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• When is a marriage not a marriage, and when may it look like one?

  

  22 Jul, 2024 Posted By: Erica Newman-Berry

  Did you know that there is no such thing as a common law marriage in England and Wales? Contrary to popular belief, unless you are legally married or have a registered legal partnership, there are no automatic  legal rights  or obligations to each other, including the division of financial assets if you separate or if one of you dies, this... read more.
  Tags: Children , Cohabitation , Collaborative Family Law

• No Fault Divorce from April 2022

  

  08 Jun, 2021 Posted By: M. Taylor

  The government has now confirmed that the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act, which we’ve written about previously  will come into effect in April 2022.   Currently, when a couple want to get divorced, it’s necessary to give a reason, in the divorce petition, as to why the marriage has broken down, and expect where... read more.
  Tags: Civil Partnerships , Family Law , Divorce

• Child Arrangements during Lockdown

  

  07 Jan, 2021 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  Following the government announcement on Monday the 4th January 2021 of a further National Lockdown, you may be wondering what this means for your children and contact with a non-resident parent. Whilst there is a “stay at home” message in place, this does not prevent children under the age of 18 from moving between households for contact... read more.
  Tags: COVID-19 , Family Law , Collaborative Family Law

• New legislation permits “Video Wills” during Covid-19

  

  07 Aug, 2020 Posted By: Lisa Morgan

  You may have read our blog about making or changing your Will under lockdown, which addressed some of the most common queries raised -if you haven’t you can find it here.  At that time of reporting, witnessing a Will by using video-conferencing such as Zoom, Skype, Facetime was not permitted. However, on 25 July 2020, the government changed... read more.
  Tags: Wills , Wills and Probate , Private Client

• A welcome summer holiday for house buyers and the housing market!

  

  09 Jul, 2020 Posted By: Michael Coward

  The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on 8th July 2020 an SDLT holiday until 31st March 2021 coming into force with immediate effect.  If you are buying your first home, or are a purchaser who does not own additional properties,  and your sale completes between 8 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, you only start to pay SDLT on... read more.
  Tags: Buying a house , Conveyancing , Residential property

• Legal Update: Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill

  

  23 Jun, 2020 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  You may have seen our previous blogs on the topic of the proposed divorce law reforms.  If you haven’t, you can find them here: - The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation bill  (posted on 3rd February 2020) Reducing Conflict on Divorce  (posted on 25th July 2019) As you may be aware, under the present law, unless... read more.
  Tags: Collaborative Family Law , Family , Family Law

• Making or changing your Will under Lockdown

  

  21 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Lisa Morgan

  As the UK’s lockdown continues for another three weeks, and  with the likelihood of the restrictions remaining in place for the foreseeable future, the Private Client department at FDC Law have seen an increase of interest in making and updating Wills. We have put together a short blog to answer the most common enquiries raised as to... read more.
  Tags: Private Client , Wills and Probate , Wills

• The impact of COVID-19 on Landlord and Tenant legislation

  

  06 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  You will probably be aware from the various government announcements over the past few days and weeks, that one of the steps they have taken has been to bring in emergency legislation to stop landlords from evicting tenants during this present crisis. Where a tenancy is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and the fixed term has expired, a landlord can... read more.
  Tags: Civil Litigation , Landlord , Leases

• What does COVID-19 mean for child contact arrangements?

  

  01 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  We have all seen the government advice about staying home, unless we need to leave the house for specific reasons, such as picking up “essential items” from the shop. But what does this mean for those who are separated parents, with children that spend time between houses? Sir Andrew McFarlane, who is the most senior Judge in the Family... read more.
  Tags: Children , COVID-19 , Family Law

• The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill

  

  03 Feb, 2020 Posted By: M. Taylor

  As you may have seen from the news, the government is making changes to the law relating to divorces and dissolution of civil partnerships. The  proposed new law has its second reading in the House of Lords this week, although no firm date has been set for the law to come into effect, once it is passed. The changes are intended to remove... read more.
  Tags: Civil Partnerships , Divorce , Family

• Do not let the rise in Statutory Legacy put you off making a Will

  

  17 Jan, 2020 Posted By: Emma Williams

  A Statutory Legacy is a Legacy a Spouse or Civil Partner will receive from an intestate estate.  From 6th February 2020, that figure will rise from £250,000 to £270,000 in line with inflation. The law society has issued a press release explaining what this means; “If someone dies without making a will – also known... read more.
  Tags: Wills , Wills and Probate , Power of Attorney

• 2020 - New Year New_ _ _Lease?

