Private Client
- Prior to the introduction of revised procedures (set out in regulations under section 68 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which came into effect in July 2002), people who had to cross common land in order to reach their homes were sometimes...
- A family who inherited land were also held to have inherited an obscure ancient liability, which ended up costing them dearly, after a recent decision by the House of Lords.
When presented with a bill for £95,000 for repairing the...
- In March 2005, the rules relating to approaching people regarding financial promotions were relaxed so that so called ‘sophisticated investors’ and high net worth individuals (HNWIs) could be more easily approached with a view to making...
- When dealing with an estate, an increasing problem for executors is the valuation of assets in the form of the chattels of the deceased. In probate terminology, chattels are the ‘everyday’ assets such as furniture and ordinary possessions, as...
- Inheritance tax (IHT) is payable at 40 per cent on the net value of a person’s estate above (2008/9 rates) £312,000 (the current nil rate band). It affects an increasing number of people owing to the rise in house prices in recent years. One...
- In the UK, there are quite generous exemptions from Inheritance Tax (IHT) which apply to business assets. One problem with making use of such exemptions is the effect this may have on the subsequent value of the relevant assets for Capital Gains Tax (CGT)...
- Ownership of two homes in the UK is becoming more commonplace as couples who both own houses marry, houses are inherited, parents buy houses for their children to live in, or people just buy a place in the country, either to let or to escape to at weekends....
- A will expresses the final wishes of the deceased person and it is commonly thought that a will is irrevocable after death. However, provided everyone agrees, it is normally possible to vary a will provided that the application is made within two years of...
- From 2003-4 Self-Assessment Tax Returns have included a facility to enable individuals to donate some or all of any tax repayment to a chosen charity.
Participating charities have signed up with the Inland Revenue and been allocated a...
- The regime governing charities has been progressively tightened up over the years, making the sort of scandals that were once not uncommon much more of a rarity. This means that trustees now have to adopt a more professional attitude to the management of a...
- Increasing numbers of people are spending substantial periods of time away from their homes on account of working away, having a second home or for any of a number of other reasons. Houses can also frequently be empty for substantial periods after the death...
- When one member of a cohabiting couple dies, it can come as an unpleasant surprise to the bereaved partner to discover that not all of their late partner’s estate will pass to them in the absence of a will. It is only when this happens that many people...
- Most claims for damages are claims for damages or losses which have actually happened. For example, if a lorry mounted the pavement and smashed a garden wall, the claim would be for the cost of restoring the wall to its former condition. The law relating to...
- The right to reclaim VAT on residential conversion works was further clarified by a case brought in the Court of Appeal recently. The argument involved the conversion of a residential school building which produced a private residence plus a further three...
- Most people require credit at some time, whether it is in the form of a credit card, a loan or an overdraft. However careful you are, it is possible to find yourself blacklisted for credit purposes.
When you apply for credit, the lender...
- Since 1st January 2005, all electrical work carried out in dwellings has had to comply with part P of the Building Regulations and be carried out by a person who is competent to do the work.
All work which involves adding a new circuit...
- Managing an active retirement can present significant problems for the many people who are blessed with good health but cursed by the effects of the poor performance of pension funds and low annuity rates over the last two decades. This combination of factors...
- This fact sheet provides guidance for those involved in the development of residential properties whether new builds or conversions of existing properties .
As from the 1st September 2008, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has...
- In the UK, customers have various rights in respect of faulty goods. The Sale & Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 were introduced in the UK on 31 March 2003. These also apply to "non-retail" transactions, such as hire purchase...
- With the introduction of top-up tuition fees in 2006, gaining a university education has become even more expensive. If you have children going away to university there are money saving options worth considering, if you are in a position to take advantage of...
- Here are some 'frequently asked questions' (FAQs) on Home Information Packs (HIPs). These FAQs are based on information released by the Government on 1 August 2008.
- Being an executor is a demanding job at the best of times and a task that is made all the more difficult when the deceased has not given proper thought to the problems their executors will face.
Here are some of the things you can do to...
- Commonholds are a relatively new way of holding property and will be attractive to some flat owners who wish to take the ownership and management of the freehold of their block of flats out of a management company. They may also become increasingly common in...
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For people who have money tied up in their homes who wish to release capital for expenditure, or possibly to give to family members, the drawdown lifetime mortgage (DLM) is a possible vehicle.
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- Inheritance Tax (IHT) is paid on your estate when you die and also when money is transferred into some trust funds. Some other transfers during one’s lifetime may also be subject to IHT. The first £312,000 (at 2008/9 rates) of the estate is...
