By Rick Bunch, Solicitor
Careful planning for your business involves consideration of many interlacing interests and issues. For your business to continue to function efficiently following your death, you will need to consider the impact that your planning will have on family and non-family owners, shareholders and employees.
Once you have your vision for the future succession of your business, your solicitor can advise you on your options ...
By Anthony Jones, Associate
The Daily Mail has reported that Peter Savva has unsuccessfully tried to defend divorce proceedings initiated by his wife, Niki.
When one party to a marriage sadly decides that their marriage has irretrievably broken down, one of the available options is to commence divorce proceedings. The Respondent, Mr Savva, in his divorce, once in receipt of the divorce papers can allow the proceedings to ...
By Anthony Jones, Associate
Lynne Featherstone, Equalities Minister, has made it clear in her blog that there will be no u-turn on making it legal for same sex couples to marry.
The Minister indicated, “There will be no u-turn on equal marriage – we are committed as a government to legislate by 2015.”
It may, however, be some years away before gay marriages become legal particularly as there was no ...
By Rick Bunch, Solicitor
Yet another body has called for the tighter regulation of will writing services. The Legal Services Board (LSB), which oversees the industry in England and Wales, has recently said 20% of wills contained mistakes.
Anyone can set up a will-writing service, but the LSB wants all providers to be regulated. The LSB said that there were “systematic problems” with will-writing, including unfair sales ...
By Anthony Jones, Solicitor
It is the 4th July 1996 and the Family Law Act 1996 has received the Royal Assent. Part 1 of the Act sets out the Principles underlying Part 2 which deals with divorce and separation. The Act was passed to ensure that a number of principles were followed in relation to the institution of marriage. Amongst those were that marriage was ...
By Rick Bunch, Solicitor
Coronation Street’s Audrey Roberts has got herself into hot water trying to save herself a bit of tax! 68 year old Audrey decided that she wanted to transfer her business “Audrey’s Hair Salon” to her wayward grandson, David Platt. It had led to huge problems involving all of the family and the stress of those problems has led to Audrey collapsing and being rushed ...
By Pete Littlewood, Partner
Coronation Street have come up with another cracking storyline involving the “custody” dispute over Simon Barlow involving Peter and Leanne.
Peter Barlow is Simon’s natural father. Leanne Battersby married Peter. Simon refers to her as his “mam”. The drama has intensified when Peter has discovered that his father, Ken, has been letting Leanne have “access” to Simon against his express wishes. Peter ...
By Alison Close, Solicitor
The Supreme Court has today handed down its judgment in the case of Seldon v Clarkson Wright & Jakes which has potential ramifications for businesses that wish to retire staff on a compulsory basis notwithstanding the abolition of the default retirement age.
The case concerned a partner from a firm of solicitors who was forced to retire when he turned 65. The Supreme Court held ...
By Anthony Jones, Associate
It may come as a surprise to many that legislation in England and Wales does not provide for marriages to be dissolved immediately following separation because, for example, of the parties irreconcilable differences. Effectively, therefore, there is no system in England and Wales for a no fault divorce. This is because when you get divorced you have to rely on ...
By Rick Bunch, Solicitor
I have so far explained inheritance tax planning by lifetime giving, death benefits planning and using lifetime trusts. In this blog I look at how your will can be drafted in a way that provides further scope for inheritance tax planning and wealth preservation.
Basic inheritance tax planning through wills
There are some basic will planning options that can preserve against inheritance:
•Assets ...
