| Welcome to the spring issue of our Private Client newsletter, keeping you up to date courtesy of a quarterly round-up of news from the legal world and useful, topical advice. Time for a Spring Clean? Spring always goes hand in hand with the end of the Tax Year, so what better time to dust off any legal or financial cobwebs?
With recent tax changes there has probably never been a better time to think strategically and consider Inheritance Tax planning. There is much that can be done, such as utilising your annual gifts allowance, and some careful planning backed by specialist advice could make a significant difference in the future. There is ample useful information on our website this month to get you started, and our news item on the IHT Nil Rate Band below is also well worth a read.
Now is also a good time to think about whether your will still meets your wishes; has anything changed since you last updated it? Some changes can render a will invalid, so it is worth checking with us to see if it needs a review. Property Ladder Becoming even Harder to Climb? Despite the fact that, according to the latest Halifax House Price Index, house prices fell by 1.5% in February, and that interest rates have stayed on a level of late; it is still proving to be a rough ride for first time buyers. Tougher mortgage rules based on proving affordability mean it is becoming harder to take the first step onto the property ladder and increasingly, younger people are looking to the bank of mum and dad for help. One of our featured news articles this month (see below) offers advice on the pros and cons of the various funding options that parents may be considering. Your Rights when Buying In our last issue, we talked about your rights when buying from retail outlets. In this issue, one of our stories covers your rights under the Doorstep Selling Regulations; very important if you buy services from anyone calling upon you at home or at work, or selling services at a third party location, such as a time share exhibition.
Spring is here; so enjoy it and the (hopefully) warmer weather that it brings.
Regards,
Your signoff  Property Ladder: Stepping On
Even with the recent changes to Stamp Duty for first time buyers, young people wishing to buy a home of their own are increasingly looking to their parents for assistance. On our website this month we have a guide to the pros and cons of the usual methods, from lending, gifting and co-purchase to acting as guarantor and other considerations. If you are thinking about helping your children, or grandchildren, onto the property ladder, it is wise to take advice on the best way to do so before you go ahead. 'Doorstep Selling' Regulations: How you are Protected  The ‘Doorstep Selling’ regulations came into effect on 1 October 2008 and bring new rights to consumers who make contracts with traders in places that are not the usual business premises of the trader. They were introduced to provide consumers with extra protection against assertive or forceful salespeople who make it difficult for consumers to say ‘no'. Read more about the Regulations and the protection they afford on our website, and if you need further advice, contact us.
 IHT Nil Rate Band - Don't Discard the Old Will
It might easily be thought that once an estate has gone to Probate and the assets have passed to the surviving spouse or civil partner, then that is the end of the matter and the paperwork (including the will) can be consigned to the shredder after a suitable period of time; but that is not the case. Retaining records after a person has died is essential in order to be able to demonstrate the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) ‘nil rate band’ that is available on the death of a surviving spouse or civil partner. It is well worth while reading the full story on our website so as to best plan ahead and deal with IHT. And of course, contact us for advice should you be in this situation. Family Law Cases Overturned  Sometimes judges have an overwhelming desire to protect children, which leads them to go beyond the matter at hand and perhaps not give a fair hearing. In one case documented on our website this month, a father, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, appealed against a judge’s refusal to grant an adjournment of contact proceedings after he was unable to attend due to being medically unfit. Read about how the father appealed and how the Court of Appeal ruled the judge wrong to consider anything more than the facts before him. For advice on family and children issues, contact us in confidence
Quote of the Month "I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship." Louisa May Alcott (1832 - 1888) – author of Little Women Site of the Month – Slideshare.net http://www.slideshare.net/ is a fantastic resource where people from all over the world post all kinds of presentations. There's even one that a lady in the US used to get a job with her ideal employer when she moved to another city. Have a look at the site, I defy you not to find something of interest. | 
