The announcement that the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn are to divorce has thrown the media spotlight on to pre-nuptial agreements. It was widely reported that the separation is amicable with the couple agreeing to share custody of their two children. The apparent goodwill in their approach led to widespread speculation that
A group of MPs have called for root and branch reforms of the inheritance tax system, including a cut in the standard rate from 40% to 10%. They also want to scrap most of the current tax reliefs, including the seven-year rule that allows you to pass on wealth without any tax implications. Instead, the
A digital questionnaire designed to make home moving ‘cheaper, quicker and less stressful’ is now being tested in a pilot scheme. The Buying and Selling Property Information (BASPI) has been developed by the Home Buying and Selling Group, an organisation made up of property specialists including solicitors, estate agents and mortgage advisers. The idea is
People who were overcharged for registering Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) in the past have just under a year left to claim a refund. A total of £54.8m is due to be repaid, but according to a report in the Sunday Times, only £14.2m has so far been claimed. LPAs enable you to nominate someone
A secretary who resigned after her managing director said she wouldn’t employ someone because she was black has won her claim of unfair dismissal. Caroline Hobbs worked for Avon Care Homes from November 2015 until she resigned without notice in April 2018. This followed an employment search for a new care home manager in which
The government has published its new bill designed to reform divorce law and “remove the need for separating couples to blame one another for the breakdown of their marriage”. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill represents the biggest shake-up of divorce laws in half a century and aims to reduce the impact that allegations of
The government is planning the cut the cost of some new homes by nearly a third to help first-time buyers on to the property ladder. The First Homes scheme will lower deposit and mortgage requirements for local first-time buyers in England. It’s hoped that people will be able to buy a home in their area,
Thousands of Muslim couples are thought to be taking part in Islamic wedding ceremonies each year in the UK without realising that their marriage may not be officially recognised under the law. This can have serious consequences if they later wish to divorce because they may find the courts refuse to accept they were ever
A property company has lost its appeal against a tribunal ruling that it had failed to correctly calculate the level of service charges payable by leaseholders. The case involved a mixed commercial and residential development owned by Avon Ground Rents Ltd. The leaseholders were contractually obliged to contribute through a service charge to the cost
A wine merchant has been disqualified from running a company for 15 years and ordered to repay £500,000 to his company’s creditors. Kevin William Eagling was a director of Noble Vintners Ltd, which entered creditors’ voluntary liquidation in June 2017 with an estimated deficiency of more than £1.6 million. A liquidator was appointed to wind-up