St Albans hosted its first Literary Festival last weekend with over 40 initiatives taking place across the City. Debenhams Ottaway, one of the festival sponsors, hosted three events in their office and...
Private client and planning remain in band 1, family move to band 2 and litigation recognised for the first time Chambers and Partners UK has just published its latest rankings...
Business owners should consider making tailored lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) for their commercial interests alongside powers for their general affairs. Typically LPAs are created by people looking ahead to...
With less than two months to go before Christmas, many separated parents start to think about the arrangements for contact with their children. Christmas is a very special time for many...
A recent judgement in the Court of Protection has highlighted that attorneys have limited authority to make gifts under a power of attorney. The case is also a strong reminder...
According to the Economist last month, house prices increased by 10% in Britain – and by 19% in London. Much of this is down to government policy – the base...
The intestacy rules have recently been updated, although clients are still advised to have a Will in place to ensure their estate passes to chosen beneficiaries. If a person dies...
With the huge increase in internet use, more & more people are being tempted to deal with probate & estate admin themselves. What are the pitfalls? Probate, the process of...
A shareholders’ agreement is a contract entered into between a company and some or all of its shareholders. It works in conjunction with a company’s articles of association by creating...
From October 2014, form R27, which deals with a deceased’s income tax affairs up to the date of death, is no longer required. HMRC has said that the background to...
Businesses will probably know whether it has any female employees who are pregnant and due to take maternity leave during the next six months. How many, however, will know which of...
St Albans first Literary Festival is a four-day celebration (from 6 to 9 November 2014) of story-telling, of every kind: great works of literature, journalistic writing, poetry, non-fiction, copy-writing and blogging will...
Debenhams Ottaway was recognised in eight categories (within the south east area) in Legal 500’s recently released rankings. Four of the eight were included for the first time. Practice areas...
Charity week for Willow Foundation and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust Last week Debenhams Ottaway held a charity week in aid of their nominated charities for 2014/15 – Willow...
Family run business, The Chocolate Wrapper, last week received the ‘Best New Business’ award at the St Albans and District Chamber of Commerce Community Business Awards. The Harpenden based business...
A number of recent cases have made it easier for landlords to oppose the grant of a new tenancy under one of the “fault” grounds, with no compensation payable to...
On Facebook or Twitter? Digital assets include social media accounts, as well as online bank accounts. As you go through life, it is important to be aware of your digital...
On 29 March 2014 the law changed to allow same sex couples to marry. In the three months following the new law, 1,409 same sex couples married, with 56% of...
Safeguarding children is a paramount consideration. But what happens if a former teacher asserts that his rights prevent safeguarding information being disclosed to the police? This was the issue which...
The Employment Tribunal (ET) of Stevens v Northolt High School serves as a very useful reminder of the importance of employment businesses setting up appropriate systems with hirers to obtain comparator information....
