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It’s been drummed into all of us: stay at home. But what if home is shared with someone that you don’t want to share it with? What can be done? If domestic abuse is a factor, there is clear guidance. The government advice is...
Need legal support? Worried about the health risks of travelling to meet a solicitor? Worry no more! Whether you are looking to put in place Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, talk to somebody about your relationship and divorce, or simply to...
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, there is a possibility of global recession according to some analysts. How will this affect your business? If the Government place the majority of the population on lock-down and/or increasing numbers of your...
Looking at buying a property in the countryside? What if your dream property comes with an agricultural occupancy condition? Agricultural Ties or Agricultural Occupancy Conditions are planning conditions imposed on...
If you have said “I WILL!” read on... It’s a romantic time of year and tying the knot whether by marriage or civil partnership is exciting. Lots of fun things to plan and good times ahead. But don’t forget that legally...
Sadly, not many of us get around to making a will; roughly six in ten adults die each year without having made a valid will. This is known as dying ‘intestate’ and in these circumstances, the law sets out who is entitled to inherit the assets of...
It’s that time of year where the chaotic Christmas shopping is finally over but the sales are just too tempting to say no! What about if one of your gifts turn out to be unsuitable, faulty or not fit for purpose? If you want to return an unwanted...
We hope you had a brilliant Christmas, and congratulations if you had something extra special to celebrate – maybe you got engaged over Christmas, or had an offer accepted on your first home together? If so, it’s such an exciting time of your...
The festive season is upon us and Christmas parties are in full swing. If you have not already done so, now is the time for employers to issue a gentle reminder to their staff conveying the message that the same rules that apply in the workplace still...
A review into negligence at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust has now identified over 600 cases where children were left with brain damage, or in some cases died, due to clinical malpractice. It's thought that the number could rise as more people...
Have you ever considered the issues of defamation when viewing comments online? It's hard to imagine a time when social media wasn't such a part of everyday life. Facebook and Twitter have completely transformed the way people both publish and...
Christmas is just around the corner, and for many people it brings the opportunity to spend time with loved ones and make memories. But for those who have separated from their partners and are struggling to agree arrangements to spend time with their...
Our expert Dispute Resolution team regularly help landlords with tenant disputes - here's what a new client had to say about our services in his 5-star review on Trustpilot "Never having had to use a Solicitor before, I approached...
A supply agreement sets out the terms and protects the rights of both parties under the supply contract. So, whether you are buying or selling it is important to understand your obligations and be confident that you can meet them. A well drafted...
Do you really need a written Supply Agreement? Muneeb Dean, Head of our Company Commercial team, looks at the three top reasons why you do. To protect your interests - When you enter into any type of commercial contract you want everything to run...
. . . 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...
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...
When might a dispute arise? Many of the cases we see in this area are when couples split up and they disagree with the proportion each of them should receive when the property is sold, or the ownership is transferred. ...
As with most subjects, there are lots of people who are willing to give you a lot of advice when you announce you are going through a divorce. From the status of the children, to who gets to keep the dog, it seems the world is full of experts who will be...
Dilapidations relate to disrepair of properties and simply put are the maintenance and repairs required during and at the end of the lease. The majority of dilapidation claims relate to commercial premises. Landlords usually seek to enforce the...
It's unlikely that planning for a divorce is on the top of most people's life-goals, but it's an unfortunate fact of life that things can happen, and people end up having to deal with it.
According to National Family Mediation, less than 40% of couples went to a mediation information and assessment meeting in 2016 before making an application to a court for orders about children. This is concerning, bearing in mind the fact that it has been...
The law in England and Wales in relation to married and unmarried couples is vastly different. The often referred to phrase of “common law man and wife” is a common misconception which simply does not exist. Many people believe that...
The Queen’s Speech referred to some very important issues, amongst those issues was the intention to make further progress to tackle the gender pay gap and discrimination against people. The gender pay gap measures the difference between men and...
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (15th June) The so-called ‘dementia tax’ and proposed changes to inheritance tax dominated the recent general election; more people considering their plans for the end of their life. Recent research indicated...
Despite a shaky start and a slump in demand following the result of the EU referendum, confidence from overseas investors in the UK commercial property sector is beginning to rise, causing a rebound in the market. When the UK voted to exit the European...
In the recent case of Ashfaq v International Insurance Company of Hannover plc [2017] EWCA Civ 357 it was upheld that when insuring let residential property, a landlord is not acting as a consumer. In this case, the insured claimed that the property was...
All businesses experience bad debtors. There are usually 3 types of debtors: The slow payers who can pay but prefer extended payment terms; The disputers whose aim is to obtain a credit note to reduce their indebtedness; The insolvent who cannot...
