Government launches plan to build 180,000 new homes
November 23rd 2020The government has launched an £11.5 billion programme to build 180,000 new homes across the country over the next five years. Mandy Shum Conveyancer reports. It’s hoped that the move will unlock a further £38 billion in public and private investment in affordable housing. New homes will be made available from next year. Around half of the new homes will be available for affordable home ownership, helping more people to…
Siblings overturn their mother’s Will after family dispute
November 19th 2020Rebecca Armstrong Solicitor in our will claims team reports on this recent case. Four siblings have succeeded in overturning their mother’s Will after the court agreed that she had not fully understood its consequences when she signed it. The case pitted the mother’s first four children against her youngest child, the defendant. In 2004, the mother and her husband had executed mirror Wills, which meant that if the husband died…
Changes to shared ownership ‘will help more people buy a home’
November 11th 2020The government is planning changes to the shared ownership scheme to make it easier for people to buy more of their own home, including allowing them to buy in 1% increments. Linsey Hayes Conveyancer provides an update. At present, they have to buy an increased share in 10% chunks, which can be as much as £45,000 each time. This process of increasing the stake until the property is bought outright…
Treasury introduces new rules for sending out debt letters
November 4th 2020The Treasury is introducing new rules on how businesses should construct letters sent to people in debt. Carly Davies Debt Recovery Manager provides an update. The emphasis will be on helping customers to better understand and manage their debts, reducing distress and supporting mental health Default Notices are designed to give people who are falling behind on their debts fair warning before lenders take further action, but much of the…
Clock change means extra care to stay safe
November 2nd 2020Now that the clocks have changed and darker nights are here, it’s a timely reminder to think about staying safe when you and your loved ones are out and about. Of course everyone’s focus is understandably on ‘staying safe’ from coronavirus right now and doing what we can to limit the spread of the virus. But at this time of year, with the arrival of darker afternoons, we also need…
Court lifts injunction preventing employee working at new firm
October 29th 2020The High Court has lifted an interim injunction restraining an employee from working at another company, Claire Davies Director reports. The case involved Peltrade Ltd, a distributor of energy-producing wood pellets. In March 2018 it had employed Mr Dean Scanlan to trade in premium and industrial quality pellets, but he had worked primarily in the premium pellet sector. His contract of employment contained several post-termination restrictive covenants restraining him from…
Vulnerable woman’s Will upheld despite daughter’s challenge
October 26th 2020The High Court has upheld a vulnerable woman’s Will and rejected a claim by her daughter that she had been subjected to undue influence. By Rebecca Armstrong Solicitor The case involved two sisters, Teresa Ann Coles and Heather Christine Reynolds. In 2002, their mother made a Will leaving her estate to be divided equally between them. However, the relationship between the two sisters deteriorated in 2009. In 2012, the mother…
Leading legal firm expands as new solicitor joins team
October 21st 2020A LEADING legal firm has welcomed a new solicitor to its growing team. Michelle Hayes, 33, has joined the wills, probate and inheritance department of Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors and will be based at the company’s Rosehill office in Carlisle. Originally from Bolton, Michelle is looking forward to the new challenge. She said: “Cartmell Shepherd is a well-established law firm which is embedded in the community and I’m excited about developing…
Leading legal firm launches nationwide wills dispute service
October 20th 2020A LEADING legal firm is maximising its expertise by branching out to offer a specialist wills dispute service nationwide. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, the only legal firm in Cumbria to be a member of the innovative UK200Group, has launched a wills dispute resolution website. Peter Stafford, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ managing director, explained why the firm, which has traditionally concentrated on mainly serving communities across Cumbria and Northumberland, has made the move…
Solicitor joins hospice board
October 9th 2020A SOLICITOR at a leading legal firm has joined the board of a hospice to help her local community. Claire Wilson 37, has become a trustee of Hospice at Home West Cumbria which provides palliative and end of life care. Claire, who is an Associate Solicitor at Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, said she was looking forward to helping support the charity’s work. Claire said: “Hospice at Home does amazing work, and…
