Did you know there are things you MUST do as an employer to make sure it’s all legal? Now that all restrictions have been lifted with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic, you might think that everything has returned to normal in the world of work. But many employees have decided that they like working from…
As a Private Client Solicitor, I am often asked by clients, usually within a Will meeting, “what is Probate?” Probate is defined as a judicial process whereby a Will is proved through the Courts; this, as one might expect, is not an overly helpful or clear explanation to give to clients! Generally speaking, Probate is…
No-one expects to get divorced, but the sad reality is that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Once a decision has been made to separate and get divorced, it is important to think about the financial consequences of your separation and decide what to do with your assets, such as joint bank accounts, cars, houses…
Although some businesses are now going back to the office, it seems that remote working or working from home (WFH) is now the first choice for many employees. But what about employers? What happens if you are an employer and you really don’t think that WFH is in the best interests of your company? Can…
The owner of the documents in the client file depends on the role in which the solicitor is acting, either as an agent of the client or as a professional adviser. In the instance that the solicitor is acting as an agent to the client, the nature of the documents is primarily correspondence between the…
As our children are heading back to school and university, and home-working with a full house becomes a distant memory, now is as good a time as any to take the opportunity to review our financial and personal affairs. September is often a time for families to get organised for the future; with children progressing…
HM Revenue & Customs has reported that total inheritance tax receipts were £5.35 bn for the 2020/2021 financial year. This is a 3.68% rise from the previous year. In the tax year 2018 to 2019, London and the South East accounted for 53% of the total inheritance tax charged across England. The average tax paying…
I have spoken to so many charity trustees over the past year or so, and there is a common theme behind their concerns, which is what should they be doing during the pandemic, and whether there will be any changes to the way they are regulated. The Charity Commission has issued guidance to charity trustees,…
It has recently been highlighted by me as well as others (see article Can you exclude entry to someone for not wearing a face mask – 7th May 2021) that it could be disability discrimination if you refuse entry to someone if they refuse to wear a face mask. However, some social media posts claim…
Readers of this month’s newsletter will note Juliette Spanner’s article “What is mental capacity and how does it impact me?”, which refers to the The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). All attorneys should familiarize themselves with the MCA in order to carry out their duties properly and effectively. It is very easy, when asked to…
