Latimer Hinks Ranked in Leading "Legal Bible"

The Legal 500 is the most widely used legal directory in the UK and is considered to be "the bible of the legal business". The Legal 500 ranks law firms in terms of their expertise and performance.

Latimer Hinks has once again achieved recommendation.

Corporate and Commercial - 2nd tier firm
Latimer Hinks is "top of the pile" locally. Nick Poole advises a predominantly SME client base
Corporate & Commercial Page

　
Agriculture & Estates - 3rd tier firm
Anne Elliott heads the team at Latimer Hinks. In 2012 it advised on the termination of a business tenancy and the potential development of a four-wind turbine farm.
Agriculture & Estates Page
　

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
Latimer Hinks has a sizeable practice led by Anne Elliott and advises a number of high net worth individuals. Andrew Way is also recommended
Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate Page

　
Real Estate - Commercial Property
Recent work for Latimer Hinks' Neil Stevenson includes the acquisition of a local hotel and restaurant.
Commercial Property Page

Well done to all at Latimer Hinks for support in helping to achieve the results.

We now wait for the Chambers & Partners results!

Wills & Modern Relationships

Everyone should have a well written. A will ensures that your wishes are carried out. No will at all means that you die intestate. In these cases laws that govern the way in which your estate should be distributed come into effect. These laws do not take into consideration modern family relationships.

A solution to the problems posed by modern families can be overcome with good advice from experienced solicitors.

Andrew Way of Latimer Hinks Solicitors explains why you should choose a solicitor rather than a will writer to draft your will.

Growth in Contested Wills Could Mean Heartache for Families

This week the BBC2 documentary "Can't Take It With You" aired. A very interesting programme dealing with the problems of modern family relationships and distribution of assets.

Anne Elliott of Latimer Hinks comments on the programme in her blog "Can't Take It With You"

Further information
STEP - Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners -
STEP members (TEPs) provide expert advice on how to comply with the often complex law and tax rules surrounding trusts, estates and inheritance.


Anne Elliott and Andrew Way are full professional members

SFE - Solicitors for the Elderly -
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) is an independent, national organisation of lawyers, such as solicitors, barristers, and legal executives who are committed to providing the highest quality of legal advice for older and vulnerable people, their families and carers.

Many of our Private Client Team are members of SFE. Andrew is also Executive Director and Secretary of SFE

How Many Solicitors Does it Take to Paint a Room?

It makes a refreshing change to step out of the office and take on something that you wouldn't normally do in a working day.

On the 23rd June (England V Slovakia in the World Cup) five members of the Latimer Hinks Private Client Team (+ me) popped along to Age UK in Darlington to redecorate their main meeting room.

Arriving in the room we were struck by the very orange 70's decoration which was to be transformed into a cream, calm oasis....then we noticed the working portable tv in the corner. Multi-tasking was the key word of the day - tea and biscuits, painting and watching the world cup! AND England won! What a great day!

Full Story Here

Photo LtoR: The Latimer Hinks Private Client Decorating Team - Helen Booth, Nadine Sweeney, Natalie Palmer, Gillian Ibbotson, Daniel Williams, Andrew Way

DIY Wills - Don't do it!

We live in a society where, to save money, we attempt tasks ourselves that really should be undertaken by professionals.

You may have seen (and possibly heard) about home improvement DIY disasters. People make a living from creating cartoons relating to such disasters, but have you ever considered what may happen if you attempted a DIY Will? A Will than can be purchased "off the shelf"?

Andrew Way, Partner at Latimer Hinks comments on a recent court case relating to DIY Wills.

Court Case Highlights Danger of DIY Wills

DIY Wills are a risky business. Problems can arise if the Will was not correctly signed and witnessed. Drafting mistakes can leave the Will open to misinterpretation and could possibly render the Will useless. Not taking care of details such as this can prove very costly and sometimes distressing for those left to deal with it.

So, to avoid your Will being deemed unlawful or challenged by family members, good instructions, advice and legal guidance should be taken.

Without a Will There Can be Disappointed Relatives

According to new research from Which? Legal Service:

• 56% of people surveyed do not have a will


• 33% of those over 45 have yet to make a will


• 35% aged over 65 feel that they don't need a will
  

Latimer Hinks is concerned that many people do not have a will, wrongly assuming that everything they own will automatically go to their spouse/partner or children. The distribution of estates where someone dies intestate (without a will) has recently changed the level of the statutory legacy – the amount a spouse or civil partner will receive.

For a widow(er)/civil partner where the deceased has children the statutory legacy has risen from £125,000 to £250,000. So, for most estates with a value of less than £250,000 the whole of the estate will pass to the surviving spouse or civil partner.

BUT if a couple are living together but have not made the union legal (by way of marriage or a civil partnership) and have not made wills then their estate will not pass onto the survivor.

The Which survey found that:

66% of couples did not know that their children would inherit if the coulple was not not married/had not entered into a civil partnership.

Today it is far more common for people to have been married more than once. A will can be vital in ensuring that any assets someone leaves go to the people they want to benefit, particularly if there are children from previous relationships.

77% did not realise that if both parents were to die, failure to appoint guardians for their children could result in the courts having a say in their future - and they could be raised by someone the parents wouldn't have chosen.

Michael Jackson's recent premature death highlighted the issues of what can happen to dependent children. Jackson Child Custody Case Highlights Problems with Parental Rights

The Which study also revealed:

43% were unaware that if a couple were separated but not divorced, that the estranged partner could inherit the bulk of the estate rather than the current partner or children.

For the full press release visit Without a Will there Can be Disappointed Relatives

For more information on who can inherit visit AdviceGuide

Please, take the advice of a professional legal adviser and ensure that if you have a will that it is up to date!

Long Term Care - Government's Proposal For Change

road sign elderly people
Originally uploaded by Theo Pronk

The Green Paper on long term care was published last week with details of the Government's proposals for changes to the current funding of long term care costs.

As reported in the Telegraph on the 18th July 2009, these proposals remain just that - proposals. There will be four months consultation and still no parliamentary timetable to turn any recommendations into law.

With a general election looming next year, the Telegraph reported that campaigners for the elderly believe the issue will once more get kicked into the long grass.

The earliest any changes could become law is likely to be 2014 and it is estimated that in the meantime 400,000 will need care within the next 5 years.

It is understood that the Government's proposal concern only health care related support and fail to consider the residential living element.

The proposals still do not solve the fundamental problem and issue namely, if you have assets, particularly a house, you may end up having to use or pay out of your own resources your care costs whereas if you do not have assets, financial assistance will be available from the state.

Andrew Way, Partner at Latimer Hinks Solicitors has produced a fact sheet summarising the proposals and how they impact on people, particularly the elderly.

Proposed Changes to Funding for Long Term Care

Have you Planned for the Future?

Do any of the following questions concern you:

• Have you made a Will/reviewed an existing Will in the last 18 months?
• Do you want to ensure that the Revenue does not take part of your estate on your death?
• If you had to go into a nursing or residential care home are you concerned that your house and assets might be used to pay the fees?
• Have you considered what would happen if you were ill and unable to handle your own financial affairs?
• Would you like to have a say in the medical treatment and care you receive?

If so, you may be interested in coming along to our free presentation
"Protecting your Family - Planning for the Future" - Tuesday 30th September, Darlington Dolphin Centre @ 2pm