Everys Solicitors News Archive

In most places, the property market appears buoyant with prices continuing to rise. Although good news for many, this could make it more difficult if you are looking to get onto the property ladder. If affordability is an issue, one possible solution is to pool resources and to buy with friends or a partner and…

Cohabitation is a term used to describe two people who are in a relationship with each other and are living together but who are not married. There is no such thing as a ‘common law marriage/relationship’. The legal rights of cohabiting couples are very different from those of married couples or civil partners. This is…

What do I mean by mental capacity? Mental capacity is a complex subject but, at its most simplistic, it can be defined as our understanding of a given concept, situation, or predicament. It refers to our ability to be able to weigh up the pros and cons of a situation and make an informed decision.…

Preparing for your divorce appointment – what do I need to bring with me? In order to assist clients with their initial divorce and finance appointments, I thought it useful to list some of the things that would be helpful for the solicitor to have at that first divorce appointment. This is not an exhaustive…

When someone dies, their assets are valued as at the date of death (known as the probate value). These values are reported to HMRC with the total value determining whether any inheritance tax liability arises. In certain circumstances and with certain assets, various exemptions/reliefs can be claimed to reduce an inheritance tax liability. Where inheritance…

This is a question that I am asked many times and one where the consequences of not obtaining one can be devastating. The simple answer to this question is yes. It is often a misconception that once you are divorced or your civil partnership is dissolved, your ex-husband/ex-wife cannot make any claim against your assets.…

Read time: about 8 – 10 mins A wife (W) has died, leaving her entire estate of £700,000 to her husband (H), which includes the family home and a rental property from which she received an income. However, H believes that W would have preferred to leave her estate to her childhood friend (F). H…

These are unprecedented times, and with difficult times comes difficult conversations. That includes thinking about what we want to happen to our estate when we die. Making a will may not resolve all your fears or issues, but it goes a long way to giving you peace of mind to know how your estate will…

Many people do not have a will, and others may have one which was made some time ago and has now, more or less, been forgotten or ignored.  Those without a will may think that the law will step in and deal with their estate in a fair manner; whilst those with an old will…