Category Archives: News

Family finances make divorce negotiations increasingly complex

Divorce rates are on the rise, according to the latest statistics, and with the increase in the value of family assets, couples should do more to face up to financial affairs during the good times according to professionals.  According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the overall rate of divorce…

Wills and Probate Dementia and the power of attorney

One of the fastest growing health issues in UK society is the seemingly relentless rise in dementia. This terrifying category of diseases combined with an older population means that it’s never been more important to get your affairs in order as early as possible. But if dementia does take hold, at what point do you…

Good intentions not enough in wage calculations

Accurate calculations of the National Minimum Wage continue to cause headaches for employers, with an employment tribunal acknowledging the complexity, saying there is no single key to unlock every case. Recently, unintentional underpayments in staff pay packets have affected major retailers like John Lewis and Tesco, while others have been waiting for an employment tribunal…

Workforce wellbeing must include mental health awareness

Understanding of mental health issues is high on the agenda, thanks to the involvement of the younger members of the Royal family in the Heads Together awareness campaign which has seen the #oktosay hashtag trending. Their activity gave an extra boost to this month’s Mental Health Awareness Week, but now the annual campaign is over,…

House sellers are facing testing questions

Springtime is traditionally the busiest time for the property market, but with a knotty problem affecting more homes than ever, it’s worth doing some horticultural homework before you start, whether you’re buying or selling.  Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive, aggressive and destructive plant, able to grow as high as four metres in just a…

Families who leave court the losers after inheritance claims

Record numbers of inheritance disputes are going through the courts as modern family structures and rising house prices push more families to contest unfavourable outcomes.   Two recent cases which have seen families losing out after legal action include two brothers who have run up fees of more than their entire inheritance by disputing a stepmothers’…

No rabbits, just selfies come out of Hammond’s hat in pre-Brexit budget

The first steps towards preparing the UK for a post-Brexit future were announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Spring Budget, which avoided headline-grabbing shake-ups and tax breaks in favour of economic stability.   In the run-up to the announcement, sterling slipped to a seven-week low, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the move towards exiting the European…

LIVING TOGETHER RIGHTS? – SOME HOPE??

There persists to this day an urban myth that couples who choose to live together and not get married will after time acquire the same rights of married couples, by virtue of being in a “common law marriage”.  Unfortunately, such concept simply does not exist.   No matter how long an unmarried couple choose to live…

Complex challenges for employers in the year ahead

Constant changes and increasing complexity have helped make employment law a frontline challenge for business and this year looks set to continue the trend.  The first weeks of January saw Maggie Dewhurst, a bike courier with City Sprint, winning her case to be treated as a worker, rather than a self-employed contractor. The high-profile case…