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As a wills lawyer, I often hear people say that they do not own their home outright and so they...
At present, the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are 900,000 people living with...
Is now a good time to move house? How far should parents plan ahead to ensure their child goes to...
Choosing a school or educational setting that can meet the needs of a child or young person can...
My mum has told me on more than one occasion that it is “so much better to be a grandparent...
Birkett Long’s involvement with the LGBTQ+ community is longstanding. Our first official...
How is testamentary capacity, otherwise known as the legal and mental capacity to make or alter a...
Senior specialist in high value residential property work and commercial property, Kurt Goddard,...
A will sets out the wishes of a person as to what happens to their estate after their death. It...
Many couples execute mirrored wills. There is a misapprehension, however, that because the wills...
Tell someone with a motoring law background that the theme for an article is “ smoke and...
For many families going through a divorce, one of the most important matters that will need to be...
The start of a new year is often a period of reflection and an opportunity to make a fresh start....
Though the last few years have been the most turbulent in recent times, the property market has...
The Road Traffic Act 1988 gives the police authority to request a preliminary breath test (Section...
According to data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of people...
Have you received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (“NIP”) from the police? This...
With Christmas fast approaching many people choose to give cash rather than buy presents. For...
Hidden amongst the headlines of the Autumn Statement was the announcement by the Chancellor that...
A statutory will is written on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to write their own will...
The law has a way of dealing with certain broken promises, the legal term for which is...
Parents want the best for their children and, in general, encourage them to plan ahead and think...
Many family businesses employ siblings or other family members. Working with siblings can be...
This article is written for family businesses who are in the middle of a dispute and where swift...
A trustee is an individual who acts as a caretaker for assets held within a trust. They are...
In most heterosexual relationships, children still take their father’s surname at birth....
In a recent study, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) found that an increase in...
The excitement and thrill of planning a new baby can - for some couples - turn to heartache as...
In recent years the number of people contesting wills has increased dramatically. One reason is...
A Special Guardianship Order is an order made by the court appointing one or more individuals to...
Unfortunately discrimination in the workplace has not been confined to the annals of history. If...
We are a nation of pet lovers and so, it is only natural for us to be concerned about custody of...
Succession and inheritance planning are the most important provisions any farming family can make...
With spring around the corner, why not take the opportunity to do a spring clean and tidy away...
Family businesses can take decades, or even generations, to build successfully. But what happens...
Christmas is a time when friends and family come together and often swap presents between loved...
I had never really considered myself a dog person having been brought up with a series of cats...
If you were financially dependent on someone who has died or are their spouse, former spouse,...
First-time house buyers are reported to be increasingly turning to the bank of mum and dad to help...
Currently, Inheritance Tax is paid at 40% on a deceased’s estate which exceeds the Tax...
Unlike many jurisdictions across the globe, prenuptial agreements are still not legally binding...
If you lose capacity and you have not appointed an attorney under a Lasting Power of...
I am sure that you will be familiar with the popular quote “the only two certainties in...
Why would you instruct a lawyer to write your will when you can just write your own? You...
Is it true that after 7 years of living together you become ‘common law husband and wife? ...
We have seen a surge in new enquiries relating to neighbour disputes since the start of the...
In a world where a pandemic has turned everything on its head, you would be forgiven for thinking...
Let’s talk about Brexit. I, for one, did not think I would be happy to talk about...
People can often be surprised about the distribution of loved one’s estate and can consider...
Many of us are very familiar with the concept of the Bank of Mum and Dad. Both those giving and...
If you have been appointed as someone’s attorney, under a Lasting Power of Attorney (also...
A claimant may have difficulties in pursuing an employment claim where his employer or former...
With an increase in blended families including second marriages, those who choose to re-marry may...
Santa may be bringing your child their favourite toys this Christmas, but what would the law be...
Social media is prominent in today’s technological world. Whether it’s used...
In 2003, Essex Pride was established, and how far the law has come even since then! It is now...
Birkett Long is delighted to welcome solicitor, Lucy Birch, to its divorce and family...
Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) allow you to appoint one or more people as your attorney(s) to...
A trainee solicitor at leading Essex law firm, Birkett Long, has seen his hard work and commitment...
The law does not require you to make a will but if you die without having made one, your estate,...
Experienced solicitor, Karen Johnson, has joined the Divorce and Family team at leading Essex law...
Solicitor Jemma Jones has joined Birkett Long’s Colchester residential property team. ...
Every year, 1 in 3 people dies without having a legally valid will. In that year, around 38,000...
The term “common law marriage” is frequently used within society to refer...
Francesca Cozens, a member of Birkett Long’s South Essex Divorce and Family Team based in...
Buying or selling a property is not something that we do very often. Whether it’s your first...
There is no doubt that the current market is becoming increasingly attractive for first time...
If you are looking to buy a property with someone and will be contributing unequal amounts you may...
