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Please treat the contents of our blogs as general guidance only. Please do not take any action based on their contents unless you have sought specific legal advice. Brethertons cannot accept responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies, loss or damage in circumstances where there is no formal retainer between us and we have not given you personal and specific advice relating to a matter for which you have given us full background details.  You must also bear in mind that the contents of our blogs are based on English Law, and because they contain archival material, that material is likely to go out of date. Therefore, it is important to consider the date that the blog was posted. Please also remember that the laws may differ in different Jurisdictions.

The Estate of Michael Gambon - less 'expecto patronum' and more 'expecto a claim'?

Josh Hayward
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Just because someone is famous it does not necessarily mean they have their affairs in order when they die. It is quite common to hear of celebrities who have passed and whose death has raised various questions into the administration of their estate, and...

The benefits of using your local conveyancing solicitor

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You’ve just had an offer accepted on your dream home. If it wasn’t hard enough to pick the right house for you, it can sometimes be even harder to select the best conveyancer for the job. Frequently, you see conveyancers dealing with transactions...

Equity Release, Is it right for me?

Emma Morris
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Here at Brethertons we have had lots of enquiries from clients, exploring whether equity release is an avenue they should pursue as part of their retirement strategy. The equity release market certainly  appears to be holding steady during the first...

The Rise in Inheritance Disputes

David Richards
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The Financial Times has published an article which sets out the significant increase in probate disputes that has occurred between 2016 and 2023. In the first nine months of 2023 there were almost 390 probate disputes which is more than double than in the...

How to prepare for a divorce?

Katie Phillips
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It maybe you are reading this, having just had a conversation with your spouse about separation. Maybe you are reading this blog in anticipation of starting a divorce yourself, but not knowing what the first steps are. We are often asked how people can...

What are women entitled to in a divorce?

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While it is no longer always the case that men earn more than women, it is still often true that married heterosexual women have lower incomes and less in other assets, such as pensions, than their husbands. This can, understandably, cause women in such...

How do I prepare to divorce my husband?

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Making the decision to divorce is one of the hardest things many of us will ever have to deal with. The divorce process itself can be relatively straightforward or much more complicated, depending on your circumstances, but either way, being properly...

Valentine's Day 2024

Liz Headley
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Valentine’s Day has crept around once again, and whilst the day can be special for people in a relationship, it can also be difficult for those who are not. Especially those who have lost a loved one or have gone through a relationship breakdown. For...

The Onward Journey

Liz Headley
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We are now into February and most of us will be ready to wave goodbye to one of the gloomiest months of the year with a sense of relief. Maybe some of us have managed to stick with well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions, or maybe, like me, you have...

National Apprenticeship Week 5 - 11th February 2024

Lucy Brown
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This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week at Brethertons. We have had many Apprentices join and develop with us over the years, including myself! We are proud of the investment we make in our Apprentices from starting out on their career journey to...

New Year Challenges

Liz Headley
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With Christmas and New Year celebrations now a distant memory, reality has probably kicked in and most of us have to face how expensive the festive season has been for us and how we have to continue to manage the cost-of-living crisis. I am sure that for...

Who gets the house in divorce?

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The task of getting a divorce can often be trying and emotional for all parties involved, especially when it comes to deciding what happens to the family home once the divorce has been finalised. The family home often has a lot of emotional and financial...

What am I entitled to in a divorce?

Katie Phillips
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We are often asked by clients in an initial meeting what they will receive by way of settlement, and crucially what they are “entitled to”, within a divorce. Without a crystal ball, as Solicitors we do not know what assets are available for...

Christmas As A Separated Family - Part 3

Liz Headley
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Whilst for many Christmas gives the opportunity to spend time with family, spoil loved ones and allows the time to catch up with old friends and family members we haven’t seen for some time, it also brings challenges. Sure, most of us, including me,...

