Blog
Apr 2021
DO YOU NEED TO OFFER ENHANCED SHARED PARENTAL LEAVE PAY?
When shared parental leave was introduced in 2015, one of the concerns was whether an employer would need to offer enhanced shared parental leave pay if the employer provided enhanced adoption and/or maternity leave pay.
Apr 2021
Getting a joint account with children will not get around an LPA
Someone approached me recently and said they’d been thinking about some later life planning - always music to my ears. However, this individual said they didn’t feel ready for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and neither did their son, and asked if a joint bank account would instead provide an alternative solution. On the surface, this seemed acceptable, but from a legal perspective, it could prove to be a minefield.
Mar 2021
The Universal fraudsters strike again - but it could be possible to recover assets
Way back in 2018, we reported the case of Universal Wealth - a company owned by Melanie and Steve Long, who faced fraud charges after they set up a scheme designed to avoid paying care fees and simplify the administration of an estate. Instead, all it did was leave people out of pocket.
Mar 2021
Could the UK housing market see strong growth in coming years?
Property prices have continued to climb during the pandemic and many industry experts are wondering if market conditions are sustainable post-Covid. Early signs show that despite a stall in 2021, there are brighter skies ahead.
Mar 2021
The Kate Garraway story that brought home the reality of planning ahead
If you were one of many who turned in to Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway's heart-breaking story about her husband's battle with Coronavirus, like me, you were probably sympathising with Kate and admiring her for her honesty. However, I think this has made us think about the need to plan ahead and about our own circumstances and how we would cope in similar circumstances.
Mar 2021
Domestic Abuse in the Workplace
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy undertook a report into domestic abuse and the workplace. The report identified that the number of domestic abuse cases had increased during the pandemic and that 1 in 5 victims of domestic abuse had time off work. Sadly, research found that few employers were able to identify the signs of domestic abuse and/or had policies or procedures available to help support survivors.
Mar 2021
Will the new digital LPA service help or hinder vulnerable people?
The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) launched a new service last year for digital Lasting Power of Attorneys (LPAs), designed to speed things up by turning paper-heavy processes into newer online services. However, whilst the system will be a welcome reform, we must make sure it still protects vulnerable people from financial abuse.
Mar 2021
Financial fraud is on the rise - attorneys need to be vigilant
Lockdown has been hard for many, but criminals have been cashing in like never before - so now it is more important than ever to stay on our guard.
Mar 2021
The Spring Budget 2021: A Summary
As the UK eagerly tuned in to the most anticipated Budget for a generation, many were left wondering what the Chancellor’s traditional “rabbit out of a hat” might contain - especially as several big measures had been announced beforehand.
Feb 2021
Speculation that the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday/reduction could be extended
Ahead of next week’s Budget, it looks like the Chancellor has answered calls to extend the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday deadline for three more months until the end of June, according to an interview the Times has published with Mr Sunak.