  

  03 Jan, 2020 Posted By: Michael Coward

  OK, so it isn’t the most catchy phrase,  and probably not the first thing that comes to mind at the start of the New Year! January is often the time of year when your ground rent demand lands on your doorstep -  you make the payment and forget about it and your lease for another year. But did you know that you have other options?... read more.
  Tags: Buying a house , Property , Leases

• The Common Law Marriage Myth

  

  06 Dec, 2019 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  Many people belive that if you have been living together for long enough, you start to have rights as if you were married. We took a look at some of the more common questions asked about this situation.  “I’ve been living with my partner for many years. Does that make them my common law spouse?” The short answer is... read more.
  Tags: Cohabitation , Family Law , Separation

• Reducing conflict on Divorce

  

  25 Jul, 2019 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  Currently, in England and Wales every divorce is based on the fact that a marriage has broken down irretrievably. You must then give one of the following five reasons why that is the case - Your partner has committed adultery and you find it intolerable to live with them; Your partner has behaved in such a way that you cannot reasonably be... read more.
  Tags: Divorce , Family Law , Separation

• Inheritance Tax – Do you need a solicitor?

  

  12 Mar, 2019 Posted By:

  Even though Inheritance Tax (“IHT”) is based on a simple concept – whatever you own at the date of your death will potentially be subject to tax – the reality is often very complex.  Despite this, more and more people are taking up the Government’s offer to do their own DIY Probate.  What they don’t tell... read more.
  Tags: Wills and Probate , Probate , Tax Planning

• Government Imposes New Burden on Bereaved Families

  

  21 Feb, 2019 Posted By: D.Collins

  The Government proposes to increase Probate fees to as much as £6,000 for the largest estates in April 2019. This move is heavily opposed by MPs, Lords in the House of Lords, STEP, Solicitors For the Elderly, the Law Society and Solicitors across England and Wales. Fees structure The Law Society has been rallying for people to write... read more.
  Tags: Probate , Wills and Probate

• Proposed Law Reform for Divorce

  

  01 Oct, 2018 Posted By: Marion Fisher

  A controversial ruling by the UK Supreme Court that a woman must remain in an unhappy marriage until 2020 has prompted calls for divorce law to be reformed, to allow for “no fault divorces” in the UK. The case of Mr and Mrs Owens has highlighted the extent to which the UK divorce law differs significantly from many other countries. Under... read more.
  Tags: Family , Family Law , Divorce

• Have you considered a Lasting Power of Attorney?

  

  26 Sep, 2018 Posted By: Leanna Haskell

  A Lasting Power of Attorney is Just For the Elderly – Or is it? Absolutely not. Most of us understand the importance of making a Will, but a worrying number of us don’t understand the importance of making Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – whatever your age. An LPA is a legal document that allows people you trust to make decisions... read more.
  Tags: Wills and Probate , Private Client , Frome

• Inheritance Tax Planning and Lifetime Gifts

  

  12 Feb, 2018 Posted By: Abigail Whelan

  Depending on how much you have to leave, your estate may be liable to pay Inheritance Tax when you die, and you may want to think about how you can reduce that impact.If you are concerned about the impact of Inheritance Tax on your estate, lifetime gifting - giving some of your assets away while you are alive - can be a useful tool to mitigate this.... read more.
  Tags: Tax Planning , Wills and Probate , Private Client

• Do you have an LPA? You may be entitled to money back from the Government

  

  05 Feb, 2018 Posted By: D.Collins

  The Government introduced the new “Lasting powers of attorney” (LPAs) under the Mental Capacity Act of 2005, and they came into effect on 1 October 2007.The intention was for the LPA to replace the previous Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) which had been around for many years but were very narrow in scope. The... read more.
  Tags: Power of Attorney , Private Client

• Briers and Briers - another cautionary tale for divorcing couples.

