As announced in the King’s Speech today, "Legislation will be introduced to give greater rights and protections to people renting their homes, including ending no-fault evictions and reforming grounds for possession." Currently, Section 21...
When administering an estate, it is common for executors (or administrators when dealing in estates with no Wills) to have questions about the administration of the estate. These questions can arise through disagreements between the executors themselves, or...
A common trend in child proceedings is for parents to become overly absorbed in their own opinions and vendettas, whether consciously or subconsciously. This often results in parents losing sight of the true focus of the proceedings and what is paramount to...
On 8 July 2024, the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced Labour’s headline new planning reforms and it will be to Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (with the previous “Levelling Up”...
Following Labour’s election victory, we can expect some big changes to employment law. We covered their proposals in last month’s employment law update and they have pledged to bring in most of these within their first 100 days in office....
A Will should be drafted so that it is clear and carries out the intentions of the testator (the person making the Will). However, sometimes errors, misunderstandings or poor drafting can mean that a Will fails to carry out the testator’s intentions or...
There are many reasons for a parent wanting to relocate following a separation and divorce, including to move closer to family or a new partner or for job opportunities. Relocation will have a big impact on any children of the relationship, as well as any...
A deathbed gift, or a “ donationes mortis causa ”, is a gift made in contemplation of death. This type of gift may be a source of dispute, as it allows someone to give away their assets shortly before death, but without needing to comply with the...
News 📰 Labour’s Green Paper The big news in the employment world this month is Labour’s proposals set out in their Green Paper on changes they intend to make to employment law, should they become our next government following the...
An accident at work claim may be brought by an individual who has suffered an accident in the workplace which was someone else’s fault. Recent statistics have revealed that the number of accident at work claims registered with the Compensation...
You may have seen in the news recently that TV Personality Anne Robinson has claimed she gifted her assets to avoid payment of Inheritance Tax. But does this form of estate planning strategy actually work? On the face of it, gifting assets can be an...
Last month saw a significant number of employment law changes come into force on 6 April. The pace of change has since continued unabated and so this month’s update covers the latest developments in case law, changes affecting the hospitality sector...
Some wills include “no-contest” or “forfeiture” clauses designed to deter beneficiaries from disputing the will, or bringing a claim against the estate. A no-contest clause generally provides that if a beneficiary brings a challenge,...
This is a common question asked of family lawyers. A ‘good divorce’ usually means a divorce without the hostility generally associated with divorce proceedings. In some cases, hostility can be pushed to one side and parties can proceed...
In my blog “ can you challenge an unfair will? ” I explained that a will that seems unfair is not necessarily invalid. Here, I look at the case of Gowing v Ward, another recent case in which a will that might seem to some to...
A will is a private document, but it is common for people to discuss their will with family members, and to seek their opinions and their help. There is nothing wrong with family members giving their opinions about what a person’s will should say, and...
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) was introduced by the Environment Act 2021 which provided for a minimum of 10% BNG requirement to ensure that developments deliver a positive benefit for nature and to mitigate the impact of the development. Developers are...
When taking on work for a new customer, it can be hard to tell whether they will develop cash flow issues and be unable to pay your invoices. When it comes to debt recovery, it is vital that that you know your customer and exactly who your customer is. You...
News 📰 There have been a number of key changes implemented in March/April 2024, including: Statutory paternity leave – 8 March 2024 Leave can now be taken in separate one week blocks. Leave can be taken any time in the 52 weeks after the...
Under Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, estate agents have a legal obligation not to omit material information from property listings. What you need to know Property agents must ensure they proactively request material...
Child Arrangements Orders were introduced in 2014 and replaced Residence Orders and Contact Orders. They regulate with whom a child is to live or spend time with. They usually arise as a result of an application to the Court under the Children Act 1989...
When a loved one dies, it is the responsibility of the executors to sort out their estate – their property, money, and other possessions. How are executors appointed? Executor(s) are generally appointed as part of the will. Often there...
Since March 2022, the Pathfinder Pilot Scheme has been trialled in the family courts in North Wales and Dorset. The scheme was implemented to trial a more problem-solving approach, which is aimed to improve the court experience and outcomes for survivors of...
Agri-tech projects can undoubtedly provide some welcome solutions to the farming industry and although many systems are in their infancy, we are seeing on-farm automation make a difference. However, that doesn’t mean to say agri-tech projects come...
Sometimes disputes can arise between family members about how a loved one should be laid to rest after they have passed away. Perhaps some family members think that the Deceased should be buried, whereas others think that they should be cremated, or perhaps...
Have you found your perfect new location for your new business? Are you looking to relocate your business into a new space whether its retail, for office use or for something different? Whether you choose to liaise with an agent or with the landlord...
Hydrogen is considered to be part of the future energy mix. However, there needs to be more clarity on the different types of hydrogen, whether that be green, low or ultra-low carbon hydrogen. What is Green Hydrogen? Green Hydrogen is made from...
When somebody dies without leaving a will they are said to have died ‘intestate’. Rule 22 of the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 sets out an order of priority as to who will be entitled to obtain a grant of Letters of Administration, and to...
The prospect of physically attending Court and appearing before a Judge or Lay Magistrates for parties involved in Family Court proceedings, whether that be for dealing with children disputes or financial proceedings, can be extremely daunting, particularly...
In order to make a valid will a person must have “testamentary capacity”. The test for testamentary capacity is explained in our earlier blog “ what is testamentary capacity? ”. With an aging population, and an increase in...
