Wills and jointly owned assets – Q&A
We participated in #SolicitorChat on Twitter this morning, answering questions about Wills and jointly owned assets. Andrew Milburn from our Wills and Probate team was on hand to answer the questions. If you were not able to follow the chat live, we set our answers out below: 1. If someone dies with money in a joint bank account, who will this…
Accountant professional negligence: FAQs
Individuals and businesses instruct accountants to deal with a range of financial matters. If you have employed someone as an accountant, it is only reasonable to expect that they will perform their role professionally and that they will not cause you to suffer a financial loss. Occasionally however, things can go wrong whereby you do end up…
We speak your language
At Levi Solicitors LLP, understanding your needs and queries is paramount. We are proud that we can offer staff who can speak over 10 different languages. So, if you’re not comfortable speaking in English, we may be able to offer you a solicitor who can speak to you in your first language. It’s not just the western European languages we can help…
Signed, sealed, delivered? Email signatures and contracts
You may think that whether a document is signed or not would be obvious. However the High Court has recently looked at exactly this. Is an email with an automatic email signature, signed? What is a signature? The traditional definition of the word ‘signature’ is “your name written by yourself, always in the same way, usually to show that…
Help to buy ISAs – there’s still time!
First Time Buyers have been able to save money towards their first home in a Help to Buy ISA since the Scheme began on 1 December 2015. The scheme provides a 25% bonus on savings; with the minimum bonus being £400 and the maximum being £3,000 depending on the balance saved in the ISA. From 30 November 2019, you will no longer be able to open a…
Probate fee hike dropped by the Government. Again.
Last week, the Government announced that it has dropped its planned probate fee hike. What are the current fees? Fees are paid to the Probate Registry when you make an application for a Grant of Representation following someone’s death. Not all estates require a grant. However, if the estate includes a property or other significant assets, you are…
The value of going to a solicitor for legal advice – Q & A
We participated in #SolicitorChat on Twitter last week, answering questions about the value of seeking legal advice from a solicitor. Our new addition to our Dispute Resolution team, Gemma Horner, was on hand to answer the questions. If you were not able to follow the chat live, we set our answers out below: 1. Tell us about your role as a…
Press release: Bradford office relocation
Levi Solicitors LLP, one of West Yorkshire’s most established law firms, celebrating 85 years in business, has relocated its Bradford office. It has this week moved from its office in Little Germany, to Hope Park City Gateway, just off the M606. The relocation is a result of continued growth over recent years. The firm, which was set up 85 years…
Limitation periods: how long do I have to bring a claim?
Limitation is the specified period during which you can make a claim against the defendant. This is done by issuing a claim form and supporting documents at Court, together with the required fee. How long is the limitation period? The limitation period for your claim will depend on the type of claim you are making. We set out a couple of examples…
Help to buy schemes for first-time buyers
Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime and we understand that it can be especially difficult when you are a first-time buyer. The government has set up various help to buy schemes to assist first-time buyers get their feet on the ladder. Let’s take a look at some of them. Help to buy: Equity loan scheme…
Leaving a gift to charity in your will – Q&A
We participated in #SolicitorChat on Twitter this morning, answering questions about how solicitors can help you include a gift to charity in your will. Andrew Milburn from our Wills and Probate team was on hand to answer the questions. If you were not able to follow the chat live, we set our answers out below: 1. What are the benefits of leaving…
How can what you post on social media get you in trouble at work?
You may have read recently about ASDA dismissing an employee from ASDA in Bradford after he posted a link to an anti-religion video sketch by comedian Billy Connolly on his social media. This case has recently focused attention on how a social media post can get an employee into trouble with their employer. What happened? Mr Leach was employed by…
Where do we draw the line?
Boundary disputes and how to resolve them Boundary disputes arising between neighbours are very common and can escalate unreasonably, often resulting in unnecessary costs which can spiral out of control. A boundary issue can often be used as a ‘weapon’ when neighbours have had a falling out over something. Further, people’s actions can…
How to buy a house with just 5% deposit
The standard amount of deposit generally required to purchase a house is 10% of the purchase price. When you’re a first-time buyer, this can be a huge and daunting figure to even consider saving for. Under the Help to Buy Scheme, introduced by the Government in April 2013, home buyers can purchase a property with just a 5% deposit. The scheme was…
Road closures affecting our Roundhay office
If you have meetings or plan to drop into our north Leeds office on Friday 16 August, it is advisable to plan your journey ahead. Due to the Ed Sheeran concert in Roundhay Park on Friday and Saturday, there are a number of road closures in place which may affect your journey. Devonshire Avenue will remain open. Leeds city council has published a…
Professional negligence: Your frequently asked questions
Our professional negligence solicitors are experts in advising clients on claims against all types of professionals. Our team answers some of your frequently asked questions. What is professional negligence? Professional negligence occurs where a professional fails to perform their responsibilities to the required standard. It is careless…