Christmas As A Separated Family - Part 2 Letters to Santa

Liz Headley
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Ivy aged 6 Dear Santa, I hope that you don’t mind me writing to you, it’s just so you know that I am not in my usual house this Christmas. Something terrible has happened – my Mummy and Daddy told me that they don’t love each...

Christmas As A Separated Family - Part 1

Liz Headley
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For most families, Christmas can bring a mix of emotions; excitement, anxiety, joy, trepidation and an entire range of different feelings that can affect both mood and behaviour. For separated families managing the Yuletide expectations can be an even bigger...

Brethertons Announced as top Legal Services Provider at Property Management Awards 2023

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At an awards ceremony on the 23rd November 2023 in City Central at The HAC, London, Brethertons were delighted to win the Legal Services Provider of the Year award. The News on the Block Property Management Awards, which are now in their 14th year,...

Mark North re-joins the firm from 1st November 2023

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At Brethertons, we are delighted to announce that Mark North re-joins the firm from 1st November 2023 as Business Development Partner working alongside Debbie Phillips . Mark is well known and respected throughout the property management sector and the...

Renters' Reform Bill - An update on the position

Shivani Daudia
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The white paper, “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” has been sparking discussions across England since it was published in June 2022. The proposed amendments are said to be moving The Housing Act 1988 into the 21st century. Will shaking up a power...

Brethertons Receive Ranking in the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024

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Family, Personal Injury and Real Estate Litigation Teams at Brethertons Receive Ranking in the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2024  Brethertons LLP is thrilled to have been named, yet again, as one of the top law firms in the practice areas of Family,...

Brethertons ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2024

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The Legal 500 recommend Brethertons as one of the top legal service providers for Private Client matters. Brethertons LLP is proud to announce that we have again been recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2024 . Each of our private client teams has been...

Brethertons Support Tommy's As New Charity of Choice

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Brethertons Solicitors LLP are delighted to announce their new Charity of Choice as Tommy’s; a charity that funds vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth so they can keep saving babies’ lives and support people through...

World Suicide Prevention Month - September 2023

Sarah Horton
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This month is World Suicide Prevention Month, a month in which to remember the lives lost to suicide and to raise awareness about suicide. Part of September’s campaign is World Suicide Prevention Day, which is on 10 September, though, I must admit, I...

Brethertons Solicitors Shortlisted for Family Law Awards 2023

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Brethertons are delighted to announce that they have been shortlisted for Family Law Firm of the Year at the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards . Brethertons have been shortlisted as Family Law Firm of the Year for Midlands, Wales and the South. ...

How are assets split in divorce?

Dominic Wisdom
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Going through a divorce is nearly always a stressful experience, and there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration as a part of the process. One of the most important is how your assets will be split between you and your ex-spouse once the...

The Importance Of Good Financial Advice In Connection With Compensation

Jon Rees
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The claims that we deal with tend to have a lump sum equivalent value of hundreds of thousands (and more commonly millions) of pounds. That is what a life changing injury may well equate to when the lost earnings, care, equipment, therapies, and...

Brethertons Named as One of the Top Private Wealth Law Providers in Oxfordshire 2023

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Brethertons LLP , a prominent legal services provider, is thrilled to announce its recognition as one of the leading law firms in the Oxford and Surrounds region for Private Wealth Law by the High Net Worth Guide 2023. The Chambers High Net Worth Guide is...

Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research Charity Support

Florence Woods
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On 12 th July, Brethertons visited the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Centre in support of the Fish and Chips night organised by the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research charity. It was a pleasure to support such an informative evening which, after enjoying the yummy...

Brethertons' Partner, Roger Hardwick, wins Solicitor of the Year award at ERMA Awards 2023

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Brethertons are proud to announce Roger Hardwick, Partner in Residential Leasehold, has won the title of Solicitor of the Year at the ERMA Awards 2023. At a splendid event on 6 th July 2023 in London, the News on the Block ERMA Awards, Roger and our...

