Leaving a gift in your Will to charity
Leaving a gift in your Will to a UK charity is free of inheritance tax and can help make a difference with the work they do. Find out more.
Back to school: coronavirus rules, measures, and restrictions in schools
With pupils returning to school, and many coronavirus restrictions now lifted, we understand that both parents and pupils will have questions about what to expect. In this article, we look at the rules around wearing masks, self-isolating, and testing in relation to school pupils. Will children need to self-isolate if they are in contact with a pupil who has tested positive? The rules changed on 16th August with children aged under 18 no longer required to self-isolate if they have come into close contact with a person who has tested…
Divorce and grandparents’ rights
When a couple makes the decision to divorce, the breakdown of the relationship can have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, grandparents of any children of the relationship can suffer and even be prevented from seeing their grandchildren as often as they would like. However, there are certain actions grandparents can take to secure child arrangements with their grandchildren and in this article, we look at some of the solutions to a very sensitive legal problem. Do grandparents have any legal rights? Under UK law, grandparents do not have an automatic right through…
ISO 9001 LawNet Quality Standard accreditation
We are proud to announce that once again we have retained our ISO 9001 LawNet Quality Standard accreditation for another year following an outstanding audit. Earlier this month we were audited against the internationally renowned ISO-9001 quality mark standard, which is a requirement of our membership of LawNet (a mutual and member-owned organisation of approximately 70 law firms ranging in size from six to 50+ partners with a network of over 2,000 solicitors). This accreditation comprises the ISO standard interpreted for the law firm environment by LawNet and takes account of the Solicitors…
Property boundary disputes – getting to the root of the problem
Property boundary disputes are increasing as householders spend more time at home and in their gardens due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is fuelling a rise in boundary disputes as infrequent niggles have translated into nagging complaints, with overhanging branches, encroaching tree roots and towering hedges proving to be a major source of disagreement. But when it comes to overhanging branches, and fruit falling into a neighbour’s garden, there’s not always a clear-cut answer, even where it poses a health threat. Various protections may impact the right to trim back…
Travel operators and hope for holidaymakers when things go wrong
The dream of a tropical paradise became a nightmare, and a long-running legal battle, for one holidaymaker after she was subjected to a violent assault by a member of the hotel’s maintenance staff. But now, eleven years on, the Supreme Court has handed down its ruling, supporting the victim’s claim and clarifying the responsibilities of tour operators for the actions of an employee of a service provider, in a judgement that has far-reaching implications. Package tour operators have an obligation to make sure that the providers they use are up…
Leasehold property changes for new buyers
Change is in sight for buyers of new leasehold properties, with the passage through Parliament of a bill that will see the ending of ground rent, but it will not help existing leaseholders struggling with onerous terms. The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill applies to new, qualifying long residential leases in England and Wales and was tabled in response to one of the Law Commission’s recommendations designed to overhaul residential property in England and Wales. The recommendations address unfair practices in the leasehold system, which has already seen a ban…
Can you make a Power of Attorney online?
It is possible to make a Power of Attorney online, but whether you should is an entirely different matter. The process of making a Power of Attorney seems straightforward, but for those who are unfamiliar with the process, there are many potential pitfalls which could result in your application being rejected or your wishes not being carried out correctly. In this article, we look at some of the common difficulties we see when clients attempt to make a Power of Attorney online. How do I make a Power of Attorney…
Gifting and inheritance tax explained
As part of inheritance tax planning, or simply as part of passing on wealth to the next generation, you may consider gifting money or property to family or friends. However, there are several things you need to know about gifting and inheritance tax. In this article, we give a brief overview of gifting and inheritance tax, including who you can gift to, how much you can gift, and what it means if you continue to benefit from the gift. Giving away money or property to avoid inheritance tax One of…
COVID-19 vaccine: What if my partner objects to our child being vaccinated?
With the COVID-19 vaccine being quickly rolled out across the UK, there are concerns among some about the long-term impact and side effects of the vaccine. As a result, some are reluctant to get the vaccine themselves or let their children be vaccinated. The law in the UK allows parents to decide whether their children should be vaccinated, but what happens when parents or those with parental responsibility disagree? In this article, we look at what happens if one parent objects to a child being vaccinated. What happens when parents…