Firm News

• Enduring Powers of Attorney

• Have you considered who would manage your affairs if you became mentally incapable of handling things yourself. Many clients have in the past asked us, as their solicitors, to prepare an Enduring Power of Attorney in order to minimise the problems should this situation arise.

• Halcyon Daze

• According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, some 125,000 Britons moved permanently to other European Union countries in 2002 with 100,000 settling predominantly in France and the coastal areas of Spain. Current government estimates have some 14.2 million Britons living permanently abroad.

• IHT planning and avoidance basics

• Should the value of your estate at the time of your death be in excess of GBP 255,000 then the excess will be subjected to inheritance tax at 40 percent.

• In-fill housing developments approved

• Martin Goodall has conducted several successful appeals recently against the refusal of proposals for single houses or two-house developments on urban sites in Bristol and elsewhere.

• Inheritance Tax and the Use of Discretionary Trusts

• Inheritance tax is chargeable on all assets which you own at the date of your death to the extent that the value of such assets exceeds GBP 255,000. Tax will be chargeable on the excess at 40 percent.

• Licensing Act 2003 - You Must Act Immediately

• Under the Licensing Act 2003, the existing licence on which there is one or more named licence holder will, upon successful application, be converted to the new system of a Premises Licence and Personal Licence(s). All premises from which any retail alcohol...

• Liquor Licensing

• Under the Licensing Act 2003, the existing licence on which there is one or more named licence holder will, upon successful application, be converted to the new system of a Premises Licence and Personal Licence(s). All premises from which any retail alcohol...

• Living Wills (also known as Advanced Directives)

• A growing number of people want to put into writing guidance for their family as to the treatment of the individual in the event that he or she suffers an accident or long term illness which renders them incapable of making decisions about their own treatment. Such a document is known in this country as a Living Will or Advanced Directive.

• Personal Representatives

• Personal representatives are the people named in a Will to act as executor, or the next or kin of someone who did not make a Will. Personal representatives have important responsibilities which can present difficult legal problems.

• Reviewing your Will

• You may well have made a Will many years ago.However as a result of changes in your own personal family or financialcircumstances it may no longer reflect your current wishes.

• Spanish Property

• Our European Property Department will be delighted to represent you on your Spanish property purchase. Various fixed price conveyancing packages are available or legal advice on an hourly basis on any particular aspect of Spanish law.

• Taxes on Overseas Property

• Our European Property Department will be delighted to represent you on your Spanish property purchase. Various fixed price conveyancing packages are available or legal advice on an hourly basis on any particular aspect of Spanish law.

• Teaching planners about Enforcement

• Martin Goodall reckons that a high proportion of enforcement notices that are quashed on appeal are set aside due to elementary legal errors in the enforcement procedure, especially in the drafting of the enforcement notice itself.

• The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004

• This new Act, which makes certain changes to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, received Royal Assent earlier this year. The most important changes which will be brought about by the new Act affect Development Plans.

• Wills

• If you do not make a Will your property and other assets may not pass to whom you would wish. The future wellbeing of your family may depend on you having prepared an effective and legally valid Will.