Brethertons Solicitors LLP are proud to be a Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research 10th Anniversary Ambassador

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Every 4 hours someone in the UK suffers a Spinal Cord Injury, and as a result of their injury, many people with paralysis experience a lifetime of debilitating health complications. Founded in 2006, Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research (SMSR) is an...

Am I entitled to my husband's pension if I divorce him?

Dawn Millar
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Divorce can be a complicated and emotionally charged time, especially in terms of dividing assets. Over time, it is likely that your assets have become entangled with your spouse’s, and at this stage, you may both have opposite ideas about what...

Trust Registration Service - What are the compliance issues for Trustees?

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The Issue: From 6 October 2020, new rules came in that extend the number of trusts that now need to be registered with HMRC’s Trust Registration Service (TRS). Trusts that had not traditionally needed to be registered because there was no tax to pay,...

The Pension Advisory Group (PAG) and it's guide to the treatment of pensions in divorce settlements

Jasdeep Nagra
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The Pension Advisory Group (PAG) is an interdisciplinary group of judges, solicitors, barristers, legal academics, independent financial advisors, and actuaries. The group was set up in June 2017. The main objective was to provide a guide to practitioners,...

Brethertons celebrates Linda Jones' 35 year anniversary

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Linda Jones embodies the closely held values of Brethertons Solicitors. She has dedicated 35 years of her career to the firm, working her way through several roles from Trainee Legal Executive to Equity Partner and member of the Executive Committee....

What happens to the family home after divorce?

Josh Russell
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The family home is often the most valuable asset that a couple owns, so it’s not surprising that it can be a significant point of contention during a divorce financial settlement, especially in regard to questions such as “Who stays in the family...

Nikah Marriages and Divorce

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At Brethertons we have a team of lawyers who are experienced in a variety of languages and cultures. Our own Layan Sarhan, Legal Assistant in our Children & Domestic Abuse team, has written this blog discussing Nikah Marriages in the UK. ...

How are Pensions Split in Divorce?

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Making arrangements for your finances during divorce can often prove to be a complex process. In many cases, the way your pensions are divided will be especially important, as they are likely to be among your most valuable assets and will provide future...

Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness Day 2023

Jon Rees
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Last Friday was Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness Day 2023. Brethertons Solicitors were proud to raise awareness of all spinal cord injuries related matters on that and every other day. It is important and it matters. We help people regain independence and...

Lump Sums and PPOs - Six, Seven and Eight Figure Compensation Awards

Jon Rees
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In the last ten years or so my specialist team and I have secured around one hundred million pounds (£100,000,000) of compensation for clients who have suffered spinal cord or other life changing injuries. That sum is a lump sum equivalent value. A...

Making a Will whilst going through Divorce or Dissolution

Laura Stuart
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Unfortunately it can take a significant amount of time from deciding to separate to receiving your decree absolute/final order. During this time you are still considered to be married – this can be beneficial in terms of things like pension rights if...

No Notice? No Dispute and No Act! Party Wall Act 1996

Abigail Laborero
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Power & Kyson v Shah [2023] EWCA Civ 239 In early March, the Court of Appeal handed down their decision in the case of Power & Kyson v Shah [2023] EWCA Civ 239. This is one of a handful of cases concerning the Party Wall Act 1996 (“the...

Limitation on preventing your neighbour using your drive

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There recently has been a case in which a Judge has given some very interesting guidance on a right of way dispute between neighbours. If your neighbour is restricting your right of way or even obstructing access completely, we would be happy to advise you...

What is the Renters' Reform Bill and how does it affect private landlords?

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What is the Renters' Reform Bill? You may recall that the Renters' Reform Bill was mentioned back in the Queen’s speech in May 2022, when it was announced that ‘no fault evictions’ would be abolished. Later in June 2022, the...

Do I have to share my pension in my Divorce?

Jasdeep Nagra
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When going through a divorce, your pension might be one of the most valuable assets you need to consider when dealing with your, and your spouse’s, finances. The first step to take is to obtain up-to-date CETVs (Cash Equivalent Transfer Value) for all...

