As part of our #happytohelp mission, a number of our staff members are engaged in activities designed to help members of the local community outside of their usual legal advice capacity. Rachel Clegg, a Senior Paralegal in our Matrimonial team, is the latest member of the team to sign up to a University of Sheffield student mentoring scheme.
Continue reading “Howells Giving Back to the Community”
In 2017 the Government dropped it’s plans to increase the fee charged to obtain a grant of probate ahead of the general election. Proposals have now been made again to introduce new probate fees.
With the announcement in October 2018 from the Government to introduce civil partnerships for mixed sex couples, we take a look at the difference between marriage and civil partnerships.
Continue reading “What is the difference between Marriage and Civil Partnership?”
Under new legislation, homeless services have to consider a person threatened with homelessness as soon as they receive a valid section 21 notice requiring them to leave their property within 56 days.
Continue reading “Homelessness – New duties for local authorities”
On 11 January 2019 it was announced that the way payments of Universal Credit are calculated may be unfair. This announcement was made a following a successful judicial review brought in the High Court by four working single mothers. In response to the court’s decision the Government has said it will make payments more individual and regular. Further updates are awaited.
To explain what Universal Credit is, what benefits are affected and what if anything you need to do, our Benefits and Credits expert Marie Busfield has prepared some information to guide you through.
The first working Monday of the year is often referred to as ‘Divorce Day’. The day is dubbed ‘Divorce Day’ as family lawyers tend to see a spike in divorce enquires on this day.
A lasting power of attorney (“LPA”) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people (the ‘attorneys’) to help make decisions, or to make all decisions on your behalf.
There are two types of LPA: a Property and Financial Affairs Power and a Health and Welfare Power.
Continue reading “Watch out when drafting a Lasting Power of Attorney”
As always, there continue to be developments in employment law, even as we approach the festive period and the end of 2019.
In the latest in a line of cases relating to the gig economy, the Court of Appeal has given their decision in the case of Uber BV v Aslam & Ors – finding that Uber drivers are properly to be considered to be workers for the purposes of employment law. This case follows on from recent cases involving Addison Lee couriers and Deliveroo.
Continue reading “Employees, workers, self employed – The employment status conundrum continues”
The Government is still consulting on reforming the legal requirements of divorce and moving away from the need for one party to blame the other for the breakdown of the marriage if the parties have lived together within the last 2 or in some cases 5 years.
Continue reading “Reforming the legal requirements of divorce”
Drug driving cases are in the news again, with Randox Testing Services again the centre of attention. The organisation was last in the news in January, when it came to light that two members of staff had been arrested for perverting the course of justice. This meant that up to 10,500 samples had to be reviewed.
At the date of writing, only approximately 2,700 cases have been reviewed. This is because there are very few experts that specialise in this type of work.
It is thought that the re-testing of results will cost Randox £2.5 million.
Continue reading “Drug driving in the news again”