Consultation on Child Maintenance extended to include more views
September 30th 2024The consultation on child maintenance payments has been extended to ensure there is enough time to get a full range of views, including feedback from all relevant organisations. Shannon Bateson, Associate Solicitor in our family law team provides an update. The consultation was launched on 8 May 2024 by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to discuss ways to increase the number of children being kept out of poverty. The proposals, put forward…
Family Court upholds divorcing couple’s pre-nup agreement
September 26th 2024A recent family court ruling has upheld a divorcing couple’s pre-nuptial agreement (PNA), which specified that only jointly accrued wealth during the marriage should be considered as matrimonial assets. Amy Fallows Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of our Family Law team reports on this case that highlights the importance of clear pre-nuptial agreements in divorce proceedings. The central issue revolved around the interpretation and enforcement of the agreement which they signed before their…
Bank’s interest rate cut ‘could boost confidence in housing market’
September 18th 2024The Bank of England’s decision to cut the base interest rate by 0.25% could help to boost confidence in the housing market but may not be enough to herald a significant cut in mortgage rates, according to one the UK’s largest estate agents, Zoopla. Elizabeth Crouch Senior Associate Solicitor & Head of Residential Property reports. Announcing the cut, the governor of the bank, Andrew Bailey, said: “Inflation has fallen a lot…
Raising Awareness for Alzheimer’s Month: Why a Lasting Power of Attorney Matters
September 12th 2024As we observe Alzheimer’s Month this September in the UK, it’s a critical time to raise awareness not only about dementia but also about the importance of planning for the future. One essential step in this planning is setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Kathryn Barnett, Associate Solicitor and member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (ALL)* explains. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, gradually impairs…
Company insolvencies higher now than during Covid pandemic
September 9th 2024The number of company insolvencies in July was higher than any month during the Covid pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Insolvency Service. Carly Davies, our Debt Control Manager provides an update. After seasonal adjustment, the number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales in July 2024 was 2,191. That was 16% higher than the same month in the previous year (1,890 in July 2023). The number of company…
Award-winning student starts law apprenticeship after finishing top of her class
September 5th 2024AN INSPIRATIONAL student who fitted her degree around running her own business and raising a family is embarking on a career in law on the back of winning two university awards. Nina Bernard, 41, is starting a solicitor apprenticeship with Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors after showing immediate potential during her studies and while working part-time as a legal assistant with the law firm for the past year. Nina has worked tirelessly…
Bed bound employee not allowed to work from home awarded £31k
September 3rd 2024A property agent who was not allowed to work from home after becoming bed bound has been awarded £31,000 compensation. Jennifer Cafferky Associate Solicitor in our employment team, reports on this recent case. Pauline Pilawa started working for the estate agency, Properties on the Market in July 2019. At the time, she was suffering with endometriosis following surgery to remove an ovarian cyst. Her condition meant she had difficulties with…
England’s dementia diagnosis are among the highest in the world
August 27th 2024England has one of the highest dementia diagnosis rates in the world, according to figures released by the NHS. Laura Murphy, Associate Solicitor in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance team reports. The number of people being diagnosed with dementia reached a record 487,432 in June. The diagnosis rate of 65% is the highest since the start of the pandemic but still below the NHS target of diagnosing 66.7% of the…
Fellow Directors and friends run in memory of late colleague Zoe Calway to raise funds for Eden Valley Hospice
August 13th 2024In honour of our much loved late Director and colleague Zoe Calway, who sadly passed following a short illness, Peter Stafford and Mark Jackson are participating in the Great Cumbrian Run to raise vital funds for Eden Valley Hospice. Taking place on Sunday 6th October 2024, the pair will run the half marathon together in memory of Zoe. If you’d like to donate, you can do so through the following…
Renters to get greater protection as no fault evictions to be banned
August 8th 2024The government has announced that it will transform the housing sector by giving renters greater protection. Sam Fawcett in our Dispute Resolution team provides an update. No fault evictions will be banned, and tenants will be given more rights to challenge rent increases. The proposed changes will be implemented in the Renters’ Rights Bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech. The government’s accompanying notes to the speech outline the…
