Ending a relationship when you are unmarried: your family home
Regardless of the growing number of unmarried couples in England and Wales, unmarried couples still have very little protection and legal rights under English law. Nowadays, many couples don’t view marriage as a necessity and live together without getting married. Couples might have shared bank accounts, bills, and properties, but in the eyes of the…
When does a will need to be changed?
We always recommend that our customers review their will every five years, as well as when certain circumstances change or when major life events occur. Major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, and the death of a family member or executor can change your finances, estate, and even…
Video-witnessing wills legislation extended to 2024
The legislation for video and remote witnessing of wills has been extended for two more years until the 31st of January 2024, giving vulnerable people peace of mind that their wills will be legally recognised. The initial change had been brought in at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for those who had to isolate either…
New legislations and changes coming into force in 2022
With the new year just around the corner, there are some new legislation and law changes that are worth mentioning and preparing for. Read the most important changes: New homes must have electric car chargers by law from 2022 All new homes and buildings in England will be required by law to have electric vehicle…
Looking back at 2021: Reviews that made us smile
2021 was a unique year, to say the least, with the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing we might have not had the happiest news at times, but we have seen businesses and societies come together to protect each other and deal with the outbreak as best as possible. This year, even though our team was operating differently…
What is a Prohibited Steps Order?
A Prohibited Steps Order is a legally binding order that prohibits someone, typically a parent, to stop another parent from making decisions about their children/child. A Prohibited Steps Order can stop a parent from exercising their parental responsibility. What can a Prohibited Steps Order prevent from happening? As mentioned above, Prohibited Steps Orders can be…
Environment Act finally passes into UK Law
After more than two years since it was introduced, the long-awaited Environment Act has received Royal Assent and has finally passed into UK law. Green groups and campaigners are celebrating the first environment bill in England for 26 years, calling it a ‘momentous event’. Environment Secretary George Eustice said, ‘’ The Environment Act will deliver the…
New criminal offence: Pet abduction
In the last few years, we have seen a huge increase in pet abduction in the UK as pet ownership rocketed during the Covid-19 lockdowns. The UK government has drawn up a new offence called ‘’pet abduction’’ that will aim to tackle the rise of pet abduction. Currently, pet theft is treated as a loss…
Smart doorbell and camera landmark court case explained
You have probably recently heard about the privacy row case over a smart doorbell with a camera. The landmark ruling has made a lot of people wonder if they could face a fine too, so let’s look at the Ring doorbell case a bit closer. The Ring doorbell case Dr Mary Fairhurst alleged that the…
Can I include my pet in my prenuptial agreement?
Prenuptial agreements give couples the option to plan, honestly discuss and start their marriage on the right foot. See it this way: you can get the finances and arrangements out of the way so you can focus on your marriage. Prenuptial agreements usually focus on marital and community properties, assigning debts to the appropriate spouse,…