As I have previously reported, the Government was due to implement a new fee structure when applying for a grant of probate on 1st April 2019 but this has not yet happened, so what exactly is going on?
Category: Blog
Howells Giving Back to the Community
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.
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Probate fee price hike on the way
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.
What is the difference between Marriage and Civil Partnership?
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.
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Homelessness – New duties for local authorities
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.
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What is Universal Credit?
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.
Today Is Divorce Day
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.
Watch out when drafting a Lasting Power of Attorney
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.
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Employees, workers, self employed – The employment status conundrum continues
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.
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Reforming the legal requirements of divorce
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.
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