  

  22 Jan, 2018 Posted By: Marion Fisher

  You may recall our blog in 2016 about  the case of Wyatt and Vince.  Even for those of us who have been practising family law for many years, this case was unusual and it brought home the importance of divorcing couples having a court sealed financial agreement, even if at the time of the divorce neither party had any real assets. Yet... read more.
  Tags: Family , Family Law , Cohabitation

• Asbestos – A dirty word?

  

  18 Dec, 2017 Posted By: John Kilmister

  Many people are familiar with the word asbestos, and know that it can be very dangerous and can cause health problems,  but there can be a lot of misunderstanding about the specific medical conditions that exposure to asbestos can cause. In particular many people only associate exposure to asbestos with the condition Asbestosis, and don’t... read more.
  Tags: Asbestos , Litigation , Personal Injury

• Dying in the Digital Age

  

  11 Dec, 2017 Posted By: Leanna Haskell

  Over the past five years, internet use amongst the over 65’s has increased substantially and figures are expected to rise dramatically over the next decade as an increasingly tech savvy population ages.  The question of what happens to our online presence when we die has never been so important.  What is a Digital Asset and why are... read more.
  Tags: Capacity , Inheritance , Probate

• Be careful of time, when travelling

  

  30 Nov, 2017 Posted By: John Kilmister

  Alas, I am not talking about Dr Who travelling through time and space but the more worldly need to be careful of Court time limits if you have been injured in an accident on a ship or aeroplane. If you have been unfortunate enough to be injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault and are looking to make a claim for compensation then... read more.
  Tags: Personal Injury , Civil Litigation

• Powers of Attorney How to ensure that yours is not open to abuse

  

  18 Sep, 2017 Posted By: D.Collins

  Darrell Collins, Head of our Private Client Department,  has spoken out to defend Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs).   This follows comments from a former Senior Judge that Power of Attorney orders are open to financial abuse.   But national group Solicitors for the Elderly says that, with the right advice, Powers of Attorney... read more.
  Tags: Power of Attorney , Private Client , Wills and Probate

• Can't Pay?

  

  19 Jul, 2017 Posted By: John Kilmister

  Most people are familiar with the Channel 5 series Can’t Pay? We’ll Take It Away! but what is it all about? The answer is that the show features the work of High Court Enforcement officers. They are from a private company (Direct Collections Bailiffs Limited or DCBL) who are licenced to operate in a role that used to be known as... read more.
  Tags: Civil Litigation , Debt Recovery , Landlord

• Government Confirms Huge Increase In Probate Fees

  

  15 Mar, 2017 Posted By: D.Collins

  The government have announced that they will be proceedings with controversial plans to introduce huge increases to the fees charged by the Probate Court Service, for obtaining grants of Probate. At present, there  are flat rate fees which apply to all estates, of  £155 where the application is made via a solicitor, or £215... read more.
  Tags: Inheritance , Intestacy , Wills and Probate

• Changes to the Taxation of Local Searches

  

  17 Jan, 2017 Posted By: S Twose

  Home buyers are facing increased costs as a result of the Government’s decision to  remove the VAT exemption on certain services provided by local governments. Local Authority searches are obtained to check,, as part of a property purchase, issues affecting the property such as  planning permission, building regulation certification,... read more.
  Tags: Buy to Let , Buying a house , Conveyancing

• Archer v Titchener. What would really happen

  

  20 Dec, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Regular listeners to ‘The Archers’ will know that Rob and Helen Titchener were back in court recently, this time to deal with the issue of Rob’s contact with his son, Jack, and that Henry, Helen’s son, and Rob’s step-son, should return to live with his mother. Rob is to have supervised contact with Jack once a month,... read more.
  Tags: Children , Divorce , Domestic Abuse

• Inheritance Tax. The Law is Changing

  

  29 Nov, 2016 Posted By: D.Collins

  Last year alone the Inland Revenue collected £4,643,000,000 in Inheritance Tax. If you would like to reduce the contribution you make to that sum, it’s important to plan ahead and to think about Inheritance Tax when you make your will, and to review your plans when the government makes changes to the rules. The tax is payable by estates... read more.
  Tags: Tax , Wills and Probate , Wills

• Have you set up Powers of Attorney

  

  24 Nov, 2016 Posted By: D.Collins

  Martin Lewis, the ‘money saving expert’ spoke to Adrian Chiles on his  BBC show, recently  about the importance of LPAs and of making a will As Martin Lewis explains, failing to make a will (for anyone, but particularly for unmarried couples) can cause terrible problems, and can means that the people whom you love and want... read more.
  Tags: Cohabitation , Inheritance , Intestacy

