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Growth in house prices in the UK slowed down in 2017, according to the latest figures from the House Price Index. The annual growth rate for 2017 was 4.8%, compared with 7% in 2016. On a calendar year basis, that is the lowest rise since 2013. The figures showed a wide variation in growth rates
A woman facing a jail sentence has won her appeal to prevent her daughter being returned to her father. The case involved a married couple who had been permanently based in Italy. The marriage broke down and the mother took the child to live elsewhere in Italy without the father’s consent. That unlawful removal resulted
A couple have won a dispute with their neighbour after Japanese knotweed invaded their garden, knocking £50,000 off the value of their property. Adam and Eleanor Smith had bought their Cornwall home for £200,000 in 2002 from Rosemary Line. Mrs Line’s kept some of the neighbouring land, which had Japanese knotweed growing on it. The
The government is set to launch its ‘Good Work Plan’ to keep employment laws up-to-date with the changing world of work in the modern economy. It follows recommendations made in the Taylor Review of working practices and it is hoped that millions of workers will benefit from the reforms. The government will seek to protect
A betting shop manager has won her unfair dismissal claim after she was sacked for refusing to accept a new contract on a lower pay grade. Nicola Dinham had worked as a manager for William Hill for 18 years. The company restructured its employment model, merging the roles of shop manager and deputy manager into
A school dinner lady has been awarded £45,000 in compensation after she was subjected to bullying because she reported a breach of policy by her colleague. Neydi Vasconcelos worked part-time at Medlock Primary School in Ardwick. She became aware that some of the kitchen equipment was being taken off site for private use by a
A review of inheritance tax thresholds could make it easier for parents to give their children money to buy a home, fund their education or set up a business. Currently, the maximum sum that can be gifted tax free is £3,000 a year. Any additional funds are subject to 40% inheritance tax if the donor
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has started giving refunds to people who were overcharged when setting up lasting powers of attorney (LPA). It has set aside £90m to cover the cost of the refunds. Between April 2013 and March 2017, the operating costs of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) came down as more
Divorce can be one of the most stressful events anyone has to face in their lives, especially if it descends into recriminations and disputes over money and care of the children. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way. The government, with the backing of many family lawyers, has been trying to promote a more
Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division has recently provided further details of new specialist courts being piloted to deal with the financial aspect of divorce proceedings. In December 2017, Munby set out a blueprint for the financial remedies courts (FRC), which are part of wider efforts to separate divorce administratively from its financial