In a study by IRN Legal Reports and reported today in Today's Wills and Probate, reports that only 35% of UK adults has made a will. The percentage is even lower in Yorkshire, where only 28% of adults have made a will. Perhaps as...
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Flexible working – the new default?
Flexible working has become increasingly popular since the UK Government first announced employees' right to request it in 2003. And it remains a key tool in an employer’s armoury for attracting and retaining employees, particularly given the seismic shift to home...
Alex named finalist in the British Conveyancing Awards 2023
Alex Newman has been announced as a finalist at the British Conveyancing Awards 2023, in the Risk & Compliance Champion of the Year category. Alex has been named alongside a talented list of finalists from across the UK and commented: “I am delighted to have been...
Does technology have a part to play in company culture?
Head of Strategy and Business Development at Levi Solicitors, Sinéad Sopala has featured in the latest edition of Technology in Law Law Land with the Naked Lawyer, Chrissie Lightfoot and her Tech Ambassadors talking all things company culture as we enter 2023....
The purchaser of my property is asking for an indemnity policy, should I pay for it?
Over recent years there has been an increase in the number of indemnity policies being put into place in conveyancing transactions. Yet, there are few claims on these policies. So what is an indemnity policy? And why would you need to pay for one when selling your...
Can I sue my builder or construction professional?
When you instruct a builder, you are relying upon their expertise; to advise and to carry out the agreed works, in accordance with your instructions. Generally, people instruct builders to carry out specialist works. It is therefore unsurprising that legal protections...
Why should I use a solicitor to make a will?
If you want to make a will there are a few options: Have a go at it yourself Use an unregulated will writer or Use a specialist solicitor. | Can I write my own will?A will is such an important document that it really is worth doing it properly. The laws surrounding...
Employment Law Series with Levi Solicitors
Join our employment law expert and experienced HR professional, Natalie Saunders, for the first in a series of interactive webinars on the 23rd February at 10:00-11:00 exploring how to make your business fit for 2023. Whatever people challenges you might face in your...
Wills and probate made easier for you
At Levi Solicitors, we are always working on ways to make life easier for you. Recently we have looked at how we can make making a will or lasting power of attorney, or dealing with the estate of a deceased loved one, simpler and more efficient. Many of our wills and...
Christmas and New Year opening hours 2022
Our offices will be closed for Christmas from 5:30pm on Friday 23 December 2022 and will re-open at 8:30am on Tuesday 3 January 2023. However, if you have an urgent enquiry, a skeleton staff will be available on 28, 29 and 30 December 2022 between 9:00am and 1:00pm....
Noise and smell nuisance claims: Case update
The recent decision handed down in Ray v Windrush, lays down important guidance for claims against neighbours for smells and noise.| What can you do if a neighbouring business causes you problems with its noise or smell?As a first port of call, your local council may...
Court success for the property disputes team
Gemma Horner, a solicitor in our property disputes team, had a great result at Leeds County Court.| Rent arrears possession claimGemma’s client is a landlord of a house. Their tenant was in rent arrears, so our client served a notice under s.8 Housing Act 1988. The...
Aspiring lawyers at the University of Law Careers Fair
Our Trainees, Chanelle Rushforth and Connor King represented Levi Solicitors at The University of Law careers fair this week, talking to the next generation of potential lawyers! Connor commented: “Reflecting on some of the questions I was asked, and conversations I...
Who can inherit if there is no will?
When a person dies without leaving a will, it is known as dying ‘intestate’. If someone dies without making a will, the Rules of Intestacy will determine how the estate will be administered. This will also apply where someone made a will in their lifetime, but it is...
The importance of making a will when you buy a house
Buying a house is undoubtedly one of the biggest investments you will ever make and perhaps the most valuable thing you will ever own. It is likely, therefore, that you will want to protect it and make sure your home passes on to your loved ones when you die. We know...
Make a Will Month – St Gemmas Hospice
We are proud to be working with St Gemma's Hospice this October for their Make a Will Month. St Gemma's Hospice is a Leeds-based charity providing care and support for those who are local with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. The Hospice itself is located in...
Wills for business owners
There are many advantages to making a will. Mostly they allow us to decide what happens to our assets after we die. The same advantages extend to wills for business owners: you can make a will to provide security over businesses when you are no longer around. Business...
Mini-Budget: changes to Stamp Duty explained
On 23 September 2022 the Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced in his first mini-budget that the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) thresholds for residential properties in England and Northern Ireland would be increased with immediate effect. | SDLT threshold The “nil rate...
What is a trust?
With the option to be arranged in many different ways, a trust allows you, the creator of the trust (also known as the settlor), to keep control over what happens to your assets and how they are used when you pass. | What is a trust? It is a legal relationship that...
What does IHT tax mean?
IHT is a tax on the estate of someone who has died. Most often, an estate will include all property, possessions and money owned by the deceased at their time of death. It is a tax that does not apply to every estate and is only payable by estates with a value greater...
Civil litigation claims track – explained
Once the case has been issued it will be allocated to a ‘track’. This sets out the process the claim has to follow and a timescale within which it should be done. The three different tracks are: Small claims Fast track Multi-track | Small claims track The small...
What is a flood risk report?
If you are looking to purchase a property, it is very important that a flood risk report is completed. In recent years, the number of flooding incidents has risen as a result of climate change. It has been noted that over the last century sea levels have risen by...
Stamp Duty Land Tax – 3% Surcharge for Residential Properties
| What is Stamp Duty Land Tax Stamp Duty Land Tax, formerly known as Stamp Duty, is tax that is payable to the Government on the purchase of property or the grant of a lease in the UK. It is charged at different rates depending on the type of property and value of the...
The Importance of a Lasting Power of Attorney
| What is a Lasting Power of Attorney? A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people as an ‘attorney’, who have the power and authority to help you make decisions on your behalf if you lack mental capacity and can’t do...
Personal Injury Trusts
| What is a PIT? If you currently receive means tested benefits and are due to receive a compensation payment for an injury, you may lose some or all of your entitlement to the benefits if your capital goes above the capital limit. Placing a compensation payment into...
Right to Buy – Can I buy my council house?
If you are a council home tenant in England or Wales, you could be eligible to purchase the Property under the Government’s Right to Buy Scheme for a discounted price. | Am I eligible to buy my council house? You can make an application to purchase your council home...
A Solicitor’s Duty of Care: Fixed Fee matters
| “Conveyancer on fixed fee had limited duties to the client, courts find.” The existence of a solicitor’s duty of care, the scope of and the extent to which they owe that duty are topics which do not often arise as Law Firm’s tend to be both clear and concise when...
Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022
On March 24th 2022 the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 (the Act) received Royal Assent. The scope of the Act is to create provisions enabling relief from payment of Protected Rent Debts under a business tenancy. | When does the Act apply? The Commercial Rent...
Conveyancing: Rights of Way
| What is a Right of Way? A right of way is a legal easement which provides a right of way to travel across a plot of land owned by another. Some rights of way are not for the sole use of people and can expand to include use for horse riders, cyclists, or motorists....
Beneficial Joint Tenants and Tenants in Common
When purchasing a property jointly with another person, you will need to consider how you wish to legally hold the property together. You can either hold the property as Beneficial Joint Tenants or as Tenants in Common. Knowing the difference between the two is...