Writing a Will is an essential step in ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. Do-it-yourself (DIY) Wills have become increasingly popular due to their affordability and convenience however they can carry risks that can lead to unintended consequences. Shelley Collingbourne and Lorna Payne, Partners in our Private Client […]
Many shaky relationships buckle under the financial and emotional strains of the Christmas and New Year holiday season, and couples move towards separation and divorce in January, which is frequently dubbed ‘Divorce Month’. For couples reaching this difficult point in their relationship, family law experts at local firm Sydney Mitchell say seeking specialist advice early […]
Prior to the introduction of Lasting Powers of Attorney in October 2007, it was possible to prepare an Enduring Power of Attorney. An Enduring Power of Attorney allowed you to appoint attorneys to make decisions and deal with your property and financial affairs only. An Enduring Power of Attorney does not allow your attorneys to […]
With the holidays approaching, a trip abroad with the children could well be on the cards, but for divorced or separated parents, there is a number of important things to consider before booking and heading off to the airport. If you are thinking about taking your child abroad: You must get permission for the trip […]
From 31st December 2024 all Biometric Residence Permits (BRP) cards will become redundant as the Home Office is phasing out the use of these cards instead favouring a new online system called an eVisa. All BRP cards now expire on 31st December 2024 (this does not mean that your leave expires on that date). Your […]
From April 2024, in order to be eligible for a skilled worker visa, you must be paid the minimum salary rate for the type of work you will be doing. This means that the minimum salary must be the higher of: £38,700 per year. The going rate for your job role. This may be lower […]
World Menopause Day is held each year on the 18 October to raise awareness of the menopause and the support options available issue that affects 3.5 million employees in the UK workplace. Women make up nearly half of the UK working population, and women over the age of 50 represent one of the fastest growing […]
The landmark Employment Rights Bill was unveiled last week which will bring forward much anticipated and reported employment law reforms! These changes include the following: Making unfair dismissal a ‘day one’ right. The current two-year qualifying period will be removed and the Government will consult on a “statutory probation period”. End ‘exploitative’ zero-hours contracts. Those […]
These changes to tipping laws which came into effect on 1 October 2024 require employers to pass on 100% of any tips and/or service charges to employees without deductions. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 and the statutory Code of Practice have made a number of changes to standardise tipping practices as well as […]
At present, nationals of many countries do not need a visa in order to come and visit the UK for up to 6 months. However, as of 2025 the Home Office will be rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme (ETA) for nationals of all of these countries. The scheme is already in place for […]