• Government Proposals will make it Harder to get Compensation for Injuries

  

  22 Nov, 2016 Posted By: B.Whelan

  The government’s proposals to increase  the small claims limit for personal injury from £1,000  to £5,000 have been strongly criticised by claimant’s groups and by the Law Society of England and Wales.     Under the proposals, people who are injured would not be able to claim back any  legal costs... read more.
  Tags: Civil Litigation , Litigation , Personal Injury

• Wyatt and Vance, A Cautionary Tale for Divorcing Couples

  

  14 Jun, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Dale Vince and Kathleen Wyatt married in 1981, separated in 1984 and divorced in 1992.   At the time of the divorce, neither of them had much money, and it appears that no finacial order was made then.   Mr Vince went on to found his own extremely successful Green Energy business and became a multi-millionaire, his company being estimated... read more.
  Tags: Family Law , Divorce , Financial Settlement

• Our private client department is expanding.

  

  27 Apr, 2016 Posted By: D.Collins

  The Partners  at FDC Law are pleased to announce that Leanna Knight has joined FDC Law Frome, as a member of the Private Client Department.   Leanna is a native of Frome and, she says, is delighted to be returning to her home turf to work! She  obtained her law degree from Bournemouth University, and has previously worked... read more.
  Tags: Frome , Inheritance , Intestacy

• Court Fee Rise for Divorces

  

  17 Mar, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Following on from the news that the government is proposing massive increases in the fees charges by the Court to grant probate, an announcement was made today that, effective Monday 21st March, the fees payable to the court to issue a divorce petition will rise 34% from £410 to £550. Marjorie Taylor,  FDC's head of Family Law,... read more.
  Tags: Divorce , Family Law

• Domestic Abuse doesn't only happen in the Archers

  

  14 Mar, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  If you are a regular listener to Radio 4's’s long running soap, The Archers,   you’ll know that a current story line deals with the issue of domestic abuse within the Titchener family. Rob Titchener is not physically violent to his pregnant wife, Helen; his abusive behaviour involves controlling her movements, isolating her from... read more.
  Tags: Family Law , Children , Family

• Proposed New Stealth Tax on Estates

  

  25 Feb, 2016 Posted By: D. Little

  The Ministry of Justice have recently issued a consultation paper with their proposals to reform the application fees for Grants of Representation (The application made for Probate or letters of administration, to allow you, as their executor or administrator, to deal with their estate)  in England & Wales.    The MoJ propose... read more.
  Tags: Inheritance , Private Client , Probate

• Partner Wins Claim for Home

  

  17 Feb, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Joy Williams lived with her partner, Norman Martin for 18 years in a home they owned together. However, when he died unexpectedly in 2012, she found that, because they were not married, Mr Martin had not made a will, and the couple owned the property as Tenants in Common,  Mr Martin’s share of the house did not pass to her, but instead became... read more.
  Tags: Contentious Probate , Cohabitation , Inheritance

• What Becomes of the Broken Hearted

  

  11 Feb, 2016 Posted By: M. Taylor

  At this time of year, there are hearts and flowers everywhere, as people prepare for Valentine’s Day. Many couples will be celebrating, and it is a popular date to pop the question and form an engagement. Thinking about what could go wrong, or what might happen if a relationship goes wrong doesn’t feel very romantic, but it can save... read more.
  Tags: Family , Family Law , Disputes

• New Responsibilities for Landlords

  

  02 Feb, 2016 Posted By: S Twose

  Are you a landlord, or considering becoming one?   From 1st February this year, the government has given Landlords in England new legal obligations, imposed under the Immigration Act as part of the Government’s plans to tackle illegal immigration. The new legislation is intended to make it more difficult for people who are in the country... read more.
  Tags: Buy to Let , Property , Landlord

• Powers of Attorney. What are they, and why should you have one?

