Digital assets have a very broad definition but essentially it means an electronic record in which an individual has a right or an interest. The digital asset should be treated separately from the device on which it sits, so for example you may leave your computer to your son, but the family photos stored on…
A few years ago, a young man called Sam moved into a block of flats near Maidenhead. He started to notice an 85-year-old woman called Dorothy who lived in the flat across the hall. Curious to hear Dorothy’s life stories, Sam began stopping by to see her regularly. Sam quickly discovered that Dorothy had no…
Rebecca is a trainee solicitor in our Private Client department, which she initially joined as an assistant in May 2019 and then progressed on to trainee solicitor in January 2020. Originally from the North of England, Rebecca studied at both the University of Lincoln and the University of Sheffield ; where she gained a Master’s…
In court cases, bundles of documents are prepared in support of each party’s argument, and made available to the other side and to the court. Questions may sometimes arise as to the validity of the documents and paperwork submitted. Parties will generally produce digital documents, such as bank statements, to prove that what they are…
Traditionally some of the main things to consider when someone has died are whether there is a valid Will, what assets the deceased owned and who is going to inherit after the administration of the estate had been completed. However, as technology continues to advance and social media becomes a way of life there are…
Nicholas Buckle (Nick) joined Barrett & Co as a Trainee Solicitor in January 2018 before qualifying into the contentious probate team in January 2020. Nick works on a broad range of contentious probate matters including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, probate claims and disputes involving personal representatives. Nick previously…
Hilary Buckle from Barrett & Co Solicitors in Reading joined BBC Radio Berkshire presenter Phil Kennedy on 27th July 2020 to explain new legislation regarding the witnessing of Wills in light of the current coronavirus pandemic. She discusses the concerns of legal practitioners about the potential for coercion and the government’s decision to backdate video…
This article is the second in a two-part series exploring the roles and responsibilities of a personal representative (“PR”). There are 6 main duties which are being considered. This article will summarise duties 4-6. The first 3 can be found in Part 1 of the series. Duty 4: Duty to Provide Inventory and Account As…
Barrett & Co welcome the SDLT cut announced by the Chancellor which, it is hoped, will help stimulate the housing market. On Wednesday 8 July 2020 the Government announced reduced rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) payable on residential properties. If the purchase of a residential property completes on or after 8 July 2020…
The UK government announced lockdown on 23 March 2020, which saw an immediate ban on all social gatherings, including weddings. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) have said that they would expect a consumer to be offered a full refund if government public health measures mean they cannot use the services of a venue. However,…
