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...
A great year for Lorna, the young cyclist we are sponsoring through SportsAid
It’s been a busy few months for Lorna Bowler, the cyclist we are sponsoring through SportsAid in memory of Patrick McGrath. Lorna has been busy racing in the Revolution Series...
Avoiding conflict at Christmas
With the end of the school term fast approaching, it is important that divorced or separated families make plans to spend time with their children over the Christmas holidays. Christmas,...
Resolution family lawyers lobby in Parliament
Debenhams Ottaway family lawyer Helen Clyne joined other Resolution members to lobby in Parliament this week. Resolution represent 6,500 family justice professionals committed to supporting clients to reach non-confrontational resolutions to family disputes. The...
Where there’s a Will there’s a way: the importance of making a Will
It is estimated that approximately 60% of the UK adult population has not made a Will. This is remarkable in a world of ever more complex families and an increasingly...
Planning your digital legacy
A survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that UK consumers valued their digital assets at £25billion. The average consumer owns 42 e-books, 30 TV shows, 2,678 individual songs and 28 digital...
Warning on Government’s ‘risky’ online legal tool
A recent report published by a coalition of organisations led by Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) warns that a Government online tool to create Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and other DIY...
Alternative dispute resolution: helping separated couples reach an agreement
For separating couples, it is often hard to reach agreement on how to deal with finances and arrangements for children. At the end of a relationship, communication has often broken...
Debenhams Ottaway helping Hollywood actor and local entrepreneur set up business
The corporate and commercial and employment teams at Debenhams Ottaway are currently advising local entrepreneur Danny Deacon and Hollywood actor and ex-professional footballer Vinnie Jones on a new joint business...
Retirement: Gifting to save inheritance tax
Retirement is an opportune time to take stock of your assets and to think about gifting to save your estate inheritance tax (IHT). Perhaps your children have now flown the...
Residential leasehold property – consultation requirements
Landlords of residential property will already be aware that they are required to consult with tenants before carrying out qualifying works or entering into qualifying long term agreements. In the...
Debenhams Ottaway raises over £3,000 in Charity Week
Last week Debenhams Ottaway held its annual Charity Week fundraising for its nominated charities for this year Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust. The week comprised...
Important ruling on holiday pay and commission
In a decision which may bring severe financial implications for employers, the Court of Appeal has concluded that holiday pay must include compensation for any results-based commission which would usually...