  

  19 Jan, 2016 Posted By: D.Collins

  We have written before about the importance of making a will, to ensure that your wishes are followed after your death, but another important issue to consider is what will happen if you became unable to manage your own affairs? Improvements in health care mean we are living longer, but many of us will suffer dementia or other health problems in... read more.
  Tags: Private Client , Power of Attorney , Capacity

• Christmas Parties: Avoid trashing your Career at the Office Party

  

  19 Dec, 2015 Posted By: B.Whelan

  You may have seen Thursday's blog offering tips for Employers about avoiding legal issues over the festive period, but do you know where you stand as an employee? According to a 2009 survey for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, 1 in 10 workers knows someone who has been sacked or otherwise disciplined as a result of... read more.
  Tags: Christmas , Disputes , Employment

• Flawed Court Website. Was your divorce settlement affected?

  

  18 Dec, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  News has broken today that the  Form E financial Statement for use within financial proceedings in divorce and dissolution cases,  available on the Government’s website, had a software fault which resulted in the addition and subtraction feature giving incorrect answers. This has raised fears that people  who used Government’s... read more.
  Tags: Divorce , Family Law , Financial Settlement

• Tips for Employers - Seasonal Pitfalls and how to avoid them

  

  16 Dec, 2015 Posted By: B.Whelan

  It’s that time of year again – workers up and down the country are dusting off their Christmas Jumpers and festive ties, and looking out the glad-rags, ready for the Annual Office Christmas Party.     As an employer, you want to make the event fun for your staff, but you also want to avoid any problems. Make sure you... read more.
  Tags: Employment , Christmas

• Helping Charities in your Will

  

  11 Dec, 2015 Posted By: D.Collins

  According to recent research carried out for the Cabinet Office and Charities Aid Foundation, around 35% of people want to give money to charity when they die, but in practice only around 7% do so.   Part of this is, no doubt, due to the number of us who put off making a will – around 1 in 3 people in the UK die without a will,... read more.
  Tags: Charity , Private Client , Wills

• Law Society attacks proposed Personal Injury limit rise

  

  30 Nov, 2015 Posted By: B.Whelan

  Most of us don’t think much about the rules relating to claims for compensation unless we are injured and it becomes a personal concern. Perhaps this why why there has been little publicity about changes proposed by the government, which will have a big impact on whether, and how easily, victims of negligence are able to claim compensation for... read more.
  Tags: Civil Litigation , Personal Injury

• Putting Your Children First

  

  23 Nov, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Separation or divorce are always difficult, particularly where there are children involved, however, there are steps you can take to try to limit the damage.   Resolving issues around children or finances doesn’t have to mean having a huge fight through the courts.   There are other options: Alternative Dispute resolution... read more.
  Tags: Children , Family Law , Collaborative Family Law

• Cohabitation: Know Where You Stand

  

  09 Nov, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  The office for National Statistics has recently published new data about the makeup of  families and households across the UK.   The figures show that although households consisting of a couples who are married or in a civil partnerships still make up the single biggest family type, with some 12.5 million families meeting this description,... read more.
  Tags: Children , Family Law

• House Prices Still Rising

  

  02 Nov, 2015 Posted By: J. Wood

  Figures released by the Land Registry on 28th October show that House Prices in England have increased 1%  in September, and by 5.3% over the 12 months since August 2014.   Obviously National figures don’t necessarily reflect the local reality : average prices in London have risen by almost 10% and have fallen in some parts of... read more.
  Tags: Local Community , Property

• Congratulations to Frome Council

  

  29 Oct, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Frome has often found itself in the news for good reasons, being regularly reported to be among the best places in the UK to live in.   On 27th October it scooped another accolade, when the National Association of Local Councils awarded Frome Council the coveted ‘Council of the Year’ award at its annual ‘Star Councils’... read more.
  Tags: Local Community , Frome

• Supporting Bath RUH

  

  26 Aug, 2015 Posted By: D.Collins

  Make or update your Will in September and support the Royal United Hospital, Bath. People across the Royal United Hospital’s catchment area are being urged to put their affairs in order by making or updating  their Wills, as the hospital sees its first ever Make a Will Month scheme.  FDC Law are delighted to announce that we will... read more.
  Tags: Private Client , Sponsorship , Local Community

• An End to Disinheritance?

