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From 18 February 2019 armed forces veterans will receive an ID card which will help them access specialist support and services. The new ID cards will be issued to veterans leaving the military since December 2018. The Ministry of Justice has...
On 12 February, the Tenant Fees Bill 2017-2019 received royal assent and became the Tenant Fees Act 2019 . This legislation, when it comes into force on 1 June 2019, will apply to tenants and prospective tenants of Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements and...
Since 2017, HM Courts and Tribunal Services (HMCTS) have offered an online service enabling individuals to apply for a grant of probate in a deceased’s estate, providing certain criteria were met. HMCTS have now updated the system, now allowing...
So, you have an unpaid invoice, issued legal proceedings and obtained a county court judgment against your debtor. What happens next? It’s likely that if you have reached this stage, your debtor has not been particularly co-operative and you need to...
Bad weather and issues with travel arrangements can cause significant amounts of disruption to a business and employers are often put in a position where they have to decide at the last minute what to do to adapt working arrangements to ensure that...
What would happen if you were involved in a car accident and it wasn’t you driving, but the vehicle itself? In November 2017 the Chancellor promised to have fully driverless cars in use by 2021. All drivers have a duty to other road users...
Following the decisive defeat of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal in parliament this week, Julie Robinson considers the implications for the Agriculture Bill if the UK does not leave the EU. The whole rationale behind the Agriculture Bill was to...
As a business, you may have seen an increase in sales during the run-up to Christmas – which is great news – until your customers are late making payment and your cash flow suffers as a result. It’s pretty common for people to overspend at...
It is often a frightening concept to give away hard-earned assets and lose control over them and this, together with concern over future cash flow, can be a barrier to putting assets into trust or simply making gifts. One of the key benefits of a family...
So, you have an unpaid invoice, you’ve issued legal proceedings, and your debtor has defended the claim. What happens next? You’re now in the hands of the courts, which can be a worrying time if you’re not familiar with the procedure....
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has released its first report on the review into Inheritance Tax (IHT). This first report comments on the administrative complexities of IHT which, surprisingly from a lawyer’s perspective, were the most...
In recent years the popularity of cycling has increased, and it's easy to understand why - it’s a sustainable method of transportation, and an excellent way to keep fit! According to statistics taken from the European Cyclists’ Federation,...
When is a ‘useful purpose’ not a useful purpose when it comes to planning obligations? A recent judgement helps bring clarity to a contentious area. The recent judgement in R. (on the application of Mansfield District Council) v Secretary of...
A banded system for probate court fees, tantamount to “a tax on the bereaved”, is back on the agenda for the government following their last ‘U’ turn on this topic in the run up to the last general election. The increases have been...
As children and their parents blow the cobwebs off their costumes this Halloween ready to threaten unimaginable horrors if not rewarded with chocolate and sweets, it is time to perhaps think about hidden booby traps. Whether you see this...
The good people of the United Kingdom could be compared with squirrels this autumn: stockpiling goods and cash ahead of the unknowns of another British winter and the imminent exit of the UK from the European Union. The deadline is 11pm on 29 March...
Considering the worst case scenario is not always easy to do. However, when you have children it is important to think about who would care for them if the worst should happen to you. It cannot always be assumed that if the worst case scenario occurred...
In light of the government announcing a review of the highway code in an attempt to reduce road casualties, we wanted to highlight an article written last year by Rob Dempsey discussing the 'Dutch reach' practice. Recent figures from the...
In February I wrote about the importance of reviewing your will and, in particular, about the need to stay on top of changes to the tax regime which might affect your estate planning (for those who missed it you can read it here ). As we near the...
In the days of ever increasing property values, but where the amount a person can pass to anyone free from Inheritance Tax on their death has been frozen for almost 10 years, should we be looking to protect the assets of those co-dependent on one...
A terribly sad story came out of the recent Ryder Cup Golf Tournament. A spectator, Corine Remande, was blinded in one eye as a result of being hit by a ball played by Brooks Koepka. In the UK, it is accepted that competitors in sporting events owe a...
The Court of Appeal has recently handed down a decision regarding the encroachment of Japanese knotweed onto Mr Williams’ and Mr Waistell’s bungalows from a Network Rail track. Japanese knotweed costs the UK annually between £160m...
In the absence of further clarity from Defra, land purchases and other transactions involving the restructuring of farm businesses will inevitably be dogged by uncertainty about the basis for de-linked payments. Our Head of Agriculture, Julie Robinson,...
Having met with clients to discuss their wishes and concerns and to take will instructions over a number of years, the same or similar initial questions often come up. What is a will? A will is a legal document which takes effect on death. A...
Trying to keep a continuous cash flow when running a small to medium enterprise is incredibly hard. You are often so busy trying to find and retain valuable staff members, attracting and keeping clients, and dealing with all of the bureaucracy that...
