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Landlord and Tenant Guides What happens to a tenancy when a tenant dies? The death of a tenant does not determine the end of their tenancy, the interest instead remains in their personal representatives. Security of Tenure Assured or assured shorthold tenancies can only be determined by statute by a landlord serving a relevant notice However, if the tenant has died, they no longer occupy the property as […]

Family Guides Could my divorce be affected by Brexit? Will my divorce be recognised in the UK and the EU? Firstly, UK divorce orders prior to 31st December 2020 will continue to be automatically recognised in the EU and the UK will recognise divorce orders made in the EU. However, since 1st January 2021, divorce proceedings will be governed by the Family Law Act […]

Private Client Guides Planning for what happens to your digital assets when you die The term “digital assets” refers to the possessions stored online such as music and videos files, emails, social media accounts, games and family ancestry databases (which could include family photos, videos and even DNA test results). Many of us also access physical assets and services such as bank accounts, loans, credit cards, pension funds, investment […]

Family Guides Ending a civil partnership; is it the same as a divorce? Ending a civil partnership is actually very similar to the process of divorce, except some of the terminology is different and you can’t cite adultery as a reason why the relationship has ended. To start with it’s called a dissolution rather than a divorce. Like divorce, you will need to have been in the civil […]

Family Guides Do grandparents have rights to see their grandchildren? Unfortunately, grandparents don’t have any legal or automatic rights to see their grandchildren should the child’s relationship change or end, so grandparents can find themselves in a very hard situation. There are things you can do in order to see your grandchildren which we have listed below in the order they should be approached; Speak […]

Family Guides Are all parental responsibilities equal? Perhaps one parent is an essential worker and needs the child to attend school during the lockdown whereas the other parent thinks that this exposes the child or other family members to unnecessary or excessive risk of contracting the virus. Or perhaps one parent is keen for the whole family to be vaccinated but the […]

Family Guides Divorce: Frequently Asked Questions 1. What are the grounds for divorce and does is matter who starts it? The law has recently changed with the soon-to-be implemented introduction of no-fault divorces. There is no exact date for this change although it is widely anticipated to be Autumn 2021. If want to divorce now you will need to show that […]

Family Guides Can I see my child in lockdown or tier restrictions? This applies whilst we are in national lockdown and in periods of tier restrictions, even if the parents live in areas with differing tiers. Overnight stays are permitted within this. The usual precautions should be taken if anyone in either house is showing symptoms of a dry cough or temperature or have been asked to […]

Private Client Guides Why you should make a Will Here are 10 reasons to help you with your decision to make a Will A Will lets you leave clear instructions about how your estate is to be distributed. Without one, it is subject to the Intestacy Rules and may not go to the people you would have chosen. A Will lets you choose your […]

Private Client Guides What to do when someone dies Your role as executor may comprise of one or more of the following; Registering the death You should register the death within five days at the Register Office local to where the person died. You will need to contact the Register Office in advance to make an appointment. Granting of Probate This is the Court’s […]

Private Client Guides Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney Why create a Lasting Power of Attorney? If you were to become unable to make decisions for yourself perhaps as a result of an accident, contracting an illness of simply as a result of old age, then without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) in place, the only way your financial affairs can be managed […]

Conveyancing Guides Co-owning a Property As co-owners, you can hold property in one of two ways, being ‘joint tenants’ or ‘tenants in common’. These terms use ‘tenant’ with a different meaning to the type of tenant who rents a property from a landlord. Buying a property as joint tenants As joint tenants, both of you will own the whole of […]

Conveyancing Guides Buying a property with Help to Buy Help to Buy is a government scheme designed to help first time buyers buy their first with only a 5% deposit. The latest equity loan scheme was launched on 16th December 2020 and runs until 31st March 2023. The scheme is open to first time buyers purchasing a new build home and allows you to […]

Conveyancing Guides Buying a Property with a gifted deposit With high property costs, 4 out of 5 first time buyers receive financial help, be that a gift or loan, from their parents towards the deposit on their home. This isn’t always a straightforward thing to do but this isn’t always the case and it can delay the conveyancing process and at worst mean a […]

