Latest Posts
. . . there could still be arguments . . . . . . as Mary Jane Cowan discovered when her husband died in 2016. Michael Cowan, the man who invented the black bin-liner, left his £16m Estate in the control of Will trustees, with the intention...
Janet Moreton, a specialist solicitor in disputed probate – gives some sound, practical advice. What if you are a beneficiary under an Estate or Will, and are becoming frustrated at the time the Executor or Administrator is taking to deal with...
Unpicking the financial side of a separation can be a minefield, with many people facing the reality that they don't know the value of their own assets, let alone those of their partner or spouse. Changes in pension and investment regulations...
Could "no fault" divorce end the blame game? Legislation for no fault divorce will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time becomes available to end the “blame game” in marital breakdowns, the Justice Secretary, David Gauke,...
Permitted Development Rights are rights to make certain changes to a building without the need to apply for planning permission. They derive from a general planning permission granted by Parliament rather than from permission granted by the Local...
Thinking about developing a site for residential purposes? Do you know about permission in principle (PiP)? PiP came into force on 1 st June 2018 and is an alternative way of obtaining planning consent for a housing-led development which is arguably...
Less than half of all adults have a will, and the number drops even more for parents with young children, yet it is the one legal document every parent should have. The most compelling reason for a parent to have a will is to be able to nominate a guardian...
13th-19th May was Mental Health Awareness Week, and was designed to raise awareness of mental health problems and inspire action to promote the message of good mental health for all. Here at Talbots Law, our Family Team understand, better than many, that...
There are 850,000 people living with Dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over 1 million by 2025. Whilst the number of registered Lasting Powers of Attorney are rising, many people are left unprepared with family members or carers being unable to...
Living with Dementia can be a challenging time for the whole family, but here are five simple steps that could make a huge difference in overcoming some of those challenges: Putting a prominent feature to the front of the house can make it easily...
Really proud to have been awarded accreditation as a Solicitor for the Elderly, specialising in support and advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and their carers. It’s always been my goal to specialise in this area,...
What if the unthinkable happened and you were no longer around to look after your children? Who would make decisions for them if you died before they turn 18 years of age? It’s a subject no-one wants to discuss, but Beverley Stanton has...
As we reported late last year, the Government has proposed changes to the current system of fees charged for a grant of probate for a deceased person’s estate. You can see our article here . Despite facing overwhelming opposition since it was first...
Not a lot of people know this . . . but someone claiming money through the courts could retain a charge over property without having a judgment debt, as a result of the court’s discretionary powers when dealing with an application to set aside a...
Many shareholders overlook the need for a shareholders agreement . . . until they experience problems and it becomes a case of who said what, and who remembers what was said. When setting up a new business, very few business owners think about the...
The dangers of buying a vehicle in good faith without checking for HPI Samuel Lane recently helped a client who had come into possession of a vehicle that had been passed to her following the unfortunate loss of her husband. She had received...
Although a couple might come to the sad conclusion that their marriage is over, for one reason or another, they might put off bringing it to an end formally. Does it matter? Well, it could. And if it really is over, and divorce proceedings...
A security Deposit is always a fundamental part of any Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement, providing the Landlord with security in the event of damage to the property or in the event the tenant falls into rent arrears. Aside from the traditional...
The draft Domestic Abuse Bill announced yesterday seeks to ban the cross examination of domestic abuse victims in the Family Courts. Since 2013 the number of cases that have people representing themselves on one or both sides has increased to an incredible...
Workers are to be given better protection following a series of proposed changes made by the government, in what is being claimed as the biggest reform in 20 years. Key proposals include: Giving workers a right to a written statement of terms....
. . . but I don't want to be. Sue Howard, Trusts & Estates Solicitor has some practical advice to help you come to terms with this important responsibility . . . and suggestions about where to turn if you really can't face it Firstly - ...
It’s that time of year when the shops start filling with all of the must-have items, supermarkets tell you to get in quick and order the turkey and trimmings, and there's still 7 weeks to go! The sad thing is, at this time of year family...
We all need a will, and there’s no question that it’s one of the most important documents we will ever write. Surely it makes sense, then, to seek professional advice when deciding who you want to inherit, so that when the times comes your...
Keith Yates, Director of Residential Property at Talbots Law, looks at what the Chancellor’s plans will mean for the housing market “With the market stalling in the last few months, and fears that house price could fall significantly if the UK...
Guest blogger David Campbell from DPA-OK
The short answer is YES! In the absence of a written agreement a tenancy agreement does still exist even if there is only an verbal agreement between the Landlord and the Tenant. For example, the Landlord and Tenant may have agreed at the start of the...
