Blog Posts
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Are you thinking of purchasing a business? Whether you run multiple businesses or whether you are wanting to run a business for the first time, the good news is you do not need to start your business from scratch! There are many existing businesses which you can...
Costs generally follow the event in England and Wales. Simply put, this mean that in litigation, the loser will usually pay the winner’s legal costs. This principle is seen as an important safeguard, indemnifying rightful parties and dissuading hopeless and vexatious...
Construction projects may seem simple to most members of the public, but as any construction contractor will know, they are in fact extremely complicated and often involve multiple layers of subcontractors. In such an environment the contractors higher up the chain...
One of the most important things when drafting a will is to be sure that the testator (the person making the will) has the appropriate testamentary capacity. The common law test as outlined in the historic case of Banks v Goodfellow can be found here in one of our...
This is a common misconception that we come across regularly; people hear from friends that they can give away assets without incurring inheritance tax if they survive for more than 7 years. The Finance Act Rules Unfortunately this is not strictly true. If you gift an...
The Agent The use of agents is very common within the business world. They often prove useful in striking deals in markets were the principle lacks experience, or where they simply do not have the time or resources to address the matter themselves. Agency does carry...
It is a simple but important rule, that when drafting a contract, it is important that the terms are clear and not open to interpretation. Unfortunately, it is remarkably common for this not to be the case, particularly where contracts are drafted without the...
Are you a current homeowner or landlord? Are you thinking of purchasing a property? The government is set to make changes to stamp duty on property as of 1st April 2016; see how the stamp duty changes affect you. Radical reforms to residential property and stamp duty...
Many clients approach Levi Solicitors with complaints and claims which they wish to bring against their bank insurance provider; or another financial services provider In today’s commercial climate, with increasingly large burdens on Claimants, such as Court fees and...
It is well established that the developer of a site owes a duty of care to the owners of adjacent property not to cause damage to their property during the development. Developers need to take reasonable steps to ensure that they perform the necessary searches to...
Service Charges: The Figures A study released this week has found that service charges for new build apartments have now reached an average of £2,777.00 per year. While this may be in part due to expensive apartments in impressive modern buildings along the Thames in...
An increasing number of start-up businesses are popping up across West Yorkshire, with a number of bars - typically accompanied by a memorable gimmick - arriving in Leeds on almost a monthly basis. In order for a business to sell alcohol, it requires a premises...
Whilst not everyone has a will, most people are aware of the existence of them and the importance of them. However, not many people are aware of the existence of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA). Where a will provides for what will happen following your death, an LPA...
Levi Solicitors are pleased to announce the launch of their new Legal Costs Services Department which offers a complete service to address their clients' law costs concerns. Experienced costs lawyer Simon Miller will handle all Legal Costs Services. I am happy to...
When considering whether to embark on a litigation claim a claimant should always weigh up the pros and cons of doing so. Questions such as what impact will this litigation have on my business, or what will the litigation cost me will often bear heavily on the...
Currently, if you are applying for a grant of probate in your role as an executor then you will be required to pay a probate fee to the probate registry of £215 (or £155 if a solicitor has prepared the application for you). However, the Government has recently...
Andrew Milburn - Will, Trust & Probate Solicitor at Levi Solicitors - has become a fully accredited member of the Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), building on his previous membership acceptance in 2014. What are SFE Full Accredited Members All SFE Full Accredited...
Following on from yesterday's 5 tips for a professional negligence claim, here are 5 more tips to make up 10 tips to ensure your claim goes smoothly. Obtain legal advice – it is at this point you would contact a solicitor as these cases can be extremely detailed and...
Have you ever instructed a professional to act on your behalf and that professional fails to provide you with the service you or your business expected, and as a result caused you financial loss? - you may have claim for Professional Negligence. Here is the first...
The answer is generally no, however the first thing to look at is the order from the Court of Protection itself; the order grants specific powers to the deputy which may include a general power to give small gifts, i.e. up to £1,000 per year. However, deputies can...
The Ministry of Justice has this week confirmed that 86 courts will be closing further to the government’s review of the current system. A response document to the proposals on the changes Response to the proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in...
1. Instruct professionals to draft a will – whilst you may see packages to help you draft your own will at home, these may cause more problems (and costs!) than any savings you may make. A small outlay to have a professionally drafted will could save your estate...
In a recent report, appeal court judge Lord Justice Briggs recommends an ‘online court’ meaning a court without solicitor involvement. There is a clear and pressing need to use the opportunity presented by the digitising of the civil courts to create for the first...
One of the fundamental principles of English law is of testamentary freedom. Unlike some other European countries, everyone in England and Wales is free to leave their estate to whoever they wish; there are no forced heirship rules governing who we have to leave our...
Vulnerable Clients - The Failure to Make Reasonable Adjustments It is the nature of a solicitor’s job that they act for people from all parts of the social spectrum. Inevitably, this will include people who are vulnerable clients, such as the very young or old, or...
The recent flash floods in Leeds are a prime evidence that flooding is a growing risk for home and business owners. It has been reported that as many as 1,000 businesses have been caught by the floods, which were the worst in the area for 70 years, leaving businesses...
Ensure you have the right party When you issue a claim to recover a debt, it is imperative you pursue the correct party – if it is a company you will need to check companies house to ensure that you have the correct registered name of the company, trading names can...
Christmas celebrations have now come to end and a new year has arrived. While for many 2016 promises new and exciting opportunities, for some (at least in a legal context) it will signal the end of opportunities that previously existed. I am of course talking about...
How does the old saying go – “nothing is certain but death and taxes”. Unfortunately the saying still holds true today and as explained in last week's article - 'How Much Inheritance Tax Will My Beneficiaries Have to Pay?' - the standard rate for inheritance tax for...
The situation may arise where a shareholder: believes their shareholding his been prejudiced by the actions of a director; and the company (possibly controlled by that director) refuses to take action. The shareholder wants the director to be held to account. However,...
