“Life is Short. Have an Affair”
The hacking of the Ashley Madison website and threats to release details of potential adulterers has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The hackers, who have named themselves the...
Late notification of officer changes can be costly for your company
Recent guidance from Companies House has meant that greater prudence must be applied when informing them about changes to a limited company. Many companies do not inform Companies House of...
Divorce battle: Don’t let non payment land you in prison
The divorce of Yasmin and Michael Prest has taken yet another twist. On 7 July the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of Mr Justice Moylan in the High Court...
Debenhams Ottaway launches regulatory, compliance and professional disciplinary team
Debenhams Ottaway has launched a regulatory, compliance and professional disciplinary team acting for professionals in highly regulated sectors, including healthcare professionals, sportsmen, pilots, accountants, financial services professionals and lawyers. With...
Charities face threat to legacy income as the court says Will can be ignored
A number of charities have voiced concern following this week’s decision by the Court of Appeal, in the case of a Hertfordshire woman cut out of her mother’s Will, to...
Being neighbours from hell can be costly
It is well known that neighbour disputes can adversely affect an owner’s ability to sell their property, as they have to be declared in the Seller’s Property Information Form and...
Top 10 tips for buying a recruitment business
The recruitment sector is moving from strength to strength as confidence in the economy rallies and unemployment continues to fall year on year. A greater demand for temporary and full...
Thinking of selling this summer?
Sellers are traditionally wary of putting their homes on the market during the summer holidays, as they are concerned many buyers – particularly of family homes – will have their minds on...
“The Bank of Mum and Dad” – it’s not like the others
Whatever your view about banking on Mum and Dad, make sure you avoid a legal or tax sting. Most parents try to prepare their children for the financial realities of...
St Albans Business Festival to end in style
The St Albans Business Festival is rounding off a week of events with a finale BBQ lunch at the Brickyard in St Albans on Friday 26 June sponsored by Debenhams...
Separation need not be a boxing match
Not all separating couples do so acrimoniously. For some, the pain of separation can be tempered by reaching a settlement in a sensitive, reflective and amicable way. Problems can arise when principles...
Repudiatory breach despite five year delay in discovery
In the recent case of Williams v Leeds United Football Club the High Court held that it was a repudiatory breach of contract for a senior employee to forward an...
My house my pension
It is anticipated that following the April pension changes, we could see a sizeable uplift in sales and purchases of residential property as wealthy retirees with a healthy pension pot...
Is the Will valid?
The recent publicity surrounding the death of blues musician BB King and the validity of his Will, highlights a growing trend for contested probate on both sides of the Atlantic....
Father’s Day needn’t be a distressing time for separated families
Father’s Day can be a particularly distressing time for separated families. Whilst all other families seem to be enjoying the day together it can be an emotional struggle for separated...
Do you have these important documents in place?
With busy work and family lives, many of us put off reviewing important policies and documents, which can help avoid complications in the future. Your Pension Nomination If you are...
Debenhams Ottaway strengthens its probate offering
With the rising number of families contesting a relative’s Will and major cases regularly making the headlines, contested probate is becoming an increasingly important area of law. To meet the...
Another success for Debenhams Ottaway’s planning team
Debenhams Ottaway’s planning team has been advising long term client, the St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance, on a project to build 5,000 homes and a distribution centre in Houghton...
A better way to manage long term ill health?
A new, state-funded occupational health assessment service is now operational. The so far under-publicised service, branded ‘Fit for Work’, aims to provide a simple and cost effective way for employees,...
Whistleblowing – What is in the public interest?
HR Directors and CEOs will be aware that it is no longer so easy for an employee to use whistleblowing legislation, which was originally intended to protect those who were...