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How to tell your children you’re getting a divorce
Making the decision to separate from your spouse can be absolutely heartbreaking. You are facing the prospect of breaking up your family and of moving forward into an uncertain future. Now, you might also be wondering how on Earth to tell your children you are splitting up without adding to their i....
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The Building Safety Act and the remediation of historic defects
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA 2022, hereafter referred to as ‘the Act’) was designed to address safety issues affecting existing buildings. The Act was specifically formulated to reallocate the financial responsibility for rectifying these issues from the buildings’ tenants to either the ....
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The Building Safety Act – fire safety responsibilities for landlords
The Grenfell Tower fire, a tragic incident during which over 70 people lost their lives when a fire blazed out of control due to the building’s highly flammable cladding, led to the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022. The Act legislated amendments to a raft of other laws and regulations....
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I’ve heard of the 10 and 4-year rule in planning, what does it mean?
If you want to be certain that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes, or that your proposed development does not require planning permission, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. Due to the limitation periods that apply to these Certificates, you may also hav....
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This story is exactly why you need a professional trustee
was placed into a trust until they reached the age of 25. The bequest was supposed to give them a head-start in life, to help them onto the property ladder or pay for their education. But when one of the Thomas sisters asked to access the money early in order to purchase a property with her boyfrie....
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The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill 2023 – what’s in it for freeholders?
If you are the owner of a leasehold property, you may be following the progress of the much-awaited Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill 2023. The proposed legislation, which is making its way through Parliament and is expected to receive Royal Assent this year, has been touted as “part of the most....
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Why we’re proud to have a Lifetime Lawyer on our team
The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (previously Solicitors for the Elderly, or SFE) is a community of legal professionals who specialise in working with older or more vulnerable clients to resolve some of the common legal issues experienced by these groups of people. Our Partner and Head of Cour....
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Leasehold reform: Should I extend my lease now or hang on?
Following the introduction of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, which restricts ground rents on new leases to a ‘peppercorn’ – i.e., nothing – the second phase of the government’s promised reforms to the leasehold system is currently on its way through parliament. The Leaseh....
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What is coercive control?
Until as late as 2015, legislation relating to domestic abuse related solely to physical violence. However, as domestic abuse victims know only too well, just because your partner, spouse or family member doesn’t hit, it doesn’t mean they can’t hurt. In 2015, a big shakeup of legislation fina....
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The key legal documents you need to protect yourself in every area of life
In this blog, we take you through the documentation you need and some of the things you need to think about the give yourself and your loved ones every advantage in life. You may think that these things only apply to older people, or maybe that you will never need them. Sadly, it is not until someb....
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Will Labour’s VAT plans threaten independent schools?
With the UK’s next general election fast approaching, the Conservative and Labour parties are beginning to ramp up their promises and pledges for Britain’s future as they commence their battle for the public’s vote. One such pledge from Labour poses a serious threat to the independent scho....
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Probate registry delay complaints continue to mount
For several years now (i.e., since the pandemic), the probate process has been fraught with severe delays, leading to increased financial hardship and even cancelled house sales for thousands of families. According to official figures, waiting times almost doubled between April 2022 and April 2023,....
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Update: ban on no-fault evictions will be law ahead of general election
Since the Conservative Party pledged to outlaw Section 21 Notices (otherwise known as no-fault eviction) in its 2019 election manifesto, the new legislation has been the subject of much discussion and debate. Charities and bodies acting for tenants have accused the government of not going far enoug....
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Recognising and preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can have life-altering or even fatal consequences. Sadly, there have been documented cases of deaths from the condition due to the failure of medical practitioners to recognise its symptoms; in 2018, a footba....
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Why you should consider making a medical negligence claim
When you or somebody you know is injured due to negligence on the part of medical professionals – the very people whom you have trusted to look after you – the results can be life-changing. Sadly, these injuries often necessitate significant lifestyle changes, which can be extremely expensive t....
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Is your medical complaint grounds for a claim?
The NHS works extremely hard to keep us healthy, with thousands of people receiving exemplary treatment every day. However, medical professionals do sometimes fall short of the standards we have come to expect. If you are unhappy with the treatment you have received, it is possible to make a compla....
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Sepsis – recognising the signs
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can lead to shock, organ failure, limb loss and even death if not spotted and treated quickly. In this article, we’ll explain what sepsis is, how to spot the signs and symptoms, and why it’s so important to seek urgent medical assistance. What ....
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Menopause, divorce and the law
It’s a condition that affects half the population and can have symptoms so debilitating that some sufferers are unable to work. Indeed, 10% of women aged 45-55 have left the workforce as a result of menopause symptoms, according to a 2022 study conducted by the Fawcett Society and Channel 4. T....
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Hertfordshire – the new global business hub?
We’ve been publishing our Private Wealth Guide to Hertfordshire and Essex for many years now – and yet, every single year we find new examples of what an excellent home these two counties make for thousands of local businesses. In January 2024, for example, multinational tech giant Google re....
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The importance of ‘clean break’ orders
If you have no assets to divide with your ex-spouse upon divorce, then surely there is no further legal action that needs to be taken? Unfortunately, this is of the biggest misconceptions we see amongst our Family Law clients here at Attwaters. The assumption that divorce, once granted, marks the e....
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