How does a gifted deposit for a house purchase work?
With house prices continuing to make buying a first home difficult, many people are given money towards the purchase by parents and other close relatives. When using a gifted deposit…
With house prices continuing to make buying a first home difficult, many people are given money towards the purchase by parents and other close relatives. When using a gifted deposit…
If you have been promised a gift or other property from a person that has died but this promise hasn’t been reflected in their will, a solicitor or lawyer may…
If you are acting for an individual as an Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), the scope for you to make gifts during the lifetime of the donor…
A High Court judgment has highlighted what may be seen as a peril of making a will which includes assets whose value may fluctuate over time. The case concerned a…
Laceys have once again been recommended across seven of the firm’s specialist legal areas in the 2023 edition of the Legal 500, the client’s guide to leading law firms in…
If you are planning on buying your first home, you probably have many questions. The process can be confusing and it is important to fully understand what you are taking…
With the rising costs of living to contend with, those who are also in unhappy relationships may be putting off separating or divorce with concerns over additional costs, such as…
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) gives legal authority to a trusted friend or relative to make decisions and deal with the affairs of someone unable to do this for…
Employee recruitment and retention remains challenging for employers and offering an attractive package of benefits can give employers an edge. A wide range of benefits can be offered, including buying…
The UK Government has announced radical plans to overhaul the private renters’ market, with a new bill designed to shift the balance between landlords and the country’s 4.4 million private…
In the world of intellectual property, trade mark opposition proceedings are becoming more common than ever before, and a small boutique, House of Zana, based in Darlington in England was…
Nearly 60,000 people have benefited from invitro fertilisation (IVF) and donor insemination at HFEA licensed fertility clinics in the UK, and it is not uncommon for an unlicensed clinic or…
Recruiting the right senior executive can be an immense benefit to a company if they bring the right mix of skills, experience, and contacts to the business. It is not…
If you are thinking of adding a conservatory or extension to your property, you need to be aware of the rules and regulations. Some additions to a property do not…
When you make your Will, you are entitled to leave your estate to your choice of beneficiary. While this means that you can choose to cut your spouse out of…
If you are a landlord of commercial property, you will have chosen your tenants carefully. A landlord wants to be sure that a tenant will pay the rent and service…
This year’s Queen’s Speech was surprisingly light on employment law developments, with the omission of the long-awaited Employment Bill. However, the last few months have seen a couple of announcements…
It has been necessary to register all UK and non-UK trusts where they are liable to pay mainstream UK tax (income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax) with HMRC’s Trust…
Long-awaited reforms to law surrounding leasehold property will start to take effect in 2022 as the government seeks to make matters fairer for leaseholders. Problems for those owning leasehold property…
Managing risk is an essential part of any business operation and while personal relationships do not often appear high on a business risk register, an acrimonious divorce has the power…
With the current Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) system over thirty years old, the government’s consultation on reforming the process has been welcomed by many who are concerned about protecting…
Domestic abuse can impact men and women, of any age or race and is seen across all parts of society. Unfortunately, statistics from the Office for National Statistics reveal that…
The subject of pay is always a hot topic and requires sensitive handling. Employees feel they need more, due to the rising costs of living, or believe they deserve more…
Redevelopment of parts of a building in your portfolio, to create a more flexible layout or perhaps add additional floors, can be a good way to enhance investment value. This…
A Will is crucial in making sure that an estate passes to the right people after someone dies. But sometimes it can be hard to locate a Will. We take…
Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, give an energy performance rating for properties, with the most energy efficient properties being awarded an A rating while the least efficient are rated as…
It is a common misconception that registering a company name at Companies House automatically grants you rights in the name from a trade mark perspective. Equally when protecting a business…
It has been another busy few months in the world of intellectual property, with Ed Sheeran in the spotlight once more. Sam Chokri alleged that Ed Sheeran copied the “Oh…
From individual landowners to corporate developers, everyone is being encouraged to play their part in enhancing our environment by planting trees for The Queen’s Green Canopy, an initiative to mark…
‘Being dismissed for misconduct can have a devastating impact on an employee’s future job opportunities,’ says Alana Penkethman, employment law expert with Laceys Solicitors. ‘Before fairly dismissing someone for misconduct, employers must…
For those dealing with someone’s estate after their death, the Inheritance Tax bill can come as a nasty shock. It needs to be paid before a Grant of Probate or…
With UK weather becoming more extreme, homeowners are having to deal with an increase in damage caused by trees and fences being blown down. We take a look at who…
A Lasting Power of Attorney or LPA is a document that gives legal authority to someone to deal with your affairs on your behalf, should you ever be unable to…
Meghan Markle has been in the firing line (alongside Harry) since stepping down as a Senior Royal in January 2020 as she builds her own business and attempts to protect…
Laceys Solicitors have signed up to a fundraising challenge for three of the UK’s leading neurological research charities, in honour of Mia Hankins, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour…
Even the most promising development can be knocked off course if the land is subject to a restrictive covenant. Restrictions of this sort can prevent land being built on or…
Once you have decided that your marriage is over and you have taken the first step towards divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership, most people would like to be…
The Will of a wealthy property investor has been overturned by the High Court on the basis that he did not know and approve of the contents. Property tycoon Kevin…
As a business, you probably have insurance in place to protect your assets, locks on your premises and even security teams to help ensure nobody steals what is yours. But…
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published new advice for professional valuers and surveyors aimed at helping them understand and evaluate difficulties caused by Japanese knotweed. The guidance…
A Which? survey of 2,000 UK residents found that only one in seven (15%) of people have given someone else power of attorney over their affairs. The reason, says Which?, is…
Many properties will be connected to mains drainage but this is not always the case. Have a read of our tips below to consider if you are looking to buy…
Once a commercial tenant has agreed a lease and moved into business premises, they will rely on having unobstructed access to easily enter the premises for the purposes of their…
If you are applying for a financial order as part of your divorce then the court will list your case in for a financial dispute resolution hearing, often called an…
The phrase one shoe doesn’t fit all is a perfect description of how versatile mediators have to be when helping couples settle family disputes. High emotion, unrealistic expectations and a…
Family Mediation Week 2022 was fittingly launched online on 17th January in keeping with the pandemic-induced trend of mediation participation being conducted online. The word from the top is that…
Mediation usually takes place between separated parents when they cannot agree on what arrangements should be in place for how their children share their time with each of them. However…
Effective parenting communication is crucial if children are to survive unscathed (both emotionally and physically) their parents separation. However, correcting dysfunctional communication is not a five minute exercise, so any…
If you have come out of a relationship involving domestic abuse, you will have the challenging task of needing to make arrangements with your ex at a time when you…
Now is a time of transition as employees return to the workplace either on a hybrid basis or for all their working time. ‘Employers need to keep in mind the…