Conveyancing Guides Buying Property at Auction If you are thinking of buying at auction make sure that you are in a position to proceed with the sale within the specified timescales which are shorter than typical property purchases. If you are the successful bidder at the auction then you will be bound under the contract on the fall of the auctioneer’s […]

Landlord and Tenant Guides Landlords rights when tenants’ possessions are left in a property Many landlords assume that the possessions left by the tenant are now automatically theirs and as they can often look like unwanted rubbish many landlords will simply dispose of them. You need to be careful of what action you take to avoid any potential claim against by the former tenant in relation to the possessions. […]

Landlord and Tenant Guides What should a Tenancy Agreement include? A tenancy agreement gives certain rights to the landlords and tenants involved, as such it’s important that is clear so both parties understand it and negotiated effectively to make sure it complies with the law. Research carried out by The Citizens Advice Bureau revealed that nearly one in four tenants have received a tenancy agreement […]

Landlord and Tenant Guides Tips for first time Residential Landlords There is a fast-growing problem that many landlords within the United Kingdom are being faced with unexpected and challenging situations in relation to either their property or tenants. Statistics have revealed that more individuals are becoming landlords or taking out buy-to-let mortgages in order to keep up with the current housing market. With housing law […]

Landlord and Tenant Guides An Introduction to Deposit Protection Schemes for Landlords From 6th April 2007 it became compulsory for landlords to protect deposits in relation to residential assured shorthold tenancies, created on or after this date, within a government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. This legal requirement was introduced by Section 213 of the Housing Act 2004 and aims; to protect landlords if their tenant were to […]

Our Fee Guide Freehold Remortgage Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements The fees we charge and the other fees and charges you will pay are listed below: • Legal fees • Land Registry official Copy Fees (if registered) • Land Charges Search Fees K15 (if unregistered) • Electronic money transfer fee • Search fees • HM Land Registry fees • VAT payable […]

Our Fee Guide Freehold Sale Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements The fees we charge and the other fees and charges you will pay are listed below: • Legal fees • Land Registry official Copy Fees (if registered) • Land Charges Search Fees K15 (if unregistered) • Electronic money transfer fee • VAT payable Disbursements are costs related to your matter that […]

Our Fee Guide Leasehold Purchase Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements The fees we charge and the other fees and charges you will pay are listed below: • Legal fee • Search fees • HM Land Registry fees • Electronic money transfer fee • VAT payable Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land […]

Our Fee Guide Leasehold Sale Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements The fees we charge and the other fees and charges you will pay are listed below: • Legal fees • Land Registry official Copy Fees (if registered) • Land Charges Search Fees K15 (if unregistered) • Electronic money transfer fee • VAT payable Disbursements are costs related to your matter that […]

Our Fee Guide Probate Services and Other Private Client Work As a Solicitors’ firm we are robustly regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and have an independent complaints facility through the Legal Ombudsman. Other service providers do not have the same degree of regulation, staff training or offer clients the protection that using a firm of Solicitors does. Solicitors’ Firms are Regulated. Professional. Qualified. Insured. […]

Our Fee Guide Residential Freehold Purchase Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements. The fees we charge and the other fees and charges you will pay are listed below: • Legal fee • Search fees • HM Land Registry fees • Electronic money transfer fee • VAT payable Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land […]

Conveyancing Guides A guide to buying a property Using a qualified conveyancing lawyer ensures your purchase progresses smoothly, avoiding pitfalls that can occur along the way. We question the seller’s lawyer and liaise with your mortgage provider to assess the conditions on your mortgage offer. We can look out for problems, actual or potential, with the property and any associated leases. Legal searches […]

Personal Injury Guides Funding your personal injury claim We've set out a couple of commonly used methods of funding your personal injury claim. Read on for more information.

Personal Injury Guides Personal injury claims: Acquired or traumatic brain injuries Injuries involving damage to the brain are incredibly complex, difficult to treat and have the most devastating effect on the victim and their family. Our specialist team can help secure compensation as a result of the injury.

Family Guides Should I get a pre-nuptial agreement? That means that you can ask the court for an order that, say the family house is sold or transferred into your name or that your spouse’s pension fund should be divided so that you obtain a pension in your own name. The purpose of these claims is so that the court can make sure […]