CHEESE & WINE WELCOME EVENT 9 MAY 2019
Property Fraud Alert Service
HM Land Registry has launched a Property Fraud Alert Service in order to help prevent property fraud. The service functions by sending out an email notification each time there is any significant activity logged by HM Land Registry in relation to a property. This could be as dramatic as the Land Registry receiving an [...]
Probate Fee Increase Update
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have confirmed that new probate fees expected to come into force on 1 April 2019 have been delayed due to Brexit talks. The proposed probate fees were set to rise from a flat fee of £215, or £155 for solicitor applications, to the following based on the size of [...]
THE MYTH OF THE COMMON LAW SPOUSE
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a common law marriage. In fact, common law marriage has not had any legal applicability in England since the 16th century. Despite this, nearly two-thirds of cohabiting couples mistakenly believe that if they live together and are in a relationship for long enough, particularly [...]
LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY v DEPUTYSHIP
Both Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) and Deputy Orders are legal instruments appointing persons to make decisions on behalf of someone who has become incapable of making or communicating that decision personally. They can be used to cover decisions relating to Property & Finance and Health & Welfare; however, Deputy Orders are rarely granted in [...]
Who Keeps The Engagement Ring?
On the sad occasion that a couple decides to end their engagement prior to the marriage, a question that is often asked is who gets to keep the ring? Often, engagement rings are expensive items that can hold important familial or emotive ties. The usual rule is the person who receives the ring may [...]
CHRISTMAS PARTY WARNING FOR EMPLOYERS
On 11th October 2018, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgement that a company should be held vicariously liable for the actions of its Managing Director following an assault during post-Christmas party drinks held at a hotel in 2011. Mr Bellman was an employee of the Defendant and his attacker, Mr John Major, [...]
ENFORCING AN ORDER FOR PAYMENT OF MONEY
The obtaining of a money judgment from the Courts against a debtor can often be a long and drawn out process. However, once a judgment debt has been obtained against a debtor, this does not guarantee that the debtor will settle the debt ordered by the Court. Thankfully there are various methods available to a [...]
CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS FOR HETEROSEXUAL COUPLES
Theresa May announced this week that heterosexual couples will soon be able to enter into a civil partnership, a union previously restricted to same sex couples. This follows the Supreme Court unanimously ruling on 27th of June this year that restricting civil partnerships to same sex couples was discriminatory and incompatible with European Law. [...]
LENDER’S LIABILITY FOR FAILING TO OBTAIN A HOME BUYER’S REPORT
In Moore v National Westminster Bank [2018] the bank was liable for breach of contract for failing to provide a Home Buyer’s Report to the borrowers and the borrowers were awarded damages based on the costs of the required repairs to the property. In the above case, the borrowers requested a Home Buyers Report in [...]