Read our latest articles, news briefs and legal updates across all our different services.
What is a civil partnership? In 2004, the Civil Partnership Act came into force allowing same-sex couples to obtain the same rights and responsibilities as married couples, both during their relationship and upon any subsequent separation. Many of these rights and responsibilities relate to property ownership, taxation exemptions and children issues as prior to this time,
The Queen’s Speech outlined several Bills that could have a significant impact on businesses. The government says the main theme behind most of its proposals is to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness and to create conditions that will enable companies to create more jobs. These are some of the main proposals: Enterprise Bill This aims to
This is a common question. Some people may feel that they don’t have very much money to leave to anyone, and others don’t seem to mind where their money goes when they pass away. However, making a will goes beyond simply setting out where your ‘estate’ (your money and other assets) will go when you
The rising number of second marriages and relationships involving older couples has led to an increasing number of disputes over wills in the last few years. Conflicts due to relationships started later in life have now become one of the main reasons for families taking legal action if they feel they’ve missed out on their
The need for cohabiting partners to draw up agreements stating how their property and assets should be shared in the event of a break-up was highlighted in a recent case before the Court of Appeal. It involved a couple who had been in a relationship for many years and had lived together since 2002. When
Cohabitants are couples who live together as if man and wife but outside the confines of a marriage, for example, as boyfriend and girlfriend. In England and Wales, many couples are choosing to live this way and it is a relationship arrangement that is continuing to increase in popularity. Contrary to popular opinion, cohabitants are
Financial advisers should be given more protection against negligence claims if proposed new regulations come into effect. That is the call from two of the major trade bodies involved in the finance sector. The issue has arisen because the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consulting on proposed changes to the pension transfer rules. The FCA
The new system of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allowing mothers and fathers to share 52 weeks’ leave came into effect on 5 April 2015. Under the SPL scheme, mothers are still required to take two weeks’ compulsory leave immediately after the birth, but the other 50 weeks can be shared between both parents. The benefits
Two Hundred Year 10 pupils from Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead took part in an Employability Skills day on Thursday 7th May organised and run by Connect Dacorum. The pupils were in groups of 8 and each group had a facilitator from local businesses who had given up their morning to help the children with
Is it okay to be “fattist”; to make workplace decisions; recruitment, dismissal etc. based on weight? What about a bit of innocent banter/ teasing by work colleagues? Far from being okay, recent case law also means that it is potentially unlawful discrimination. Is this new? There is no specific law prohibiting discriminating against an employee