowing – because they barely lift a finger to help her ”. The anonymous author states...
