History of Stamp Duty Stamp duty land tax was introduced in England in 1694 and is one of this country’s oldest taxes. Since then, it has been updated to reflect changing times and sometimes used as a tool to boost the property market at times of economic stress. When is Stamp Duty payable? Stamp Duty…
There seems to be an awareness day or week for everything these days, and perhaps ‘Dying Matters Awareness Week’ does sound a little strange, but it nevertheless bears an important message as Solicitor Alice Vage discusses. Tackling a tricky subject to bring peace of mind Many of us are understandably squeamish about discussing matters around…
A Will should be a true reflection of a person’s wishes. However, situations sometimes arise where there is doubt cast upon the validity of a Will. Disputes concerning Wills are referred to legally as Contested or Contentious Probate. This type of dispute becomes especially complex where a business is involved and can become even more…
You may have seen several stories in the news lately regarding abuse of Lasting Power of Attorney. We therefore thought it would be a good idea discuss the issues raised and put them in context. Leah Chenoweth, Solicitor at Penderlaw, discusses the topic and how to protect yourself when appointing an attorney. A recent BBC…
The death of a loved one is one of the hardest things in life to go through. If there is also a dispute over their Will, this can make it even more distressing. You may feel that they were not of sound mind when they made their Will or perhaps even were unduly influenced or…
Whether you’re buying a house with lots of potential that you want to make the most of, or have decided against moving in favour of extending your existing home, there is a lot to consider when building an extension. Solicitor Demelza Dunstan highlights the legal pitfalls to avoid when extending your property. Building an extension…
The prospect of divorce is never an enticing one, and many separated couples may wonder whether they really need to take the final, decisive and potentially costly step to legally end their marriage. Rachel Macwilliam, Family Law Solicitor at Penderlaw Solicitors, explores the topic of separation without divorce. Choosing separation rather than divorce Separation, conscious…
Once the golden couple of Hollywood, it was reported recently by the BBC that after 8 years of wrangling, Brad and Angelina are finally divorced. Whilst most of us have less complicated lives (not to mention fewer kids and less stuff to fight over!) it is still sad when we see couples making their divorces…
It is a truth universally acknowledged that sadly January is the busiest month of the year for family lawyers and is sometimes described as the January divorce phenomenon. The festive period, which comes with the pressures of spending increased time with loved ones can often prove too much for a relationship to bear and those…
“People like me will simply put it in a Trust and, as long as I live for seven years, that’s fine.” Jeremy Clarkson So said Jeremy Clarkson when clashing with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire in typically flamboyant style when protesting with farmers about Labour’s changes to IHT relief for farmers. A substantial increase of tax…
