News & Blogs

A frequent means of challenging the validity of a Will is to claim that the person who gave instructions for the Will, known as “the testator”, did not have the required level of mental capacity, known as “testamentary capacity”. The relevant test for testamentary capacity was set out in the case of Banks v Goodfellow in 1870, and this has remained the basis for...

Following the recent UK release of the documentary, “Framing Britney Spears”, the case of the court-ordered conservatorship of the singer Britney Spears has been in the headlines.

This article looks at US conservatorship and the English equivalent, Deputyship. Both appointments grant power to an individual to act on another individual’s behalf when they do not have the...

The Budget was announced on 2 March 2021 and the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced measures that affect both employees and employers. With April approaching, we also have the new statutory figures that will apply to various employment situations, including calculations of statutory redundancy pay.

Extension of the furlough scheme

Of particular note, is that the furlough scheme (officially...

The question of employment status continues to develop as new cases progress through the legal system. The latest to return to court, is Uber BV and others v Aslam and others.

The Supreme Court unanimously upheld previous decisions that Uber’s drivers are to be classified as workers. This is another important judgment evolving the principles used to classify the employment status of gig...

On 15 January 2021, the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the appeal case Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others [2021], substantially allowing the FCA’s appeal in ruling that the insurance companies should pay out on the relevant coronavirus business interruption claims, altogether worth an estimated £1.2 billion.

This decision is positive news...

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a powerful legal document, enabling you (the Donor) to appoint an individual or individuals of your choosing (your Attorney(s)) to manage your financial affairs and/or to make decisions regarding your welfare, should you become unable to make such decisions yourself in the future. An LPA is, therefore, an important document and there can be serious...

If you have been appointed as a property and financial affairs deputy, or if you are acting as an attorney under a property and financial affairs Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for a relative or friend (known as the donor), you will realise fairly soon that this can be a challenging and time-consuming role. There are many things to consider when looking after someone else’s money. You...

Whether you are buying a property alone or with another person, purchasing your first or your fifteenth home, planning on living in it or letting it out: whenever you acquire property, you should consider whether you need to make or update your Will as a result.

Fundamentally, your Will determines who receives your estate when you die. This includes any property you own solely or as tenants in...

One of the many challenges of the COVID pandemic is the strain placed on marriages and relationships as a result of homeworking, lack of external stimulus, home educating children and friction that can tip over quickly under the strain. 

The hope is that marriages weather the COVID storm, and we can support and refer those clients for whom this is an objective. However, many couples who...

Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement on 4 January 2021, declaring another national lockdown, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced “top-up” grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses adversely impacted by the new lockdown, with the proposal expected to cost £4.6 billion and benefit over 600,000 businesses.

Who is the grant available to and how much is...