Have you ever considered what might happen to your business if you should be unexpectedly incapacitated by illness or injury? Who would take over the running of the business and its finances, and what would it mean for your employees? The best way to ensure that your business can continue as normal in your absence is to prepare a business or commercial Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). This way you can appoint an attorney to deal with business matters and ensure business continuity in the event of you being unable to work.
After a break, David Porter has resumed his Charity Chat to help make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run a charity correctly. The references I make...
Following on from our recent article on what to do to be a successful landlord, here’s some more general tips that can assist in managing your property: Prior to granting a tenant an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) carry out a credit check on...
Knowledge is key when it comes to being a successful landlord. To assist you in this regard Joesph has put together a helpful list of actions a landlord must do before letting a residential property: Ensure the property is safe and free from health...
The Ministry of Justice has announced that it has scrapped the time limits that have, to date, prevented many victims of domestic abuse from obtaining legal aid for Family Court proceedings. The limited evidence requirements have also been broadened. ...
Mental Capacity - why this is important when assessing a will There are a number of grounds under which a will can be challenged. One of these grounds is that the person making the will lacked the necessary mental capacity to do so. With people...
First Time Buyers You will never be in a better position to purchase a property then when you are a first time buyer. Whilst your budget might be smaller than it is for future home purchase, you are eligible for the best mortgage rates with lenders often...
Every year over one million homes are bought and sold in the UK and for the majority, the process is a positive one. For some, however, the home buying and selling process doesn’t run quite so smoothly and can often become increasingly costly with...
Buying or selling – are there hidden costs? Everyone knows that buying a property is an expensive time but what is often forgotten is that it isn’t just the deposit, the professionals’ fees and the money for new furniture that you need...
Pre- action Protocol for Debt Claims The Pre-action Protocol for debt claims ('The Protocol') comes into force on 1 October 2017 and will potentially have a significant impact on a business if it has outstanding debts due from individuals. The...
David Porter continues his series of blogs - and the aim of ‘Charity Chat’ is to make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run the charity...
Challenging a Will? Think Caveat! If you intend to challenge the validity of a will, it is important to investigate the circumstances surrounding the execution of the will. It is helpful in these cases if the Grant of Probate can be put on hold...
In Summer 2015 the Government announced the introduction of a new nil rate band for Inheritance Tax, which came in to force on the 6 th April 2017. In addition to your standard nil rate band, which is currently £325,000, a further nil rate band is now...
David Porter continues his series of blogs with the aims of ‘Charity Chat’ to make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run the Charity...
Leasehold Properties - what you need to know Before buying a leasehold property, there are a few things that you should know. For example, even though leaseholders may have bought the property and have a mortgage bill every month to show for it, they...
Is ‘no-fault’ divorce coming to England and Wales? The only ground for divorce in England and Wales is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The court cannot hold that the marriage has broken down irretrievably unless the...
David Porter continues his series of blogs with the aims of ‘Charity Chat’ to make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run the Charity...
Is Green Energy always the best option? Check with your mortgage lender first! While the UK may not be the sunniest place on the planet, nevertheless over the past few years there has been a significant rise in the number of homes across the country whose...
Can children be called as witnesses in family proceedings? Whether a child should give evidence in family courts has always been an important question for the Court and parents. Before Re W 2010 UKSC 12 views swayed. Baroness Hale told us there was no...
TO CONSENT OR NOT TO CONSENT? SHOULD I AGREE TO MY CHILDREN BEING ACCOMMODATED BY CHILDREN’S SERVICES? This is a question which many parents ask me when Children’s Services are involved with their family and when there is a proposal for the...
The new airport checks that could see thousands of football fans and holiday makers alike detained at the airport and prevented from travelling. If the headlines over the last few days are to be believed new Police powers could lead to chaos at airports as...
As it is Dementia Awareness week we wanted to share with our local community the very exciting news that Fieldings Porter is supporting Dementia Friends, an Alzheimer’s Society initiative, to help people develop an understanding of dementia and turn it...
Living arrangements whereby a couple who is not married but live together in the same household are becoming increasingly common. This arrangement in law is known as cohabitation. The law gives cohabiting couples fewer rights on separation than for civil...
Arguably, once seen as the preserve of the rich and famous, Pre-Nuptial Agreements or “Pre-Nups” as they are often referred to are becoming increasingly common, particularly in the context of people getting married or entering into civil...
It is often the case that when a marriage (or a civil partnership) comes to an end that there are financial arrangements that need to be made. One or both parties may own property, particularly the home in which they have resided as a couple. ...
It is, sadly, with some vehemence and annoyance that on the front page of a daily newspaper which I have been reading for over 20 years and whose first edition was in 1785 that I feel compelled to defend the lawyer and the use of the term. The...
HOLIDAY CLAIMS ABROAD BLOG It is extremely disappointing when a holiday is ruined by an accident or illness abroad. Accidents pursued under travel law come in varying forms and are subject to different procedural rules and regulations. Some...
Right to Rent Scheme 2016 As of 1 February 2016, Landlords are now required to check the immigration status of their tenants in respect of Residential Tenancy Agreements entered into after this date. If a person does not have permission to be in the UK,...
David Porter continues his series of blogs with the aims of ‘Charity Chat’ to make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run the Charity...
In the first of a series of blogs, David Darlington talks about a recent piece of legislation. Ban on Smoking in Vehicles Comes into Force in England and Wales Successive governments have passed legislation to restrict smoking in various places in an...
David Porter continues his series of blogs with the aims of ‘Charity Chat’ to make Trustees, Directors, Governors and Committee Members (the Trustees) aware of their obligations and the processes that have to be followed to run the Charity...
