Rumours in the media are that Angelina Jolie is pregnant again – if true this would be a fourth biological child for her and Brad Pitt and a seventh child into their family. The reports vary as to whether the couple are married or not. But does that matter as they have lived together for… Read more »
Article Category: Insight & Opinion
Child support – where next?
The government has recently attempted to bring in changes to the Child Support System whereby parents would have to pay a fee to use the services of the Child Support Agency (CSA) to recover maintenance outstanding for children. Until now, this has been free but it has to be said that the CSA has had… Read more »
Lucky man – a much younger partner and a marriage abroad
You may have seen recently that Bryan Ferry has married for the second time – to a much younger lady some 36 years his junior. Lucky man, you may say? However, whilst Mr Ferry has a history of successful relationships with younger partners (another of his partners was 35 years younger), many others do not…. Read more »
Plan now to save up to 40% more of death benefits
If you have death in service benefits through your employment or death benefits through your pension, you will probably have completed a nomination form to direct the money to your spouse or partner. These funds will be paid directly to the nominated beneficiary and are therefore never part of your estate and so not liable… Read more »
Help is at hand for January break ups – mend it or end it?
It’s well known fact that the second Monday after Christmas is usually the busiest day of the year for divorce solicitors as they are contacted for new appointments. The reasons for break-ups are varied and not just because of personal problems – economic pressures that build during the year are compounded by the excesses of… Read more »
Joining a Partnership? Take care when agreeing how assets are to be valued
It is essential to agree how the capital assets of a partnership, particularly freehold property, are to be valued in the event of a partner leaving or dying. This need has been emphasised by the Court of Appeal decision in Drake v Harvey (2011) EWCA CIV 838. The case involved a farming business carried on… Read more »
First time buyers urged to beat Stamp Duty Land Tax rise in March 2012
From March 2010, the threshold for stamp duty land tax for first time buyers was amended to be in the buyer’s favour. First time buyers no longer had to pay stamp duty land tax for properties purchased at £250,000 or below on completion of the transaction. However, the first time buyers stamp duty land tax… Read more »
Government encourages bequests to charities
From April 2012, where an individual leaves at least 10% of their net estate to charitable bodies then the inheritance tax rate will be reduced from 40% to 36%. Deciding to include such a bequest to charities means that you will be able to assist charities with their work and less inheritance tax would be… Read more »
Elderly care scandal – can the Government create lasting reform?
An article published in The Daily Telegraph on 3 January claims that hundreds of thousands of elderly people are being robbed of their dignity by failing care services and are being left at risk of ‘terrible abuse and neglect’. It is estimated that thousands of elderly people across the UK are being forced to use… Read more »
Does the economy affect divorce statistics?
In December 2011, the Office for National Statistics released its annual figures showing the number of divorces in 2010 throughout England and Wales was 119,589. The number of divorces has increased 4.9% since 2009 when there were 113,949 divorces. The figures, quite surprisingly, show the first rise in divorces since 2003 when there were 152,923… Read more »