Caste relates to the different social levels within certain cultures and racial groups throughout the world, and has been the subject of much argument and debate for many years. However, employee discrimination by reason of caste is not currently...
Japanese Knotweed is a fast-growing and invasive plant that is almost impossible to remove without expert advice and help. Whether you are buying or selling a property, it‘s essential that you and your solicitor consider this knotty...
Is it time for a shift towards 'no-fault’ divorce cases in England & Wales? The Supreme Court has today unanimously rejected an appeal made by a wife seeking a divorce from her husband of 40 years. The decision will mean that Tini Owens...
With the heatwave back in full swing and the Met Office issuing an amber “heat healthwatch warning” for parts of England this week, just what are your duties to your staff? All employers have a legal obligation to make sure that the temperature...
Property is usually our most valuable asset - which is why property fraud is on the increase. Solicitors have a role to play in checking property transactions are genuine as the recent Dreamvar Case has highlighted, but there are also...
Anyone starting divorce proceedings might have noticed that you can now submit a divorce petition to the Court directly online. This is a great step forward for the Court, and we’re sure many people will take the opportunity to...
Attention all Landlords! The Government has published a revised version of “How To Rent – A guide for current and prospective tenants in the private rented sector in England”. This guide booklet sets out the consequences of entering...
Claire Cooper, an Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Property team at Talbots Law says “clients never realise the importance of the terms of their lease until their circumstances mean that they need to rely on them. A client who signs up to a...
So the World Cup is in full swing and England is in the semi-finals!! It might even be coming home! Although the match is due to kick off outside of working hours, as an employer, what do you do about late requests for annual leave and...
With a substantial increase in the number of commercial clients purchasing HMOs or Assisted Living properties designed to provide care in the community, Claire Cooper, from our Commercial Property team looks at the background behind this increase, and the...
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Pimlico Plumbers this week and upheld the decision made by the Employment Tribunal and Court of Appeal, that plumber Gary Smith was in fact a ‘worker’ under the Employment Rights Act 1996, and not...
So who watched the BBC One drama The Split? Well, as a family lawyer, of course I did! Although I wasn't a big fan at the start, I was on the edge of my seat by the final episode waiting to see whether Hannah would stay with Nathan, despite...
Claire Cooper, an Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Property team at Talbots Law says “Landlords don’t like empty units and a tenant who doesn’t pay the rent is never desirable, but businesses can face challenging times which can leave...
Claire Cooper an Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Property team at Talbots Law says “with a growing society, more houses are needed and local authorities are reviewing green belt parameters and encouraging infill of already developed areas. ...
At Talbots Law we recommend that you regularly review your Will and Estate Planning to ensure that they are up-to-date. As we near the end of the financial year, Richard Stone, Talbots Law Trust & Estates Solicitor specialising in wealth planning, looks...
It’s January and, as usual, the media have brought out the annual stories about the first working Monday of the year seeing lawyers instructed in record-breaking numbers as relationships fall apart over the Christmas break. Maybe it’s time for...
DIVORCE DAY – IS THIS A REAL THING? 8 th January has been dubbed Divorce Day by many lawyers due to the increase in enquiries they receive on this date after the Christmas holidays. For many years now there has been media coverage in the New...
Melinda Rice discusses why making a will should be on your list of resolutions for 2018 Just to put things into perspective………. An average person works 40 hours per week between the ages of 20-65 and usually takes four weeks...
One of the questions clients often ask Talbots comes when they receive a cash "windfall". You don't have to be a lottery winner, simply someone going through a divorce, selling a property, or possibly dealing with the loss of a loved...
Complying with the new data protection law ("GDPR") - what to do now Many Midlands based businesses process the personal data of their customers and employees. If you do, you need to ensure you are compliant with the new law by 25th May 2018 -...
It’s often said that not enough people make a Will – unbelievably about 60% in the UK still don’t have one. “Well I’ve made a Will so that’s alright then!” Yes but….you should still review this to make...
Lubna Laheria, Talbots Employment Solicitor, looks at the effect this may have on employers. The tribunal rules have, since 2013, required issues fees of up to £250 and hearing fees of up to £950 to be paid by claimants who wish to pursue...
There’s been a trend in the new housing market over the past few years for builders to sell homes on a leasehold basis rather than freehold. Generally, a freehold is a more common way of buying a property, and it means that as well as the house, you...
What can the Land Registry do to improve the conveyancing process? If there’s one thing that frustrates all home owners and solicitors alike, it’s the frustration of having to wait for various organisations to complete their part of the...
