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When appointing a new supplier there is often a dilemma over the issue of confidentiality. How do you strike the balance between sharing enough information to obtain the best deal without jeopardising confidential business information? ‘It is...
‘Being an executor is an important role and a serious responsibility,’ says Silviya Maclean , a Partner in our wills and probate team in Tenterden. ‘Even a simple estate can be more difficult than many people realise and you should...
The level of natural light that comes through the windows of your home can make a huge difference to your enjoyment of your property. It is understandable then, that you will want to take action if that enjoyment is threatened by a neighbouring development...
Divorce can often stir up feelings of mistrust between former spouses, especially when it comes to considering the financial division of assets. Sadly, it is all too common that one spouse will try and dissipate matrimonial assets, either prior to a...
The role of a deputy is similar to that of an attorney. If you are acting as an attorney, this will be because the person you are acting for specifically chose you to act and they made a document called a ‘power of attorney’ at a time when they...
At present, no capital gains tax (CGT) is charged on a transfer of assets between a married couple or civil partners who live together. If, however you are separated or divorced from your spouse or civil partner, then this tax relief does not...
While social media can be hugely beneficial for many businesses, it is not without its problems. Organisations have had to adapt to deal with unfavourable reviews, account hacking, data protection breaches, fake accounts and impersonation, use of their brand...
Sometimes we need to make a financial decision that is of such importance we decide to pay for professional advice. This may be from an accountant, a tax specialist, a pensions expert, a mortgage consultant, an independent financial advisor, a land valuer or...
If you are facing difficulties in your marriage and you have a prenuptial agreement, you may be curious to know just how binding the terms will be, especially if your life is now rather different to the one you envisaged when you planned to get married. ...
Finding out that your loved one has decided to leave a gift of money or property to a charity in their will can sometimes come as a surprise, particularly if the charity is not one that was known to be close to their heart. It may also be quite distressing...
Royalty payments are often earned from creative activities such as writing a book or composing music, but they can also be earned from a patent or brand licensing, or from a franchise or even licensing of mineral rights. While some arrangements may...
Sepsis is one of the biggest causes of pregnancy-related deaths, with a 2019 study finding that this condition accounted for as many as 25 per cent of all pregnancy-related deaths in the UK. Jalal Mirza-Baig a solicitor in the Litigation team at Pengelly...
Managing risk is an essential part of any business operation and while personal relationships do not often appear high on a business risk register, an acrimonious divorce has the power to devastate a small business. ‘While few anticipate or want to...
Creating a will with a life interest trust over your property allows you to ensure that your home passes to those you choose, whilst also allowing you to provide for another loved one during their lifetime. ‘Life interest trust wills are particularly...
Isolated land that is not regularly inspected can sometimes be appropriated without anyone noticing. Farmland is particularly susceptible, as are remote areas of woodland and scrubland within large rural estates. When this continues for a long period of...
If you are contemplating buying another business, then you will have been suitably impressed with the sale particulars. But these do not tell the whole story and when you decide to acquire the assets of a business you will want to satisfy yourself that...
As a parent you will always strive to do what is best for your children, but for separated parents this can sometimes lead to disagreement when what is best in one parent’s eyes does not align with the other parent’s view. ‘While...
If you are a fan of Marmite or Hellman’s mayonnaise, you may recall a brief dispute that broke out between Tesco and Unilever in late 2016 which led to the supermarket temporarily suspending the sale of a range of popular branded products. The dispute...
Within a marriage or civil partnership , the concept of bad behaviour can cover a multitude of activities, from leaving the top off the toothpaste to serious or criminal activities. One option when applying for a divorce is to claim that your...
Whether you are planning on using subcontractors for a one-off project or on a long-term basis, there are several steps you can take to safeguard both your business and business relationships. ‘The first step is to carry out some basic checks on your...
Mediation is regularly used in family law to assist couples to reach an agreement about their financial separation and any arrangements for children , avoiding the need to go to court. If you and your former partner have agreed to participate...
One of the features of the Covid-19 pandemic has been our increasing reliance on delivery services. Supermarkets and online retailers have been swamped with orders, as people look to comply with government instructions to maintain social distancing and...
If you are one of the thousands of business owners in the UK who have had to adapt during the past couple of months to survive the coronavirus pandemic, then it is likely that some of your contractual arrangements may not have kept pace with all the changes...
Despite the UK’s extensive health and safety legislation lots of people still suffer serious injury at their place of work. The industries where accidents are statistically most likely to occur are manufacturing, construction, transportation and...
If you have been appointed as a company director, a commercial agent or a trustee, then as well as any contractual or statutory obligations you may have, you will also be obliged to act in accordance with a series of fiduciary duties aimed at ensuring you do...
Service charges are a common feature with houses or flats which have been bought via a long lease. They are designed to cover the running costs your landlord will incur in keeping shared areas and other facilities in good order. For example, entrances,...
The effects of asbestos exposure in the workplace can be devastating, not only for employees but also for their loved ones and anyone else with whom they come into contact. In a case on point, a man whose wife died after laundering his dusty work overalls...
