The United Kingdom’s population is aging rapidly and, fortunately, higher living standards mean most of us will enjoy a long and active retirement. As we grow older our housing needs often change, and if you are approaching retirement you may have already started to think about your options. In this article, Enza Sole, a residential
Does the idea of a brand new home appeal to you? If so, you are not alone as the past two years have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people buying off plan. Whether you are looking for your forever home, a retirement property, or a holiday hideaway, buying a home off plan
It takes between eight and 12 weeks on average to complete the purchase of a new home. Many factors determine how long the conveyancing process will take. However, solicitors frequently cite the local land charges search as a cause of delay. But what are local land charges, and why do they matter? Leanne Reid, a
The Government has announced plans to relax capital gains tax (CGT) rules in divorce settlements, giving spouses and civil partners more time to transfer assets without incurring CGT charges. If the new rules are approved, they will come into effect from 6 April 2023. As it stands, couples who are married or in a civil
Divorcing couples are often scarred by disputes over financial matters. Such wrangling can add time and cost to the proceedings, says David Anstee, head of KWW’s Family Law team. Resolving financial matters by consent is a far less stressful way to go, if it’s possible, and couples can get a formal Order in place quicker
The number of parents having a baby using a surrogate in England and Wales has almost quadrupled in the past 10 years. Parental orders, which transfer legal parentage from the surrogate, rose from 117 in 2011 to 413 in 2020. Two-thirds of applicants are now mixed-sex couples often in their 30s or 40s. There’s a
In the first of a series of short articles looking at the financial matters arising out of a divorce, Susannah Burley of our Family Law team looks at what happens at the very start. Next in the series will be negotiations and Consent Orders. When going through a divorce or separation it isn’t as easy
There’s an old saying that when you are at the edge of a cliff, sometimes progress is a step backwards, writes David Anstee of the KWW family law team. You could say that’s a good metaphor for mediation, an approach to resolving disputes we as a family law specialist would always recommend to our clients
The divorce law in England and Wales will change next spring, says our Head of Family Law David Anstee, replacing the Matrimonial Causes Act which came into force in 1973. For those whose memory stretches back that far, that’s the year Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips (divorced in 1992) and Six Million Dollar Man
Research shows people often worry about credit card scams more than conveyancing fraud. This is despite losses from property fraud being much greater in value, with some customers struggling to recover their money. A bank may refuse a refund if it acted on genuine instructions, even if the customer was tricked. If you are buying