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The trouble with wills that have not been professionally drafted is that they very often signally fail either to accurately reflect the testator's wishes or to achieve fairness. That was certainly so in the case of a man who, by his home-made will, all but...
On 6 April 2022, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020) came into force - a landmark reform introducing ‘no-fault divorce’ for couples ending their marriage. As a result of the new legislation, statistics released by the Ministry of Justice show divorce applications from April-June 2022 at a ten-year high and up 22% from the same quarter in 2021.
So, why were so many couples holding out to file for divorce until after 6 April?
Much of England's green and pleasant land is protected against all but agricultural forms of development. However, as one case showed, the relentless pressure to build more new homes means that such restrictions may not be written in stone. The case...
Sporting and other community facilities are obviously desirable but, as a guideline High Court ruling showed , there are effective legal steps you can take if they become a magnet for anti-social behaviour that amounts to a statutory nuisance. Three...
Domestic abuse can occur in many forms, with victims often not realising this is something they are experiencing. Anybody can be a victim of abuse, in a number of ways or simply one way, and at any time. Due to the varying ways, there are millions of people living through abuse right now.
Public contract tendering exercises are meant to ensure fairness, transparency and, not least, value for taxpayers' money. However, as a case concerning the award of an NHS contract all too clearly showed , they can sometimes go horribly wrong. A provider...
Family judges are often called upon to make agonising decisions concerning medical treatment of those who have lost the ability to express their own choices. However, as one case showed, they bend every sinew to discern what their wishes might be and to...
Buying a house can be a daunting process, whether it’s your first time or your 5th. It can be emotionally draining and very stressful. So, we have put together some key tips and advice to help you make your home-buying experience smooth and stress-free!
International trading companies are expected to carry out careful due diligence on their clients and suppliers to ensure that they avoid unwitting involvement in tax fraud. However, in relieving a long-established business of multi-million-pound VAT...
It is commonplace for parents to put their hands in their pockets to help their children set up in business. As a High Court ruling in a bitterly contested inheritance case showed , however, a failure to formally document the precise legal basis on which...
Businesses that shoulder the vast marketing effort and expense of turning their trade marks into household names can take effective legal steps to prevent competitors obtaining a free ride on their cherished reputations. Well-known energy drinks manufacturer...
No one should be surprised to hear that, when a same-sex couple have a child following lawful IVF treatment, each of them has a right to be registered as the child's legal parent. However, as a High Court case showed , whilst the law has generally kept pace...
Employers who offer unpaid internships often feel that they are acting benevolently in giving inexperienced people a chance to learn the ropes. However, many interns have a legal right to be paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and, as one case showed, a...
When interpreting wills, judges focus on the actual words used and that is one good reason why professional drafting really matters. As a guideline case showed , only in the event that the wording of a will is meaningless or ambiguous will extraneous...
Having an up-to-date will is the best way of ensuring your wishes are followed when you are no longer here, but it also takes a lot of the stress off your loved ones at an already challenging time. In this article, we look at five ways having a will helps your loved ones after you pass.
A temporary pavement licensing regime that was introduced to enable al fresco dining at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended by the Government. Initially put in place via the Business and Planning Act 2020 , the measure was intended to...
There are few things more concerning than a proposal by your neighbours to extend their property in a way that may threaten the structural integrity of your home. As one case showed, however, voicing your opposition to such a proposal via the planning system...
The franchising model enables many people to achieve their ambition of setting up in business on their own account. However, as a High Court case showed , it is vital not to let your heart rule your head and such an enterprise should never be ventured...
Some divorcees drag their feet in a misguided attempt to put off the hour when they must divide their assets with their ex-partners. However, a case involving a husband who caused costly delay when he asserted that he had COVID-19 showed that family judges...
More trusts are required to register under the Trust Registration regime and the last deadline was September 2022. While the requirement remains, HMRC have recognised that many trustees are unaware of the change and have said penalties are unlikely to be imposed where the lack of action is due to ignorance. But the clock is still ticking for trustees to catch up with the changes and should take advice on whether they apply to their situation.
