Yesterday's Autumn Statement by the Chancellor contained some fairly dramatic changes to the way Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is calculated. The changes come into place today, 4 December 2014, meaning that all home buyers will be affected… Read More

When a relationship breaks down, a decision will have to be made as to what should be done with the family home. It will often be the case that one owner decides to take on the other owner's share of the property and this can give you a… Read More

Emsleys Head of Family Law, Gabbie Clasper, tells of the recent well-documented case of Bakir v Downe2014) which highlights the risks of representing yourself in the family Court without a solicitor or barrister. The case involved a… Read More

The Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on Local Authorities to maintain highways which are defined as public roads and footpaths. Theoretically, this means that the Local Authority would be to blame if an injury is caused by a trip or slip… Read More

The Court of Appeal has recently published its decision in the case of Southwell v Blackburn [2014] EWCA Civ 1347 for an ex-partner to pay a lump sum to his previous partner when they split, despite them not being married and her name not… Read More

From 22nd October 2014, the court must presume that the involvement of the parent (of whom a child does not primarily live) will further the child's welfare. The new piece of legislation (Section 11 of the Children and Families… Read More

The Times reports today that too many people are still having their wills prepared by unqualified, uninsured and unregulated ill-writers 180,000 consumers each year may be unprotected if their wills are found to be defective. What many… Read More

In light of recently published figures which suggest that more than 100 elderly people a week are losing their properties to local authorities to pay for their care home fees, funding the cost of care has become cause of worry for many.… Read More

The Government plans to introduce new rules by November 2014 to enable those adopted as children, and the children, grandchildren and other relatives of those adopted, to trace their family history.  As the law currently stands, only… Read More

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