Home & Family
Alarming facts about redundancy during maternity leave
A case that hinged on whether a woman who became redundant while on maternity leave should have been offered an alternative job underscores the importance of a cautious approach from…
Mediation is key for separated parents
At a recent speech to the charity Families Need Fathers, Sir Nicholas Wall, President of the Family Division of the High Court warned that separated parents can cause enormous harm…
Tips for separated families during school summer…
With the school summer holidays fast approaching, there is the potential for this to be a minefield for separated families, with children being caught in the crossfire between warring parents.…
Current Inheritance Tax position
Alistair Darling’s last budget in April froze the Inheritance Tax Allowance (IHT) of £325,000 until 2015. So should there be any inflation and/or should people’s estates increase in size, this…
Why should you make a Lasting Power…
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document which allows you to appoint a person or people you trust to look after your affairs. There are two types…
No fault divorce: lawyers demand reform
At its National Conference on March 21 in Bristol, Resolution, the organisation representing Family Lawyers called on the Government to take the blame out of divorce and separation by introducing…
Property reaction to Budget
Owen McKenna from Harrison Drury, gives his verdict on the Budget from a property perspective. He said: In my opinion the budget was very much made with one eye on…
The Peter Sellers Trap
Don’t let what happened to Peter Sellers’ estate happen to your estate. Peter Sellers died in 1980 aged 54. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph stated that a newly…
Poll Watch
A new study commissioned by a leading London firm to mark the 20th anniversary of the Children Act 1989, has found that large numbers of parents refused to deal with…
Chancel Repair Liability?
What is it? Chancel repair liability is an ancient interest, and according to The National Archives, potentially benefits some 5,200 pre-Reformation churches in England and Wales. It allows the Parochial…
Land Registry’s new Early Completion Policy
It’s not often that the Land Registry makes the news, but the Land Registry’s Early Completion Policy has hit the headlines, at least as far as we conveyancers are concerned.…
When someone dies – What happens next?
I thought that it might be useful to outline briefly what happens when someone close to you dies. The first question I am often asked is, “What happens next?” “What…
Landmark Victory over Pre-nuptial Agreement
A ruling earlier this month by the Court of Appeal has held that Family Courts should take account of pre-nuptial agreements when dividing assets following the breakdown of a marriage.…
Plan for your children’s future now!
In these difficult economic times the last thing on your mind is giving away your money and assets. However, with share prices and property prices falling to such a low…
Inheritance tax worries
The Conservative Party’s plans to raise the Inheritance Tax (IHT) threshold to £1m or £2m for couples are now looking uncertain. A Tory Treasury spokesman admitted the changes were no…
‘Common law marriage’ – a Myth
A Look at the Injustices of Cohabitation Law: Attempts to modernise Family Law on cohabitation Common Law Marriage are being backed by Resolution, an organisation of 5,000 lawyers who believe in…
Conquering restrictive covenants
The law of restrictive covenants is a complex area and a mystery to many landowners, some of whom believe that restrictive covenants cannot be challenged, however, this is not the…
The dangers of not making a Will
In the current climate, it is not surprising to hear that people are putting making a Will on the back- burner. The Law Society suggests a staggering 65% of over…
