Posted on December 17, 2018 by
AdminTech billionaire Elon Musk had a post-nup with his ex-wife and Kanye West has a pre-nup with his wife, the professional celebrity Kim Kardashian. But are nuptial agreements just for eccentric celebrities trying to stiff their spouses?
The common view of nuptial agreements, whether pre-nups or post-nups, is that they’re contracts drawn up by celebrities or the ultra-wealthy when they marry someone with far fewer assets, in order to leave their spouse high and dry in the event of a break-up. Sometimes this is true, and it’s certainly possible to quibble with the way nuptial agreements have been used by some – but it doesn’t have to be this way and, often, nuptial agreements are something else entirely.
Read more...Posted on November 30, 2018 by
AdminQueen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, sadly passed away in August and did so without leaving a Will. This might come as a surprise to many given her superstar status and assets worth an estimated £62.3 million. Without a Will in place, local law is dictating how her estate is being divided, rather than this being her own choice. This is further complicated because one of her sons has special needs that require financial and medical support for the rest of his life. The process of administering her estate could take years to resolve because of this lack of clear division and potential claims to the inheritance, and will likely play out in public.
Read more...Posted on November 16, 2018 by
AdminWith Christmas shopping season looming and flash sales such as Black Friday (23rd Nov) and Cyber Monday (26th Nov) just around the corner, we’ve pulled together some top tips to help you get the best deals and have peace of mind once you get those items home.
Read more...Posted on November 14, 2018 by
AdminThe Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, James Brokenshire, has proposed introducing longer tenancies for private renters. If the plan, which was tabled in July this year, is put into action it would mean landlords and tenants may have to commit to a minimum three-year residential tenancy term in place of the current six to 12 month tenancy agreements.
Read more...Posted on October 18, 2018 by
AdminBeing forced out of your rented home is not a position anyone wants to be in, and although it may be necessary in the landlord’s eyes there is still a chance that the eviction is unlawful. Here we look into the common grounds for eviction, what to look out for if you think the eviction is illegal and how you can contest the eviction notice.
Read more...Posted on September 28, 2018 by
AdminThe recent sad case of Mrs Tini Owens has once again brought our archaic divorce laws under the spotlight.
Read more...Posted on September 17, 2018 by
AdminSo, you are about to fly the nest and rent your first place… or maybe you’ve been renting for a while now and are looking for a new place? Either way, you’ll need to go through the process of signing a tenancy agreement. It may seem like an inconvenient pain, but without a fair tenancy agreement in place, you could end up stuck in a bad situation. To help ensure a smooth rental period before you sign on the dotted line, take a look at some of our tenancy tips.
Read more...Posted on August 14, 2018 by
AdminIt happened to me rather more when I undertook criminal work, but, on occasion, I still find myself faced with what I call "TV attorney syndrome."
Read more...Posted on August 9, 2018 by
AdminYou’ve just retired and suddenly have a pension pot to splash out on. Well, before you pack your bags and head off for a year-long cruise around the world, have you thought about ways to supplement your pension to make it go further?
Read more...Posted on July 2, 2018 by
AdminBuying a property at auction has many benefits, particularly as it can be a simpler option than going through the usual route of lengthy and uncertain buying procedures. However, there is risk of losing out at an auction, especially if you are not fully prepared beforehand. Here, we give a full breakdown for first-time property bidders on how to prepare for an auction and how to snap up your desired property without a hitch.
Read more...Posted on June 30, 2018 by
AdminI read an article in The Guardian citing a report that predicts one in five high street estate agents are likely to go out of business in the next five years.
Read more...Posted on June 13, 2018 by
AdminIf you’re looking to help your child onto the property ladder, you’re not alone. The Bank of Mum and Dad has been ranked as a key rival to the ninth biggest mortgage lender in the UK, with a collective £6.5 billion floated on the property market in 2017 to help loved ones attain that first home dream.
Read more...Posted on June 4, 2018 by
AdminIn Private Client – that is to say, the area of law that deals with Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, etc - we are concerned with protecting you and ensuring your wishes are carried out. Often this means what you wish to happen after you die, but this can also mean what you want to happen should you still be alive but unable to make decisions about yourself.
Read more...Posted on May 29, 2018 by
AdminUnlike freehold buildings, leasehold properties have a certain number of years contained in their lease. The longer the lease the more valuable your property is.
If the term of your lease starts to drop towards 80 years, you need to consider extending it. Once the term of your lease dips below the 80 year threshold, the cost of extending your lease becomes markedly more expensive. This article explains why and tells you what else you need to know about extending your lease.
Read more...Posted on May 25, 2018 by
AdminOn the anniversary of the year women were first permitted to vote our Employment Law specialist Deborah Francis provides us with her insight on how women are being treated in the workplace 100 years later.
Read more...Posted on May 22, 2018 by
AdminTrusts, you may think, are the preserve of the ultra-wealthy or those juggling money between tropical islands – but that’s not always the case, not even often! The majority of trusts that lawyers deal with are simple but powerful ways to protect money or assets for those you care about. I’ll give you the barest sketch of what a trust is and three examples of how trusts can help you in your Wills.
Read more...It is fair to say that in the UK, we are not comfortable discussing death. However, that appears to be gradually changing.
Read more...Posted on May 11, 2018 by
AdminIt is often perceived to be the case that it is simply not financially proportionate to engage a legal professional for certain litigious matters, especially those on the Small Claims track due to the inherent difficulties in costs recovery save for a few exceptions.
Read more...Posted on April 26, 2018 by
AdminOn Monday we had the happy news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had a new baby boy. Now the question on everyone’s lips is: what will the Royal mummy and daddy call their new bundle of joy? I doubt there will be too much argument about it, both Kate and Will share parental responsibility (‘PR’) for their children because they are married to each other and they therefore have an equal say in important decisions about their baby, including what to name him.
Read more...Posted on April 24, 2018 by
AdminThere are a number of things to consider when becoming a landlord. What references do you need when choosing a tenant, and why? What are the pros and cons of using a letting agent? If it doesn't work out or if you want your house back, how do you evict your tentant? And how do you make sure you are up-to-date with the latest legislation, so you don't accidentally fall foul of the law?
Read more...Posted on April 17, 2018 by
AdminTaking out a lease on a commercial unit can be a formidable prospect whether you are a brand new company or if you have been leasing property for several years. Leases can often run to over thirty pages and so finding your way round the complicated terminology can be daunting.
Read more...Posted on April 11, 2018 by
AdminIn the developed world, we are living longer, and are generally better off than we ever have been, but as we age too many people are still not putting provisions in place to deal with their affairs - either after they have died, or while they are alive but unable to cope themselves.
Read more...Posted on April 9, 2018 by
AdminIf you and your partner die, what happens to your child? Do they get looked after by your next of kin? The child’s Godparents? Evil Stepsister?
Read more...Posted on April 5, 2018 by
AdminWhen a landlord decides to sell his property containing residential flats to which the Right of First Refusal applies, he must, by law, offer it first to the tenants of the flats before offering it on the open market.
Read more...Posted on March 26, 2018 by
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