Brethertons Solicitors run London Landmarks Half Marathon in Aid of Goalball UK

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Brethertons Solicitors LLP are delighted to announce that Solicitor Victoria Lea-Holton and Paralegal Shivani Daudia have raised over £1000 for Goalball UK by running the London Landmarks half marathon! Goalball, Brethertons charity of choice, is a...

Brethertons LLP Solicitors thriving as they announce new promotions

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Brethertons solicitors are delighted to announce the promotion of a number of our great lawyers; including three Fixed Share Partners, three Partners, four Senior Associates, three Associates, and an Executive Lawyer. Our policy to promote from within our...

Is No Win No Fee a Good Thing?

Jon Rees
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'It is all about perception’ is a truism that stands the test of time. And people’s perceptions can take a long time to change. The perception that there is a compensation culture perpetuated by no win no fee lawyers still seems to persist at...

How Long Does It Take to Sell My House?

Gemma Drakeford
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Selling your home “How long will it take to  sell my house ?” is probably the question we are asked most as  conveyancing  solicitors. So how long does it take? If you like watching soaps, you may be under the impression...

What Do I Need To Do When Buying a Home?

Gemma Drakeford
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Congratulations, you have found your dream home and had your offer accepted! What do you need to do next? 1. You need to choose a solicitor There are many conveyancing firms out there, I would advise to phone for a quote rather than looking at online...

How to sell a house when someone dies

Lottie Dunkley
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Suffering the loss of a loved one is a difficult time on its own, without the added stress of knowing what to do with their house. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, here is a short guide on where to start with the process.  In the...

How much does it cost to issue my life changing injuries case in Court?

Jon Rees
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How much does it cost to issue my life changing injuries case in Court? In life changing injury cases, clients are often surprised to learn how much it costs simply to commence (that is ‘issue’) legal proceedings so that a Judge can eventually...

International Women's Day 2023

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International Women's Day (IWD) is an annual global event which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is recognised...

I have received a C67, what should I do?

Monique Wagner
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A C67 is an application form used to initiate proceedings for the return of a child to a certain Country under the Hague Convention 1980. The International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) is a government organisation that helps the Applicant parent...

Aviva Investors Ground rent GP Ltd and another v Williams and others [2023] UKSC 6

Emma Bush
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Please Sir, Can I Have Some More? Oliver Case overturned by Supreme Court in Aviva Investors Ground rent GP Ltd and another v Williams and others [2023] UKSC 6… Given the rarity of Supreme Court decisions that radically alter the legal...

Follow Up and Lifelong Care of Spinal Cord Injury - NSIC Study Day

Jon Rees
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Follow Up and Lifelong Care of Spinal Cord Injury - NSIC Study Day It was a privilege to have been invited to – and to sponsor - the latest Study Day at the National Spinal Injuries Centre earlier this week. ‘Follow Up and Lifelong Care of...

Property Disputes and the importance of expert legal advice

David Richards
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You may have seen the recent £200,000 legal battle that saw a dream home become a nightmare when Japanese Knotweed was discovered growing behind the garden shed. Mr Downing had purchased the south-west London home in 2018 for £700,000 with plans...

Why Should I Update My Will?

Lindsay Gutteridge
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Update Your Will Week 2023. This week (23rd – 29th January) is Update Your Will Week , an awareness campaign hosted by Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) to encourage more people to update their will and ensure their wishes are carried out when they...

The Benefits of Therapy

Liz Headley
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Counselling, and emotional support, can take many forms and be beneficial in a variety of contexts. Some people might believe that you only need to engage in therapy if there is something “wrong” with you, but this isn’t the case. Some...

Things You Might Not Know That Can Affect Your Will...

Sarah Horton
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I have recently read a STEP article about marriage revoking Wills ( I'm getting re-married, will my children still inherit? STEP Advising Families ), and it got me thinking about other weird and wonderful laws that might impact your future plans in ways...

