Blogs
Recognition by the Law Society
Essex and Hertfordshire law firm Attwaters Jameson Hill is celebrating after being re-accredited to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme by the Law Society. This is a rare achievement and is in recognition of the hard work, the high standards and service that the residential property team provide to th....
Trust period amended to reduce inheritance tax burden
Discretionary trusts are a great way to reduce the burden of inheritance tax but they must be drawn up properly to be effective. Discretionary trusts are a great way to reduce the burden of inheritance tax but they must be drawn up properly to be effective. A recent case before the High Court ....
Court rules a mother’s will was forged by her son
A woman’s will has been declared invalid after a court ruled that it had been forged by her son. The woman originally made a will in 1999, stating that she intended to split her estate equally between her two children. The son claimed the mother made a new will while she was dying from cance....
Failing to make a will could become a nightmare for your family
Nearly two out of three people in the UK haven't made a will and so risk creating a financial nightmare for their families, according to new research. The survey suggests that many people don't make a will because they feel uncomfortable about discussing death and their dying wishes. However, ....
Engineers must pay damages for breaching contract
An engineering firm has lost its appeal against having to pay damages to an airline company. An engineering firm has lost its appeal against having to pay damages to an airline company. The case involved a breach of contract by the engineers. They had an agreement with the airline that they wo....
Police officers win age discrimination claim
Several police officers have won age discrimination claims after being forced to retire early. The five police forces responsible could now have to pay out millions of pounds in compensation. Test cases were brought on behalf of 250 officers. They lost their jobs under regulation A19, which al....
Court corrects costly error in family trust document
An extended family have been able to rectify a trust document which would have prevented them benefiting in the way intended when the settlement was first drawn up. The case involved a farming business. The shares were originally held by a husband and wife team in the 1970s. The couple put a n....
Levy exemption for self-build homes comes into effect
The government has made it easier for people to build their own homes by cutting the Community Infrastructure Levy on self-built accommodation. Property developers have to pay a levy to local councils to help with the cost of the infrastructure needed to support the development. Some local cou....
Delays over powers of attorney causing stress for families
Delays in the process of setting up lasting powers of attorney (LPA) are causing considerable stress and expense for thousands of families, according to a report in the Times newspaper. An LPA is a legal arrangement that enables you to authorise someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf ....
New salary limit set for Help to Buy mortgages
The government has announced a change to the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme amid concerns over rising house prices. New loans granted under the scheme must now be less than 4.5 times the borrower’s income. In a separate move, the Bank of England has told mortgage lenders that only 15%....
Divorcees can’t shield assets in companies
The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark ruling that divorcing husbands cannot protect their assets by signing them over to companies – a practice described as 'a cheat’s charter’ by some lawyers – in a case involving a high-profile couple, Michael and Yasmin Prest. The Supreme Court ha....
Awards for faith in younger generation
In the space of two months, Attwaters Jameson Hill has been presented with two important regional awards in recognition of efforts to provide job openings and career development for the younger generation. In the space of two months, Attwaters Jameson Hill has been presented with two important re....
