Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak announced on 8th July 2020 changes to the threshold at which homebuyers in England and Northern Ireland are required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). It is hoped that the temporary cut will boost the Country’s housing market and stimulate economic recovery ... Read More >>
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill
Since the publication of our previous article, “Whose Fault is Divorce?” notable progress has been made in relation to updating the law governing divorce. This follows substantial criticism of the current law, which requires proof of one of five ‘facts’ in order to demonstrate that the marriage has ... Read More >>
Will they, won’t they?
Just as soon as it was back, it was gone again. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, originally introduced by Theresa May’s government, was lost when the Queens Speech was called in September, then reinstated, then lost again to the general election. It is now unclear whether this ... Read More >>
The Personal Effects of the Tenant after Eviction
If you are a tenant renting a house or a flat and your tenancy is nearing an end and thinking of leaving some of your possessions/ items behind when you leave, you might be wondering: What will happen if I leave anything behind? When you leave the property, any items which are left behind ... Read More >>
Can I make a gift as Deputy (attorney) under an LPA?
Can I make a gift as an attorney? Being a loved-one’s attorney or deputy (“Attorney”) appears to be an onerous task at times. Attorneys usually act on the basis of a Lasting Power of Attorney or under a court order as deputies. Acting in the best interest of the donor is the most important ... Read More >>
Family Court Reforms
Brought into effect today, the current changes to the family court service have been described by Sir James Munby, president of the family division, as “the largest reform of the family justice system any of us have seen or will see in our professional lifetimes”. The reforms are designed to ... Read More >>
Arbitration – a cheaper alternative to Family Court
The Real Alternative to Court Family Arbitration After the breakdown of a marriage, there are five ways to resolve financial, proprietary and child maintenance disputes: mediation, collaboration, direct negotiations, taking the case to court and, possibly least common, Arbitration. This is an ... Read More >>
Divorce – “If I get the children, do I get the house?”
Both the childrens' needs and the needs of the spouse looking after them have a priority, but the judge takes into account the other spouses needs also, although these may be postponed in favour of the spouse with the children. It is also an important factor as to how much contact each parent ... Read More >>
Divorce – What happens to the possessions brought into marriage
Pre-marital assets Courts usually take them into consideration if the marriage is short (usually under 6 years, this is a rule of thumb) and no children. But otherwise they are difficult to ring fence. Can I take my heirlooms passed onto me in my family? It could be possible to take specific ... Read More >>
Tenancy Deposit Schemes – What you need to know
Who are we? I am a litigation paralegal at Garner and Hancock LLP and specialise in residential possession cases. This article briefly summarises and considers the protection of tenants’ deposits, highlighting the dangers for Landlords or their agents who fail to follow the new guidelines being ... Read More >>