Spinal Cord Injuries - The Lifelong Impacts Compensation Can Help Address

Jon Rees
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Where a person suffers a spinal cord injury it will have a lifelong impact. As specialist solicitors our role is to try to secure as much compensation as might be possible to recover commensurate with what the law will recognise as compensable loss. Take...

Who are Cafcass and what is a safeguarding letter?

Jemma Bryans
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Who are Cafcass? Cafcass stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. They were first formed on 1 st April 2001 as part of the Government’s commitment to supporting families and children. Cafcass is an independent...

What is a Child Arrangements Order?

Caitlin Lovell
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A Child Arrangements Order is an order that determines with whom a child is to live, and/or spend time with. Child Arrangements Orders are regulated by Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. The child’s mother, father or anyone with parental...

Good Divorce Week 2022

Melanie Haslam
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The Good Divorce week has focused on issues such a ‘no fault’ divorces in the past, the new ‘no-fault’ divorce legislation came into force on 6th April 2022.  This means that couples can now obtain a divorce, either solely or...

What Happens If Separated Parents Can't Agree Which School Their Child Should Go To?

Katie Vernon
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The rules surrounding the exercise of parental responsibility of children at school can often seem complex and confusing. As a parent your child’s education is one of the most important decisions you can make, but due to the importance of this...

Brethertons Solicitors support Stop The Pressure Day 17th November 2022.

Jon Rees
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One of the frustrations of being a specialist spinal cord injuries solicitor is that there are some people you can help quickly, where pressure ulcers shouldn’t be an issue. That will typically be the situation in cases where liability is clear and...

Special Measures in Family Court Proceedings

Poppy Harber
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Family Court proceedings can be daunting, whether you are the Applicant or Respondent, especially if you are a victim of Domestic Abuse. If you are a party to Family Court proceedings, and you are a victim of domestic abuse perpetrated by the other party,...

Make a Will Fortnight 2022

Sarah Horton
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Brethertons Solicitors invite you to participate in, and benefit from, the support we give to  Katharine House Hospice  Make a Will Fortnight (3 to 14 October 2022). Please contact any one of our three offices in Banbury, Bicester or Rugby to...

NSIC Spinal Cord Injury Study Day - Nutrition In Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries

Jon Rees
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The spinal cord injuries community is relatively small, yet the issues that patients - and those helping patients - with spinal cord injuries must navigate can often seem so extensive as to be overwhelming and beyond comprehension. As specialist solicitors...

What is the connection between Liz Truss and spinal cord injuries litigation?

Jon Rees
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It could well be that there is more than the one connection between Liz Truss and spinal cord injuries litigation, but as the country adjusts to a new prime minister – its 56 th and the Queen’s 15 th - the ‘connection between Liz Truss...

How we can help with Landlord Clients and Problematic Tenants.

Shivani Daudia
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An introduction from Victoria Lea-Holton and Shivani Daudia on how we can help with Landlord Clients and Problematic Tenants.   "We wanted to make you aware of some of our legal service that may be of interest as we understand that you offer...

The Difference Compensation Can Make - Independence, Security, Fulfilment

Jon Rees
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Compensation is the best a civilised society can do to deliver a measure of justice to persons injured through the negligence of another. But no amount of money can ever turn back the clock. Does compensation make a difference after spinal cord injury and if...

How Can I Protect My Digital Memories?

Emma Stewart
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Most of us have a digit footprint on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and the like. We also have photographs, videos and other memories stored with Google, Apple and Meta. Have you thought about what happens to all those images and memories when you die or if...

Is Mediation Worth it?

Monique Wagner
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The court process for many is lengthy, stressful, and highly emotional. Many individuals believe that court room is the only solution. However, mediation can be a suitable alternative where parties want to avoid the emotional roller coaster of court. ...

The Principle of Compensation

Jon Rees
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Around the same time as the conversation with the neurosurgeon described below, someone suggested I should write a blog about the ‘principle(s) of compensation’. Not so long ago, I was in what was genuinely a light-hearted conversation with a...

