Private Client Articles

A husband has won his appeal against a judge’s decision that allowed his wife a second chance to improve her divorce settlement. The case involved a couple who had been married for several years and had one son. At the final hearing of the wife's...

People who were overcharged when arranging deputyships over a seven-year period can now claim refunds. It’s thought the average pay-out could be £240. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) sets the level of fees for the appointment of deputies, who...

The government wants to introduce a package of measures to help people on lower incomes get on to the housing ladder. It’s reviewing a new national model for shared ownership to make it easier for people to buy more of their own home, including...

The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“Inheritance Act”) gives the Court the power to order financial provision from the deceased’s net estate for certain categories of applicants. The Claimant must bring their...

The Equality and Human Rights Commission says it’s calling time on the practice of using confidentiality agreements to cover up company wrongdoing in discrimination cases. The commission has published new guidance offering both employers and employees...

Tenants are being warned to be wary of being ‘ripped off’ by rogue letting agents who are flouting new consumer protection regulations. Two new laws, the Tenant Fees Act and the Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents, have recently...

The granddaughters of a farmer have lost their shares in his farm because of complications that arose when their father died without making a will. The grandfather had died in 1992, leaving behind a wife and four children. His will stated that the farm was...

A wife was entitled to a financial settlement from her husband that reflected British law even though their divorce was granted abroad. That was the decision of the High Court in a case involving an Omani man and Lebanese woman. The couple had been married...

The value of the government’s Help to Buy scheme has been called into question by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee. They say much of the money invested could have been better spent elsewhere. The Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme was introduced in...

The justice Secretary Robert Buckland has reversed the government’s previous decision to introduce a probate fee increases, which were due to see families paying £6,000 in order to apply for a grant of probate. Currently, in England and Wales,...