Wills
Probate is a topic many of us don’t know about until we have to deal with it on a personal basis. My clients frequently ask me these common probate questions that I have put into a useful FAQ blog. Is my Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) still a valid document? Yes. Any old EPA documents are still valid. However, EPA documents only deal with…
Shareholder claims – what does unfair prejudice mean?
In previous articles I have looked at remedies available to shareholders who believe they have been prejudiced. Key to these solutions is the petition for unfair prejudice pursuant to S.944 of the Companies Act 2006. This article explores what is actually meant by unfair prejudice. What is unfair prejudice? It is important to understand that…
Damages – what can I claim for?
Assessing damages There are many different types of personal injury and medical negligence cases. Each claim will have a different outcome. One of the first things we do in assessing compensation for our personal injury clients is to work out how much their case is worth. Your solicitor may use words such as ‘quantum’, ‘heads of loss’, ‘general…
Disputes between neighbours
It’s an unfortunate reality when you own or rent property, disputes between neighbours can often arise. Wherever possible it is best to try and resolve a dispute before ending up in court. Reasons for disputes We are seeing an increase in clients contacting us about property disputes between their neighbours and themselves. These disputes…
The law of defamation in the digital age
As we settle into the digital era, an ever-increasing number of media outlets are being utilised. News stories are now travelling quicker than ever. Platforms such as Twitter are giving individuals a stage to voice their own opinions. However, an increase in the use of media has also been met with online tension, harassment and defamation claims.…
Medical negligence on the screen – what can you do following a misdiagnosis?
If you have been keeping up with all the drama on the cobbles you will know that the Websters have recently been through a nightmare. Little Jack Webster had a fall and sustained a graze to his knee. Unbeknown to his sister, Sophie, the graze would become infected leading to sepsis. Symptoms of this deadly disease were however, missed by the…
Entering a Contract Race when buying a property
Property is a scarce and expensive commodity. When there are many buyers after the same property, a seller can enter a contract race by accepting more than one offer. This is to filter out the best buyer. Contract Race – how it works A Contract Race occurs when a seller accepts more than one purchase offer. The vendor’s solicitor…
Mental incapacity crisis in UK
A new report from the SFE (Solicitors for the Elderly) and Centre for Future Studies has recently revealed that the UK is leaving medical and care decisions to chance. The report looks at the ever-increasing number of people living with dementia. This, combined with the failure to plan ahead for mental incapacity, exposes a looming crisis. As a…
Martin House Children’s Hospice Colour Run 2018
Levi Solicitors sponsored a Colour Station at the Martin House Children’s Hospice Colour Run yesterday in Bramham Park, Wetherby. Teams of Levi Solicitors staff volunteered and took part in the 3.5k race. As well as contending with the race and the heat of the day – a sweltering 27 degrees, the Levi Solicitors runners had their ten…
How a Lasting Power of Attorney works to protect your future
We would all hope we will be able to make our own independent decisions in the future. Unfortunately for many of us that will not be the case. A Lasting Power of Attorney allows you to appoint people you trust to make decisions for you when you are no longer able to yourself. How does a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) work? A Lasting Power of…
Understanding the ‘Doctrine of Mistake’ in a contract
What is the Doctrine of Mistake? With so much time spent entering into a contract, business owners need to be sure that their efforts are not wasted. This is generally the case and when a contract is agreed both parties are bound to perform the terms of that contract. However, cases exist where both parties agree to a contract while under the…
Dealing with a loved ones estate – where do I start?
Dealing with matters when a loved one has died can be an extremely difficult and overwhelming. In terms of their estate, there can be quite a lot to organise and consider. As a result, this can seem like a very daunting experience. Many clients in such situations approach us asking what probate is and where to start when dealing with the…
Landlords, tenants and applications for planning permission
Given the fluid nature of modern businesses, there will be times when a tenant wishes to apply for planning permission. This could be for structural modifications or for a ‘change of use’ to a residential or commercial property. Tenants will need to seek consent from the landlord before applying for planning permission. Leases commonly…
Evicting tenants – Following the correct procedure and issuing notices
The landlord and tenant relationship like any other, is built on trust. The landlord relies on the tenant to look after and respect their property. In turn, the tenant expects the landlord to stick to the terms of the tenancy. However, landlords sometimes experience problems with their tenants that eventually lead to them having to issue an…
Who is liable in a fraudulent property transaction?
The recent Court of Appeal decision in Dreamvar v Mishcon de Reya [2018] concerned a fraudulent property transaction. The court looked at who should bear the loss when a purchaser loses money in such a transaction. We look at this claim against the conveyancing solicitors involved, and what it means for their clients. Background Dreamvar (UK) Ltd…
Property alterations without consent
As a property owner, there will be times when you want to carry out alterations to your property. You will usually be free to do more minor works as you see fit. However, for more major alterations you will need to seek permission from various sources. We will look at who might need to give you permission, and what could happen if you carry out…