The last major reforms in UK divorce law took place almost 50 years ago, with the passing of the Matrimonial causes Act 1973. The slow pace of reform in the matrimonial sector has long been bemoaned by family solicitors, who are generally quick to point out that whilst divorce law has barely changed in the … Continued
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Where couples are in long term relationships where they are not married, if that relationship breaks down, the parties rights against each other are not covered by family law rules. One of the main implications of this can relate to the property which the couple live in, but where that property is legally registered in … Continued
What’s a deed of variation and what are they used for? A deed of variation, in simple terms, is a formal legal document which is drafted and intended to vary another formal document, generally also drafted as a deed. Under English law, historically, certain types of documents had to be drafted as deeds, complying with … Continued
Small business solicitors Streathers are an ideal size and type of law firm to advise and assist small businesses. But why do we say this and what do we mean? For many small business owners, of which there are several million in the UK with turnover of less than £1million a year, finding the right … Continued
Special Purpose Vehicles As a firm we act for many property investors and developers. Many clients ask us about whether it’s better to buy, develop and own property via a limited company and in doing so, setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). There are complex considerations in advising on SPVs, involving tax and many … Continued
Common uses of a Declaration of Trust A declaration of trust is not some special form of trust. In straightforward terms it’s just a technical legal term for the formal document setting up a trust. A declaration of trust is also referred to as a deed of trust. A trust can be created deliberately and … Continued
The short answer is yes, it is often possible to extend a lease fairly rapidly but not overnight. Care and caution should be exercised before approaching a freeholder to extend your lease, however tempting and/or important it is to seek to extend quickly. If you need to extend your lease, we are highly experienced in … Continued
Statutory compensation for failure to protect tenancy deposits: dealing with claims by one of a number of co-tenants Summary points 1. Section 213 of the Housing Act 2004 requires private landlords to protect tenancy deposits in an authorised scheme and to serve “prescribed information” on tenants within a 30-day period. 2. If either or both … Continued
Landlords beware: Getting your AST right from the go! Are you a residential landlord? Landlords entering into an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) should do so with care. They need to get things right from the outset, otherwise problems could be stored up for later. The tenancy deposit is one issue that frequently catches landlords off … Continued
The Justice Secretary announced today that he will be following the majority opinion of over 600 responses to the consultation on changing the law to allow for divorce to be FAULTLESS. Couples wishing to end their marriage will no longer have to accuse the other of causing the breakdown by reference to their behaviour or … Continued