Resources
Articles
Mental Incapacity and Powers of Attorney
If a person suffers an accident or illness that means they can no longer make decisions for themselves, someone needs to step in to manage their affairs in their best interests. If a person loses their mental capacity without having made a valid Enduring or Lasting...
Probate and Administration of Estates
Our Probate and Administration of Estates experts can help guide you through the process following a death, whether or not there is a Will. Our service includes advice regarding: Registration of a death Organising a funeral Payment of bills and legacies Drawing up...
Inheritance Tax Planning
When you die, the Government assesses how much your estate is worth. Your estate includes all your assets, such as your house and any other property, money in the bank, savings and investments, all your personal belongings, and any business you may own. Any debts you...
Making a Will
A Will drawn up by a professional who is an expert in this area of law will give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your wishes will be upheld and your family provided for after your death. There are many reasons people put off making a Will. It is...
Everything you need to know about Stamp Duty Changes
Wednesday 22nd November saw the presentation of the Autumn Budget and with it came changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax for first time buyers. WHAT IS STAMP DUTY LAND TAX (SDLT)? Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax which is payable if you buy any property in England, Wales...
What is Blockchain?
Our Commerical Partner Aaron Menuhin has put together a short introduction to Blockchain: What is Blockchain?
Buying a Property in Joint Names – Things to Consider
When buying a property with another person, one of the most significant considerations for you should be how do you wish to own the property together? There are two ways in which a couple can jointly own a property; as Joint Tenants or as Tenants in Common. Joint...
Moving House – Your questions answered
Moving house is not renowned for being a stress-free process. At Fairhurst Menuhin we want our clients to have peace of mind in knowing that a professional firm of solicitors is dealing with their property transaction. There are many questions you may be asking and...
Gainsborough’s Birthday
Fairhurst Menuhin & Co had the pleasure of sponsoring Gainsborough's Birthday on the square celebrations in Sudbury on Saturday 13th May 2017. Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury in 1727, he went on to become one of Britain's most iconic portrait and landscape...
Death and Taxes
DEATH AND TAXES As Benjamin Franklin said in 1789 “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” And that is as true today as it was then. Death It is a very modern taboo but we are all going to die so why is it that so few of us have a Will. If you die without leaving...
The importance of an LPA
Recently a young couple in their 30’s came in to see me to make Lasting Powers of Attorney. They explained that it was something they knew they probably should do but it had never seemed very urgent until one their fathers was knocked down by a bus while celebrating...
Don’t Get Burned by Solar Panels!
If you purchase solar panels there are usually no issues when you come to sell your property, provided you have all the necessary supplier guarantees and building regulation certificates and, you have purchased the solar panels outright. Full steam ahead for you and...
Lease Troubles
Little does the eager, starry eyed entrepreneur know that perhaps the greatest risk he or she is taking is not the uncertain income stream, the investment in tools, machinery, websites, logos, advertising and inventory, nor is it the one staff member taken on the...
Changes in employment law – not business as usual!
Employment Law is undergoing a revolution. In July 2013, we saw the introduction of employment tribunal fees to submit a claim to the employment tribunal, a cap of 12 months’ pay on unfair dismissal compensation; and new rules governing Employment Tribunal procedure....
How to Be More Organised Than Your Pet
Buttons, my Labrador retriever, did very little retrieving over his lifetime. Mainly he buried his treasured possessions in the garden and then forgot about them. I am afraid Buttons’s approach to storage solutions is not unique to canines. I have seen people with a...
The cost of care
The erosion of assets as a result of long-term care costs is becoming a concern for many. We are living longer and consequently professional care may become a necessity for many of us. Care Legislation The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 obliges Local Authorities to...
The Great Common Law Marriage Myth
That well known phrase, "living over the brush", is often used to describe an unmarried couple who live together. It originates from the tunnel building days of the 19th Century, when, if a boy and a girl took a liking to each other but could not afford a church...
When the solicitor’s pen is mightier than the sword…
We have probably all been involved in a dispute at some time in our lives, whether an argument with a neighbour or a disagreement with a service provider who has let us down. Disputes can be overwhelmingly stressful, particularly if the dispute does not resolve...
What to do when someone dies
When someone dies there are many things to sort out. When we are grieving for the loss of someone we loved, this can seem overwhelming. The first thing to do If a person dies at home you should call their GP who will give you a medical certificate showing the cause...
Employment Law – a question of compromise?
Under plans for the introduction of the Enterprise & Regulatory Reform Act, Compromise Agreements will be renamed 'Settlement Agreements.' This legally binding agreement between an employer and employee exists to ensure a dismissal or redundancy is conducted in a...
When liability bites
England is a nation of dog lovers, but recently, the Haverhill Echo reported that dog incidents are an increasing problem in Haverhill. So, what is the law relating to dog ownership and what remedies can you take if you or your dog are a victim of a dog bite incident?...
Accident or injury? Why do I need legal advice?
Accidents can happen at any time, and the consequences of your injuries can be life changing and difficult to cope with. Although it is natural after an accident to focus on your medical treatment and recovery, if someone else was to blame for your accident, it is...
Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted?
The equine industry traditionally operates on the basis of legally binding verbal agreements. However should you get a horse home to discover that it was not what you expected, you will have difficulty proving what was agreed and may have limited options available to...
Where there is a Will…
Contested Wills Dealing with disputes over family finances or inheritance can be stressful and emotional. No one wants to be in a position of having to fight family members or friends after the death of a loved one. However, there can be genuine reasons for a dispute...
What should you expect from the 21st century lawyer?
With the advent of technologies that enable faster communication and increasingly efficient service delivery, clients are in a stronger position than ever to demand more of their lawyers. The modern solicitor’s more traditional counterpart is often seen as a wise...
Beware of bogus solicitors
This year has seen an increase in ‘scams’ relating to bogus law firms. Conveyancing, the legal process of buying or selling a property, is an area that has been particularly targeted. The increased use of technology and increased use of online conveyancing services is...
For a Ha’penny’s Worth o’Tar
Should I do my conveyancing online? This morning I ordered my food shopping, booked a holiday and read the news online. I even considered purchasing a husband online. Yes, it is possible to rent a husband online. It’s an amazing thing; your husband can cook, clean –...
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst
Who will manage my money if I can’t? Most people know that if they care about what happens to their money, property or belongings when they die then they need to make a Will. But what about what happens when you are still alive but can’t manage those things yourself?...
Is your Will worth the paper it’s written on?
The government is considering proposals to regulate the practice of Will writing, following a request from the Legal Services Board. Due to a lack of regulation Will Writers with no technical qualifications, negligence insurance or continuity arrangements continue to...
Children and family disputes without Legal Aid
We are all too aware that the Government, in its efforts to improve the state of the Country's economy, has implemented a wide range of cuts on public spending. One of the targets of the cuts has been the legal aid budget, and decimation is not too strong a word for...
Whitepapers
Whose Jurisdiction is it anyway? Recent developments in Family law
In 2005, during the course of a commercial law dispute under the Brussels Convention (the predecessor to the Brussels I Regulation),[i] the European Court of Justice held that domestic courts in an EU member state have no power to stay their proceedings on the basis...
On Testamentary Capacity
The invalidity of Wills through the lack of testamentary capacity is often at the heart of family disputes following a death. Advances in modern medicine mean that many of us will live longer but many of us will suffer from some sort of deterioration in our mental...