Earlier in the year, the Government published a consultation paper proposing an increase to probate fees. Despite a large majority of respondents opposing the suggested change, it seems that the Ministry of Justice will be pushing on regardless. If approved...
Up to £1m IHT free by 2020/21 6th April 2017 sees the introduction of a significant new Inheritance Tax relief, the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB), which could save as much as £140,000 in IHT where a family home passes to children or...
When we think about Brexit, issues such as immigration and trade may be the first that come to mind. Yet as the picture becomes clearer, there is a growing realisation that Brexit is going to have an impact on most fields of law, including family. ...
In preparation for April 2017, here are some key Employment Law changes. 1. National minimum wage increases On 1 April 2017, the rates of the national minimum wage will increase. The rate for workers aged 25 and over (the national living wage) increases...
The Courts have been playing up again over document bundles in family proceedings. For the uninitiated, applicants for orders have to file a bundle of the relevant papers for every hearing. This is because Court files are always in such a mess that it would...
(Provision for Family and Dependants) Act, 1975 Supreme Court decision There has been a lot of press coverage about the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Ilott v The Blue Cross & others, handed down to conclude a long running claim...
Employers relying on mobility clauses in redundancy situations could be deemed unfair dismissal: The EAT has held that two employees with contractual mobility clauses who refused to relocate were dismissed for misconduct, not redundancy and that the...
Director and Head of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Bryan Colley, responds to recent articles regarding Personal Injury rule changes in compensation: When lump sum payments are made by insurers to claimants with life changing injuries, the actual...
When a loved one passes away, coping with the loss can be challenging enough on its own. However, if a dispute arises regarding inheritance, the situation can go from bad to worse in an instant. Due to the level of emotion involved, inheritance disputes can...
‘We all use them, some cannot seem to live without them but they could cost you your driving licence and so much more besides. I am ,of course, talking about your mobile phone. We all know that it is against the law to use your mobile phone whilst...
The laws that guide UK Plc may be under constant review, but one or two have survived the test of time, dating as far back as the fourteenth century. Did you know, for example, there is a 1313 law that makes it illegal to wear armour in parliament? Neither...
Especially if you happen to be one of the world’s dumbest criminals! I mean who would be so stupid as to fall asleep under the bed of the victim’s house he had just burgled? Mark Smith of Whitley Bay would, it seems. Whilst robbing a house, he...
Today, Frank William Abagnale is serenely approaching his 70th birthday having worked with the FBI for more than 40 years. He is regarded as one of the world’s most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. Abagnale lectures...
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last year show that marriage is popular again! After 40 years of steady decline, ONS statistics confirm marriage rates across the UK are back on the rise. In 1971, there were 404,734 marriages...
Every Valentine’s Day in the UK, we give 25 million cards*; spend £1.3bn on gifts* and generally eat, drink and canoodle away February 14th with those we love. And would you believe, two-thirds of women celebrate the day even if they didn’t...
There are approximately 14 million grandparents living in the UK, and whilst we think these are the years to kick back and relax, often that is not the case. Three-quarters of grandparents look after their grandchildren on a regular basis, which is probably...
Divorce will always be tough for the children caught in the middle, no matter how amicable the split. After all, transitions are difficult for adults, let alone children. If you’ve ever stayed the night at a friend's house for the first time,...
For many children, grandparents play an integral role in family life. From holidays, birthdays and weekend visits to the care they provide when parents are at work, loving grandparents can be a huge asset to any family. However, when the relationship...
One thing I must advise: don’t sit me in front of the TV when there's a legal drama on - you won’t hear the last of it. The enjoyment of getting caught up in the flow of the narrative or lost in admiration for the cracking script, performed...
For some, a new year is a time to think about searching for a new job. Like Luke Brett Moore from Australia. As he ends 2016, he has very definite plans to pursue his “dream job” — and that job is a criminal lawyer. Not a stunt man! Or an...
Sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions is a challenge. So to help, here are our 7 top tips inspired by real-life success stories. 1. Walk the drive By simply choosing to take a longer route to the coffee shop, to the office or to the shops can make...
Running a small business can be compared to looking after your home. If you leave things, fail to make small repairs often and just hope everything will keep working without any TLC - that is a recipe for disaster! Much easier (and cheaper), to get your...
When a relationship breaks down, tackling the financial uncertainty that follows can be an incredibly challenging time. After all, when you have invested a considerable amount of time and money into setting up the family home and building your life together,...
Divorce often reveals the worst in people — but it can also reveal ingenious creativity, a dark sense of humour and downright brilliance! More of that in a moment what are some of the dirtiest tricks divorcing couples ‘play’ on each other? ...
Grandparents are increasingly being called upon to look after their grandchildren. Did you know research* shows 4 out of 5 children in the UK are regularly cared for by a grandparent? And 1 in 4 do so in order that the parents can go out to work. All in all,...
