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…
Employment tribunal capacity to be increased due to Covid-19
October 7th 2020The government is introducing a series of changes to increase the flexibility and capacity of the employment tribunal system during the Covid-19 pandemic. Joanne Stronach Director and Head of Employment & HR provides an update. The new measures will also allow tribunals to deal with increasing caseloads, following the abolition of employment tribunal fees in July 2017. It means there will be more remote hearings so tribunals can hear more…
Sons must pay inheritance tax on mother’s pension fund
October 5th 2020The Supreme Court has ruled that a woman’s sons will have to pay inheritance tax on her pension fund because she had not drawn upon it during her lifetime. By Nicholas Devlin Solicitor The court heard evidence that the deceased woman and her former husband had been directors of a company. Shortly before her death, she transferred funds from her company pension scheme into a personal pension plan, nominating her…