Misunderstanding Spinal Cord Injured Patients' Ongoing Needs

Jon Rees
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We have covered elsewhere how spinal cord injuries are relatively rare (even though seven people will suffer the injury each day – one every 3.5 hours or so). If there are 50,000 people living with spinal cord injuries in the UK, that number represents...

Depp Vs Heard - What is DARVO?

Liz Headley
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The Depp versus Heard case has attracted much interest from both the media and the general public. I know my daughters have both been following it all very closely and have been quite shocked at some of the narrative around the couple’s behaviour. I...

Moving Mountains

Jon Rees
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Congratulations to Martin Hibbert of the Spinal Injuries Association on completing his Martin’s Mountain challenge and getting to the top of Kilimanjaro. What Martin has accomplished since suffering spinal cord injury in the Manchester arena terrorism...

Compensation and Legal Rights After Injury

Jon Rees
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As solicitors who help clients after spinal cord injury, we frequently find ourselves confronting the stark reality that as litigators all we can ever achieve is the recovery of an amount of money that the law deems to be commensurate with the...

Couple Declared Legal Parents Of Surrogate Son Born In 1998

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X v Z (Parental Order Adult) [2022] EWFC 26 A recent Family Court ruling granting a UK couple a Parental Order concerning their adult child born by surrogate in the United States in 1998 has highlighted the fact that UK surrogacy law remains desperately...

How to decide on The Split

Sarah Horton
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I have recently finished watching BBC drama ‘The Split’, which always makes interesting viewing for lawyers. Despite the scarily frequent professional conduct breaches obvious to the trained eye, it has raised some thought provoking...

Who Is Involved In A Spinal Cord Injuries Case?

Jon Rees
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By the time a person comes to speak to a solicitor about making a compensation claim following spinal cord injury they will already have been assisted by a range of clinicians, therapists and others in the medical setting, but there are also likely to be a...

Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

Liz Headley
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It's Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 and we have been invited to consider the experience of loneliness and how we can all potentially be affected by it and the potential detrimental effect feeling isolated can have on our mental health. The Covid...

Types of Spinal Cord Injury

Jon Rees
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There are obviously excellent medical references that can explain the different types of spinal cord injury far more helpfully than we can as mere solicitors. But the purpose of this blog is to explore some of the more frequently encountered aspects of...

Why use a Solicitor to prepare your Will?

Laura Stuart
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Instructing a solicitor to prepare your Will is usually seen as the expensive way to do it but using a solicitor can save a lot of stress for you and your family, as well as giving you peace of mind and potentially saving you additional costs in the future. ...

Help - Recognising You Need It, Identifying Who Can Provide It; And Letting Yourself Be Helped

Jon Rees
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In our experience of helping people who have suffered spinal cord or other life changing injuries, the process of coming to terms with the fact you or someone you care for might need help through to actually being helped has several identifiable and nuanced...

Sibling's Bitter Battle Over £100 Million Estate

David Richards
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One of the fundamental principles of English law is that a person is free to draw up a Will that sets out how they wish to distribute their property. How and to whom that distribution is made is their choice alone and should be free from the interference of...

In The Spotlight - Dawn Millar

Dawn Millar
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We are delighted to be highlighting our expert lawyers in a new feature 'In The Spotlight' where you can get to know our individuals and the important work they carry out each day. This week we are excited to be highlighting Dawn Millar -...

The Four Questions All Clients (Should) Ask Solicitors

Jon Rees
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The Brethertons spinal cord injuries team are asked all sorts of questions by clients and prospective clients, but typically at the outset of a new case those questions coalesce around four main ones. Those are: Have a I got a case? Is it worth pursuing? ...

Choosing A Solicitor - Specialist Experience & Expertise Is Vital

Jon Rees
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Not so many years ago a client approached us concerned that their then solicitor was advising them to settle their claim for a lump sum they thought was not enough. The long story cut short is we settled the claim for 44 times the amount the previous...

