Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we offer a face to face service and will come and visit you in your own home, if it is preferred. It is also possible for us to offer appointments outside normal business hours.

These are expenses incurred on your behalf throughout the conduct of your case. These are necessary expenses in order that the legal matter can be completed or resolved. For example, court fees, search fees, Stamp Duty Land Tax payments. We endeavour to inform our clients of all possible disbursements that may be incurred from the outset.

Our office opening hours are 9.00am to 5.30pm however; we do arrange appointments to see clients during the evening at whatever time suits them best.

The Government has introduced new Money Laundering Legislation that provides it compulsory that all solicitors take proof of the identification of their clients. We will normally request a photocopy of our clients photograph page of their passport and a recent utility bill no less than 3 months old; these will then be retained on file.

You currently have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax if you are moving home and your new home costs more than £175,000, this is the threshold until 31st December 2009. The amount is calculated on the whole purchase price and rises as the prices of your home increases.

This is the part of the process which resolves any financial issues between the parties to the marriage following divorce or separation.

There are a number of options available. It largely depends upon what you're worth, the type of assest you have, who you want to benefit from your estate and what you yourself will need during your lifetime. You may want to plan through your lifetime giving or through your Will or a combination of both. We can help you plan your estate to reduce the overall impact of Inheritance Tax on death.

Assets passing on death to a surviving spouse or civil partner are exempt from Inheritance Tax. If you left all your estate to your spouse you could be wasting your personal Inheritance Tax "allowance". A property drafted Will can use a particular type of trust to prevent the surviving spouse from ending up with all the assets on the death of the first spouse. The trust can save inheritance Tax on the second death while still benefiting the surviving spouse during his or her lifetime. This means more can be passed on to family members and other beneficiaries when both spouses have died.

This "Probate" procedure involves the Personal Representatives getting values of assets, taking from this any debt amounts and then sending an Affidavit and details of value of the estate to the Probate Registry. The time involved largely depends on what is in the estate. If there is only a house then it will depend on the housing market and how quickly a sale can be agreed. If there are bank accounts (over £5000 usually) then you may be able to get the Grant within about one month. If there are shares however it could take longer. The more wide ranging the types of assets there are in an estate the longer it could take. If Inheritance Tax has to be paid, the values of the assets in an estate may have to be agreed with the Inland Revenue and this could take time.

On average, approximately 4-6 weeks from the date of sending the Contract of the buyers solicitors to completion. However, this can vary as often there are chains of linked matters that can delay the process.

Yes, it is important to do this because, until the Decree Absolute is pronounced and the marriage is legally dissolved, your wife/husband is still classed as your next of kin and could therefore inherit your estate.

The majority of divorces take about 6 months from the time that the Petition is filed with the Court until the time that the Court pronounce the Decree Absolute. Time scales, can however vary depending on how quickly the relevant paper work is dealt with by both parties. It is important to note that sorting out the financial matters can take mucher longer than this.

No, although Pre-Nuptial Agreements are not legally binding within English Law, they are becoming increasingly popular. The courts are beginning to uphold them more frequently so long as they have been properly prepared and both parties have been independantly legally advised.