Delays in the Probate system have hit the headlines of late, with bereaved families having to wait many months to obtain a Grant of Probate – a stark contrast to the 16 weeks the Government says the application should take. Adding to this, further delays at HMRC mean that Estates are taking much longer to finalise before everything can [...]
Moving in together is an important and exciting step in a relationship. Whether you are moving into a house or apartment that one of you already owns, or renting or buying a place together, it is a commitment that is financial as well as emotional. Unlike almost any other financial commitment, cohabiting is one that you are able to [...]
If you are selling a property, as part of the standard conveyancing process, your buyers will expect you to provide certain information about your property. There are set questions for this in what are called Pre Contract Enquiries that asks if you are aware of any problems regarding the property, or any complaints about the management company, or any [...]
Rising interest rates have dominated the headlines recently, with banks estimating a many households could see their monthly mortgage repayments increase by £500 over the next three years. If you are affected, you may even be thinking about giving up your property so you will no longer have the burden of a mortgage. ‘Becoming mortgage-free would certainly help ease [...]
Deciding who should inherit from you in your will, how much they will get and in what shares, are big decisions to make. This can be made more difficult if you have particular concerns about a beneficiary and whether the inheritance could be at risk. ‘Second marriages, family disagreements, or children who have a lot of debt can all [...]
As interest rates and economic pressures squeeze property investment returns, more and more landlords are leaving the private rental market. There have been claims in the media of a landlord exodus and if you are a residential landlord perhaps you have been thinking about selling up too. ‘The environment for landlords is certainly very different from a decade ago,’ [...]
On top of the heartbreak and worry that a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness can cause, there will be a raft of concerns and uncertainties about your care and financial affairs and it can be difficult to know exactly how to prepare from a legal standpoint. ‘There are steps you can take to ensure that your care runs smoothly [...]
There are many reasons why someone might choose to leave money to charity in their will. Tax planning may be a key incentive, or it could be due to a lack of close family members. Some may simply wish to create a longer lasting personal legacy or they might have strong feelings about a certain cause. ‘Last year, Fisherman’s [...]
A will is an important part of everybody’s legal planning no matter your circumstances, but for anyone who is in business, a well written will is vital to ensure the minimum disruption after your death. ‘Whether you are a sole practitioner, a partner in a partnership, or a director of a limited company, you need to consider how your [...]
A common concern for our clients and their families is the prospect of having to sell the family home in order to meet care costs,’ explains Cathal Murray a solicitor with James McNulty & Co. in Omagh. ‘There are many articles and schemes online which seem to indicate that selling a home can be avoided, but often these schemes [...]
