Give your life a legal spring clean

Life admin has a habit of slipping to the bottom of the to‑do list, but with Spring on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to refresh your legal affairs and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing everything is up to date. A legal check‑in doesn’t have to feel daunting, far from it. The trusted team at Debenhams Ottaway in St Albans and Radlett highlight the key areas that can make the biggest difference, helping you feel organised, protected and ready for the year ahead.

Make or update your Will

A Will is essential if you have children, own property, run a business or hold meaningful savings. It ensures your assets pass to the right people and avoids unpleasant surprises for loved ones. Major life events such as growing your family, marriage, divorce, or moving home all mean your Will should be updated. For business owners, a well-planned Will is crucial for business succession and avoiding tax complications.

It’s also a good moment to think about wider family planning. If you’re getting married, or if your child is, a prenuptial agreement can help protect family wealth and set clear expectations for the future. Prenups are increasingly used by families wanting to safeguard inheritances, property, or business interests.

Review commercial contracts and employment policies

For business owners, carrying out an annual review of commercial contracts, internal policies and supplier agreements is essential to staying compliant, managing risk and operating efficiently. Equally, employment contracts and workplace policies should be revisited each year to ensure they reflect current legislation, updated roles and responsibilities, and evolving working practices such as hybrid arrangements or the use of personal devices.

Keeping both commercial and employment documentation up to date helps protect your business, reduces the likelihood of commercial disputes, and ensures clear expectations for both staff and third parties. If you’re planning ahead to buy or sell a business, or if you simply want to minimise risk, this is a crucial opportunity to tighten contracts, address any gaps, and make sure your business is transaction‑ready. Proactive contract reviews also help reduce the chances of future debt recovery issues with suppliers or customers.

With the increasing use of AI across many organisations, introducing or updating an AI policy is also key to promoting safe, responsible and strategic use of these tools.

Get your house in order

You don’t need to be moving home to benefit from reviewing your property arrangements. Conveyancing solicitors do far more than handle sales and purchases, they can help with lease extensions, freehold purchases, equity release, and investment properties. So, if you’ve been meaning to explore releasing equity, buying a freehold or investing in a second home, now is the perfect moment to take the next step.

And if you own commercial property or lease business premises, keeping on top of break clauses and lease terms can prevent unexpected costs or missed opportunities.

Set up lasting powers of attorney (LPAs)

LPAs let you appoint trusted individuals to make decisions for you if you become unable to. They cover finances, property and health decisions, offering peace of mind for you and your family. Without one, loved ones may face a lengthy and expensive Court of Protection process.

Living together agreements
If you or someone you care about is moving in with a partner, our experts can prepare a living together agreement to set out how you’ll manage finances, responsibilities and future arrangements, giving you both clarity and protection. For couples thinking about marriage in the future, this can also be a helpful step in starting conversations around financial planning and whether a prenuptial agreement may provide additional reassurance.

A little legal housekeeping now can give you year‑round reassurance. Contact the team at Debenhams Ottaway and we’ll work with you to tick off your to-do list and help you achieve your legal goals with confidence.