We are all well aware of the need to have a professional will in place to make things easier for...
Many will be aware that following the initial changes to the Nationwide Building Society’s...
The current amount you can leave without inheritance tax (IHT) becoming payable is...
Whether you are considering building a new extension, a single house or developing a large site...
Will disputes are on the rise. People are generally more aware that it is possible to challenge...
The number of people marrying for the second time or even third time is high than ever, but can...
We have been asked by a Care Home, whether, if a patient is in receipt of NHS CC funding, the...
There has been a significant rise in the number of people entering into pre-nuptial agreements....
Buying and selling property can be a very daunting prospect for most. At Birkett Long we take the...
The role of trustee is not to be undertaken lightly, especially as trustees are personally liable...
A deputy is appointed by the Court of Protection for a person who lacks the mental capacity to...
An unusual case has been lodged at the High Court Chancery Division this week by the children of...
At the start of 2015 The Law Society launched its ‘Use a Professional’ campaign. ...
A legal expert at Essex law firm Birkett Long says if you are paying for a care home in the...
As solicitors, we often get asked what happens when people die without making a will. People...
If you have lost your job or are in the process of losing it, you should take steps to understand...
The underlying principle of equal pay is that men and women should receive the same pay for the...
There are now many ways of paying for your dispute. We set out below the options available and...
As far as family law is concerned, under the Children Act 1989, grandparents are grouped into the...
On 19 March 2014 in the Government’s 2014 Budget the Chancellor, George Osborne, surprised...
The settlement of an employment tribunal claim must take one of three forms: The terms of...
One of the best ways to fund litigation is through legal expenses insurance. Such insurance...
A recent case confirms that there remain some scenarios where employers will not be held liable...
Foster parents who want to offer children a legally secure long-term placement can do so without...
Gazumping, the scourge of the 90s housing boom, is back warns a property expert at Essex law firm...
Through our professional adviser network we have access to UK immigration law specialists, and via...
It has generally been thought that landowners will not be liable for damage caused to neighbouring...
The Equality Act says that employers cannot be expected to make adjustments to the workplace if...
ACAS has the power to help parties conciliate tribunal claims using conciliation officers who act...
Can you explain a little about your role at Birkett Long? I am one of Birkett Long’s...
It is difficult not to notice the outbreak of solar panels across the nation's roof...
As a parent, you want to provide the best for your children and plan for their future. As...
Essex law firm Birkett Long has secured membership to the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality...
The question has often been asked whether an employee has to inform their new employer about any...
If an employer overpays an employee can he always recover that overpayment? The Employment Rights...
Employers should be aware of the recent decision of the Court of Appeal which made it clear that...
Employers may be disgruntled to find an employee who is on sick leave and is claiming sick pay...
When an elderly relative needs care, difficult choices can result in an emotional time for...
It may come as a surprise that assurances made to someone that they shall be left property in a...
Following the death of Bernard Matthews, the famous Norwich turkey farmer, in November 2010, a...
Most people would agree that it is usually preferable to own the access to your property but this...
With our South Essex office now over a year old, working with clients and business partners is...
The Accounts team at Birkett Long looks after the financial management of the firm - a very...
When an Employment Tribunal assesses whether an employee was dismissed fairly or not, it must...
Among the powers of the Employment Tribunal are those to award costs against a party that has...
"I'm not afraid to die; I just don't want to be there when it happens!" ...
A recent discharge of diesel fuel into the River Chelmer has highlighted an area of pollution...
The fact that you will need a funeral is one of life’s inevitabilities. However, the...
People often feel that in making provision for future events they are somehow tempting fate. ...
With the political spotlight on the so called “compensation culture” and numerous news...
Birkett Long has officially celebrated the opening of its new office in Phoenix House, on the...
From 1 July 2011 new regulations transfer ownership of private sewers and lateral drains to the...
Secret Trusts have been used to conceal gifts on death from public scrutiny. When someone dies,...
The Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) has been in place since 6 April 2007, when it was brought into...
A will can be challenged on many grounds including want of (formal) execution, the...
If your house has a septic tank or sewage treatment plant instead of being connected to mains...
Currently a tenancy with an annual rent exceeding £25,000 cannot be an assured tenancy and...
Joint property can be owned in two ways; as tenants in common or as joint tenants. Tenants in...
It is a sad but true fact that bankruptcy has become particularly topical. Here, we examine its...
Birkett Long has been ranked as a top legal firm in Essex across five different disciplines. That...
The comedian Jimmy Carr was recently successful in using a loophole in the law to avoid a fine for...
House prices could continue to increase over the summer with the abolition of home information...
Divorce can be a daunting prospect; some couples are understandably concerned that they may become...
Disputes concerning wills are becoming increasingly common for a variety of reasons. The increase...
The recent Inheritance Tax (IHT) change which allows the transfer of ‘unused’ nil rate...