Discretionary trusts; an alternative to prenups?
Have you thought about using a discretionary trust created in your lifetime as a way of protecting your family’s assets in the future? An increasing number of people have used discretionary...
Conservative and Labour compete for the votes of working families, but at what cost to employers?
With Labour and Conservative manifestos now published, we take a look at some of the key proposals and consider their implications for employers. Labour proposes wide ranging reforms to the...
An inheritance tax update – the family home allowance
From April this year, the family home will benefit from an additional inheritance tax allowance of £100,000. This may give rise to a potential nil-rate threshold of £1 million for...
A great start to the year for Lorna, the young cyclist we are sponsoring through SportsAid
Lorna is excited to have started the season of road racing. She has been very busy these last two weeks, she has raced three times and has come 5th, 3rd and 3rd,...
The new late payment guidance
On 31 January 2017, the government published guidance on the new regulations aiming to tackle the issue of late payments. From April 2017, all large companies and limited liability partnerships...
New case highlights need for “no fault” divorce law
The case of Tini and Hugh Owens has shown the need for English divorce law to be updated to reflect modern life. The story hit the headlines after Mrs Owens...
Animal Charities win inheritance dispute appeal
Unanimous Supreme Court decision finds in favour of charities – the pendulum swings back towards the principle of testamentary freedom. The Supreme Court has handed down judgment in Ilott v....
Rise in “gig” economy causes confusion for employers
A recent Employment Tribunal ruling highlights the dangers of getting the employment status of your staff wrong. In considering the employment status of an individual i.e. employee, self-employed or worker...
Check into a hotel, check out of your marriage?
Across America big divisions have arisen between supporters of the Trump and Clinton campaigns and over the outcome of the US election. Similar divisions have appeared in the UK as...
DebtFast – top tips to help you recover your debts
Poor cash flow is often cited as the primary reason for businesses failing. You can protect your business by having systems in place that make collecting unpaid invoices as hassle...
What happens when a company goes insolvent?
A company is considered insolvent if it cannot pay its debts as and when they fall due. Broadly speaking, there are three main types of insolvency: administration, liquidation and Company...
New year, new beginnings
This time of year is often marked by new beginnings. For some couples it can be an engagement, marriage or moving in together whilst other couples may have come to...
How to help safeguard vulnerable adults
Some adults are less able to protect themselves and have difficulty making their wishes and feelings known, making them vulnerable to abuse. Anyone can be a victim of financial abuse,...
Hertfordshire inheritance dispute heard by top court
A Hertfordshire woman will soon learn the outcome of her inheritance claim appeal, after her mother left her nothing in her Will. Mrs Ilott was awarded £164,000 by the Court...
Will 2017 be an all-out assault on access to justice or provide better access to the courts?
As we enter 2017 those of us at the front line of civil justice are preparing ourselves for further reforms. Whether those reforms turn out to be an all-out assault...
DIY Probate Pitfalls – Why Should You Use a Professional?
Probate, the process of dealing with someone’s estate (property, possessions, cash, savings) when they pass away, can be applied for without seeing a lawyer, but it’s not without risks. Official...
Fixed costs in litigation – why we need to fix the civil court system to reduce costs in litigation
If Lord Justice Jackson is to implement fixed costs reform for cases in the lower echelons of the multi-track this needs, in my view, to take place simultaneously (or after)...
Agency Worker Regulations – the “reasonable steps defence” in practice
Case law concerning the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) remains limited. We recently advised a recruitment business involved in a dispute with a “temp” and a hirer regarding who was liable...
Pre-nups for forward thinking couples
While pre-nuptial agreements (also known as pre-nups) are not nearly as fun to think about as wedding cakes or honeymoons, they can help couples avoid financial issues later in life....
Limitation period for financial claims on divorce?
To many people’s surprise, the financial claims that a couple can make against each other upon divorce remain open even after the divorce is complete. Only a court order or...