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Keeping you abreast of important everyday legal issues
This is where you can find some useful background information on a range of legal areas covered by KWW’s specialists. Please remember, the law has a habit of changing, so always check with us for the very latest legal position.
The pros and cons of downsizing and how to get it right
Downsizing is, at its most simple, moving to a smaller property. People often associate downsizing with retirement, although it can appeal equally to active empty-nesters attracted looking to release some of their equity. Eve Wilson, a partner and conveyancer at KWW Solicitors in East Molesey, agrees. “Whatever your age, there are advantages and disadvantages to
Powers of attorney, care plans and preparing for the worst
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 your
Building regs focus on electric vehicles
Property developers need to be aware of new building regulations designed to improve the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The Building Regulations 2010 have been amended by the introduction of Part S which requires EV charging points to be installed in the following circumstances: New residential homes. Every home with onsite parking must have its own
Capital Gains Tax leeway in divorce
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
Boost your home sale chances with the eco-conscious
Eco features matter more to some home buyers than the size of the garden, according to a recent survey by Money.com. Solar panels now rank ahead of en-suite bathrooms on our property wish-list and, as energy prices rise, this trend looks set to continue. So, if you are selling your home, how do you appeal
Who has the right to see a will?
Just because you think you are going to be a beneficiary of someone’s will, it doesn’t give you the right to see a copy of it, says Jack Haskew of KWW’s private client team The only person(s) entitled to see the will and read its contents is/are the appointed executor(s). An executor may choose to
Divorce and money: How the process works
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
Rising interest rates impact Inheritance Tax options
Recent hikes in the interest rate have put families on the back foot when it comes to paying Inheritance Tax (IHT).
Surrogacy – understanding the options
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
Legal considerations around holiday homes
Summer is in full swing and it is not uncommon to want to prolong that holiday feeling and dream of investing in a holiday home which allows you to return to your favourite spot more frequently. Holiday home ownership has boomed recently and in 2021 second homes accounted for more than 24,000 purchases. Many of
Pros and cons of putting conditions on gifts in wills
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
End of the line for ground rents
The Government has announced that the abolition of ground rents in residential leases will come into force on June 30, 2022. The move is one of the main provisions of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 (LRGRA 2022) which applies to all new residential long leases being granted and voluntary lease extensions where the
