Article Category: Insight & Opinion

Downsizing or moving to a smaller property can be the ideal solution for older people who are looking to preserve their independence or to unlock the value of a larger home. Whilst this can bring conflicting emotions there are also significant benefits to be enjoyed such as cheaper overheads, reduced maintenance, less restrictions on mobility… Read more »

Every year a staggering number of people go missing. Estimates are around 250,000. Most disappearances may only be short term but for some families the disappearance of a loved one can last for a significant period of time, or even indefinitely. Aside from the obvious unimaginable, emotional trauma that these families go through there are… Read more »

Unsurprisingly the recent Queen’s Speech focussed mainly on the issue of Brexit. We were however, given some idea about the changes we can expect to see in relation to workers’ rights. What changes can we expect to see to workers’ rights?  We have set out the key points below: ‘A bill will be introduced to… Read more »

Trustees are responsible for managing the assets of a trust. As part of their role they must also comply with their duties to HMRC. One of these being to pay any inheritance tax charges every 10 years. What’s the 10 year anniversary deadline? Some trustees may not be aware that inheritance tax is charged at… Read more »

Unfortunately many of us have been affected by cancer and may have experienced a delay in the cancer diagnosis. Cancer is one of the leading causes of illness worldwide and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. It is defined as the rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries. If the… Read more »

Helen Gowin, Estate Administration & Probate Partner, looks at succession planning for farmers and gives her top tips for getting things right. A good starting place is to consider the historical structure of the farm, and review who currently manages the finances and how roles are defined. Considering and documenting these aspects will help to outline… Read more »

Important changes have come into effect that will alter the filings which all companies are required to make at Companies House. Currently any changes to Persons with Significant Control (PSC) are notified via the annual confirmation statement. This means that there can sometimes be a time lag of up to 12 months between the date… Read more »

In April 2017 the Department for Education (DfE) approved applications for 111 new free schools to be built. It is proposed that these schools will be led by other high-performing schools to help share good practice and help attainment, as set out in the government’s current education proposals. What is a free school? Free schools… Read more »

When two parents have parental responsibility for a child, it is part of their rights and responsibilities to make any major decisions about the child’s life together. One of the most common decisions is choosing the right school for the child to attend. I often find that this decision isn’t as simple as it sounds…. Read more »

In May 2018 changes to data protection laws will be implemented across Europe. These changes will be known as the European GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and will apply to all organisations handling the data of EU citizens. Despite Brexit, the UK government has indicated that it will implement the GDPR which will apply from… Read more »