Blog

Heather Love Dec 2021

‘Tis the season – for a sickie?

Yes, it’s that time of year again; the flu season. Add the Covid-19 virus into the mix and employers can soon find themselves in the middle of a “sickie” epidemic. But what can you do if you think your employees are just in need of a duvet day?

Heather Love Dec 2021

What do the government restrictions mean for employers and employees? Can your Christmas parties still go ahead?

Further to the arrival of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, which is said to be "spreading faster than Delta”, Boris Johnson has re-introduced restrictions saying, “It’s now the proportionate and the responsible thing to move to Plan B.”

Liz Dalgetty Dec 2021

When inheritance goes beyond sibling rivalry

Families. We love them dearly - most of the time. But, we’ve seen for ourselves the trials and tribulations of family relationships and written many blogs about unfair inheritance and leaving children out of your will. But, your question is unfortunately one of many - and the sign of a new phenomenon rising through the ranks.

Gemma Taylor Nov 2021

Stamp Duty Holiday has finished, so why are house prices still climbing?

According to recent figures by HMRC, there was a 25% increase in Stamp Duty receipts in the six months from April - October 2021, compared to the same period in 2019. While the flurry of activity in the market boosted the average house price in the UK, many were surprised that once the Stamp Duty holiday came to an end, prices didn't come down with it - but why?

 

Liz Dalgetty Nov 2021

If the Chancellor takes your pension pot for IHT you might want to stay one step ahead

It’s fair to say expectations of anything less than doom and gloom from last month’s Budget were pretty standard as we recover from the economic blow that was Covid-19 - and it seems even if you die you have not escaped the Chancellor's notice for an opportunity for taxation.

Liz Dalgetty Nov 2021

Sign a digital LPA - and save yourself 20 weeks!

If you’re about to draft a Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) document, you might be in luck - as the process to sign paperwork and make things official could be about to get easier.

Liz Dalgetty Nov 2021

If you’ve had a couple of marriages, you might want to check your will

Posthumous fallouts don’t just sound unpleasant, but for those living through them, they can be heartbreaking to deal with, on top of losing a loved one.

Richard Clapham Oct 2021

What will be this year’s “rabbit out of the hat”?

Never has there been more speculation around a budget statement as we emerge from Covid-19 and continue to pay for the damage it has caused to the economy. Could it be this is the end of the rabbit-out-the-hat moment, as the Chancellor Rishi Sunak looks to balance the books? Here are a few predictions from us as to what the budget may contain this Wednesday.

Liz Dalgetty Oct 2021

STEP pushes for simpler access to digital assets after death

The professional body for lawyers and other practitioners who work with families, STEP, has completed a project with Queen Mary University of London, highlighting the real problems people will face if accessing digital assets isn’t made more simple.