I regularly advise health and welfare attorneys on their duties, and it’s quite apparent that the same concerns come up time and time again. Planning for later, or even end of life is difficult, so below are some answers to the questions...
The concept of “next of kin” is often misunderstood and misinterpreted. Contrary to common belief, “next of kin” only exist on death and are those who would inherit if the person in question died without leaving a valid...
Promising your farm to one of your children is fine as long as you find a way to deliver. In this blog, we take a look at some recent “proprietary estoppel” cases where the courts have upheld claims to the family farm. There are few areas of...
During the last 12 months there have been around 150 data breaches reported to the ICO regulator; to put it in perspective this equates to a 100% increase in just two years. Like it or not, all charities must comply with the GDPR; there are minimal...
The following guest blog is by Paul Jenkins. Paul is Managing Director of ThePackHub , and will be guest speaker at our next Food Business Breakfast on 15 November. If you would like to join us at the Breakfast, full details and free...
To mark the 10 th anniversary of Airbnb, Rob Dempsey of Roythornes Solicitors considers the legal issues surrounding this recent holiday phenomenon in the context of personal injury law . Airbnb has become an increasingly popular preference for...
You’ve issued proceedings and have secured judgment against your debtor, but how can you actually get your money back? Here, we consider four different methods of enforcement and how being more aware of the situation your debtor is in can help you...
Restructuring of the NHS by governments of any persuasion can often arouse suspicion amongst the general public. However, a report published this month (August 2018) examines relatively recent changes to the NHS with apparent obvious benefits. In...
If you listen to the headlines you will be forgiven for believing that we will all be replaced by robots within the next few years. But how does the reality compare with the hype and how well has the food sector embraced this emerging technology? As we...
It is an all too familiar narrative starting with a person claiming to have fallen out with a business partner, supplier or contractor and not knowing what to do next. It inevitably turns out that neither party saw the need nor had the inclination to...
I recently assisted a deputy in making a Statutory Will for his brother, ‘Stephen’. The deputy making the application was the sole beneficiary under intestacy and did not agree that this was in his brother’s best interest. Stephen...
The latest blow to Nestlé in its battle to trademark its KitKat product will perhaps come as little surprise to those of us within the legal profession; we’ve seen Nestlé and its bitter rival Cadbury lock horns numerous times in the past,...
In difficult years we are asked about the options available to farmers who cannot fulfil the deliveries they have agreed in forward grain contracts. Below we take a look at the provisions of the Agricultural Industries Confederation Ltd (AIC) 1/16 home grown...
Whilst some current issues are out of everyone’s control, i.e. Brexit, what is vital in this difficult time is having a sound credit control system. We understand that you may have had the same clients for years, and agreements may well be...
Electronic devices are used every day for more than just communication: we use them as a place to create and store documents, listen to music, read books and watch movies. We have social media accounts to share our pictures and videos. We buy and sell...
The Supreme Court today handed down its judgment in the long-running case of Owen v Owens. The case concerns a married couple, Mr and Mrs Owens, who were married in 1978. They have two adult children. Mr and Mrs Owens separated...
The prolonged period of exceptionally hot, dry weather following a wet spring means that some potato growers will struggle to fulfil forward supply contracts. Force majeure clauses may offer some relief but will need to be checked carefully and appropriate...
Although you might consider walkers being allowed to cross your land to be a minor irritation, visitors to your area are a source of income and are not to be sniffed at. Generally, the type of person who walks for enjoyment is also the type who would...
Living and working in a farming community, we have close client and personal connections to the agricultural sector. The enjoyment and safety of living and working in this sector is therefore something in which we, as individuals and as a law firm, have a...
What is a nuptial agreement? A nuptial agreement is an agreement in writing entered into by two parties prior to, or after, their marriage or entry into a civil partnership, which records how they wish their finances to be treated and distributed in the...
Travel claims are a recurring feature on the news, often for all the wrong reasons. We recently took part in a Q&A on #SolicitorChat hosted by The Law Society on Twitter, themed around this controversial topic. Here are some popular travel claim-related...
In the spirit of our Green Awards, Roythornes’ Summer Vacation Scheme participants Sam and Nick have “recycled” our previous sports' blog to give it a World Cup fever feel. “But it’s a man’s game ref!”...
In the last couple of months, I have written about the importance of reviewing your will to ensure it is up to date with your personal and financial circumstances, but also in light of any changes to the tax environment. Over the weekend, the importance of...
The Supreme Court has handed down its long awaited judgment in Pimlico Plumbers v Gary Smith in a case which has potentially huge ramifications for freelance workers and employment law generally. Mr Smith brought several claims in the Employment Tribunal in...
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has recently launched a consultation on its Licensing Standards. Whilst the GLAA still covers the same regulated sectors (agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and associated packaging and...
