News
After much speculation in the press that there would be a complete inheritance tax overhaul especially on lifetime gifts and “loopholes”, our first female chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves announced some surprising changes this afternoon. Julie West Solicitors private client solicitor Emma Westsmith explains.
When dealing with the estate of a deceased person, understanding the deadlines and penalties associated with inheritance tax returns is crucial. Specialist private client solicitor Emma Westsmith explains.
The Chair of the Justice Committee has just published a letter summarising the findings from an inquiry cut short by the announcement of the general election in July. The letter confirms that prior to digitisation and centralisation the probate service worked and now it does not. Emma Westsmith explains the probate process and issues to watch out for caused by Probate Registry delays.
We are delighted to announce that Martin Whitehorn, who started as a trainee at our firm before qualifying and becoming one of our specialist conveyancing solicitors has been named as one of the Legal Heroes of 2023 by the Law Society.
The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. It launched Legal Heroes to recognise the solicitors who have made the biggest difference to the lives of others.
We are proud to announce that Julie West Solicitors has been accredited as a living wage employer by the Living Wage Foundation. This means that we pay all our staff, including contractors and interns, at least the real living wage, which is higher than the government’s minimum wage. The real living wage is based on the cost of living and reflects what people need to get by.
We believe that paying the living wage is not only the right thing to do, but also benefits our business and society. By paying the living wage, we can attract and retain talented and motivated staff, improve their well-being and productivity, and enhance our reputation as a responsible and ethical employer. We also contribute to reducing poverty, inequality, and social problems in our community.
Specialist private client solicitor Emma Westsmith warns of another delay in the probate process. The Probate Registry has increased their aimed-for period to deal with probate applications to 16 weeks.
Thinking about remortgaging, transferring a property to joint names, moving home, extending your lease, taking up right to buy and right to acquire, staircasing or equity release next year? Solicitor Martin Whitehorn highlights a few key considerations for 7 of the New Year’s resolutions that homeowners may be making for 2023.