  

  21 Aug, 2015 Posted By: D.Collins

  Many of you will have seen the news headlines about the will of Mrs Melita Jackson, which was successfully challenged by her daughter, Mrs Ilott, recently.   Mrs Jackson was a widow, her husband having died in an industrial accident before their only child was born. She fell out with her daughter over her daughter’s relationship with,... read more.
  Tags: Wills , Private Client , Wills and Probate

• Inheritance Act Changes

  

  10 Jul, 2015 Posted By: D.Collins

  The Chancellor, George Osborne announced in his budget on Wednesday that he will effectively raise the individual inheritance tax threshold from £325,000 to £500,000 for those with a family home. Married couples and civil partners may therefore be able to pass on estates to their children or grandchildren  worth up to £1million... read more.
  Tags: Private Client , Wills and Probate , Wills

• Extension of Lease - flats and leasehold properties

  

  22 Jun, 2015 Posted By: J Woodland

  If you own a flat, you almost certainly own a lease rather than owning the property outright. Such leases are often for very lengthy terms,  when the flat is first sold, but of course, as time passes, the remaining term is reduced. It’s important to check how long your lease has left to run, and to consider whether it would be wise to extend... read more.
  Tags: Property

• Is your divorce Pension Order safe?

  

  19 Jun, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Changes to Pension Law may put some divorced people at risk of losing out The rules relating to pensions have recently changed, allowing people ‘Pension Freedom’, to withdraw funds rather than buying an annuity, on retirement. However, this could cause problems for divorced spouses who obtained a Pension Earmarking Order  in... read more.
  Tags: Family Law , Divorce

• Milestone for Senior Partner

  

  12 May, 2015 Posted By: M. Taylor

  Our senior partner, James Hollis, is celebrating completing 35 years of service with the firm! Several of our news stories recently have related to new faces joining the firm, this one is to celebrate one of our longer serving colleagues, James Hollis, of our Private Client Department. James joined what was then Faulkners, in Frome,... read more.
  Tags: Partner , Our Staff

• Are you paying your Employees the correct holiday pay?

  

  08 Jan, 2015 Posted By: B.Whelan

  In November, the Employment Appeal Tribunal rules that holiday pay should be calculated based on an employee’s actual earnings, including overtime, rather than on their basic pay. For some employers, the change to the rules may mean an increase of around 3% in average wage bills, and clearly this may have implications for the profitability... read more.
  Tags: Employment

• Do you know what would happen to your loved ones, if something happened to you?

  

  10 Dec, 2014 Posted By: D.Collins

  Recent research by the Law Society showed that over 50% of British adults don’t have a will. Many people feel that they do not need a will, either because they feel they have little, if anything, to leave, or because they believe that their assets will go automatically to their family. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and even if... read more.
  Tags: Private Client

• Stamp Duty Changes - good news for many home buyers

  

  03 Dec, 2014 Posted By: J. Wood

  The Chancellor’s announcement, made in his Autumn Statement today, will be good news for many home buyers. Under the new rules, which take effect from  Thursday 4th December, people buying properties for under £1M are likely to pay less in tax on the purchase. Until now, Stamp Duty, (or Stamp Duty Land Tax, to give the tax... read more.
  Tags: Property , Commercial Property

• Changes To Intestacy Rules – But Do You Know Where Your Money Would Go?

  

  01 Oct, 2014 Posted By: D.Collins

  The law about intestacy (what happens if you die without a will) is changing on 1st October, but you may still be surprised to learn who would (and who wouldn’t)  be entitled to inherit if you don’t leave a will. If you are not married to your partner, he or she  won’t automatically get anything if you die without a will,... read more.
  Tags: Wills , Wills and Probate , Private Client

• Are You About to Buy Your First Home?

  

  26 Aug, 2014 Posted By: J. Wood

  According to new figures released by LSL Property  Services, the number of first time buyers has risen by around 27% in the past year, with around 30,000 more people buying their first home in the first half of 2014, than in the same period last year.  These first time home–owners are helped,  perhaps,  by the current low... read more.
  Tags: Property

• The Risks of Unregulated Will-Writers

  

  18 Jul, 2014 Posted By: D.Collins

  You may have seen news reports recently that a Will-Writer,  Keith Webber, has been ordered by a court to repay over £360,000 he stole from the estates of his clients.  Webber was also convicted of fraud and theft and given a 5 year prison sentence.  Unlike Solicitors, who are subject to very strict regulation, will-writers... read more.
  Tags: Wills , Wills and Probate