The Right To Disconnect

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Technology is a wonderful thing. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it enabled millions of workers to do their jobs from home, allowing them to stay safe whilst playing their part in keeping the organisation they work for operating. Two years on from the first...

Love Thy Neighbour or Pay the Price?

Emma Bush
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Whilst February 14 th is memorable and amorous for some, Valentine's Day 2022 was a lesson in “loving thy neighbour” for the parties involved in Prime London Holdings 11 Limited v Thurloe Lodge Limited [2022] EWHC 303 (Ch) as the first...

What To Do If Your Child Has Been Abducted To India

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The recent case of SS v MCP [2021] EWHC 2898 (Fam) illustrates the complexity of returning a child who has, according to one parent, been abducted by the other parent to reside in India. Furthermore, it provides an excellent discussion of parens patriae...

No Fault Divorce

Melanie Haslam
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The new divorce legislation which is coming into force from 6 th April 2022 means that couples will be able to obtain a divorce without one party having to apportion blame on the other. At present, one party can ‘blame’ the other, citing...

Spinal Cord Injuries and Statistics

Jon Rees
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Statistically, the average human has fewer than four limbs. What does that mean, what does it tell us about humans, and what does it tell us about statistics? What follows is intended as no more than a tour through statistics that catch the eye in the work...

Do I need Probate?

Nakita Smith
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For those entrusted with what can often be a daunting task of administering the estate of a deceased loved one, there can be many hurdles to overcome. A common query from individuals in this position, is whether or not they need probate. What is probate? ...

International Women's Day 2022

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International Women's Day (IWD) on 8th March 2022 celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and also continues to campaign for gender parity. At Brethertons we are proud of the steps we take to ensure opportunities...

Serious Injuries Guide - collaboration between solicitors for both sides to the argument - why it is important

Jon Rees
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If you have suffered a spinal cord injury – indeed any life changing injury – the chances are that if you have a claim for compensation, it will involve a substantial sum of money. We have represented clients where their spinal cord injury was...

What is an Occupation Order?

Poppy Harber
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An Occupation Order is an Order that a Court can make, under Section 33 of the Family Law Act 1996, to determine who can remain living in a property, or defining who can enter certain parts of the home, if parties are unable to agree. This is often applied...

National Apprenticeship Week

Lucy Brown
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National Apprenticeship week this year runs from 7 th – 11 th February 2021 and it aims to shine a light on the work being done by both employers and Apprentices themselves across the country. Over the past year, our four Apprentices have been...

What is a clean break and why is it important?

Katie Phillips
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Many clients, when divorcing, assume that when the Decree Absolute is granted, that it brings an end to not only the marriage but also to any financial claims that each spouse has against the other. This is not the case. Only a clean break can end the...

Family mediation scheme to help thousands more parents

Monique Wagner
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Mediation is the process whereby an independent trained mediator help parties reach a solution when there is a dispute regarding children or finances. Mediation helps parties come up with their own solution and avoid the court system. Solicitors can also be...

There is No (Gala) Unity!

Roger Hardwick
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Landmark RTM Decision on the Extent to Which RTM Applies to External Communal Areas The right to manage was always going to be a difficult concept to translate into legislation. There are few, if any, statutory rights quite like it. Unlike its...

Brethertons Solicitors Support Refuge Charity in the Shoebox Appeal this Christmas

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Recently, Brethertons’ award-winning Family team supported those in need this Christmas, by running a shoebox appeal across their offices to donate items to Refuge – a charity that supports women and children suffering from domestic violence. ...

Brethertons Solicitors Christmas Foodbank Donations

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Brethertons’ award-winning Wills, Trusts and Probate team with the help of some of our clients and staff have been supporting those in need, by running a food bank collection in our Rugby and Bicester offices to donate to the Trussell Trust. ...

The President of the Family Division's memorandum on drafting court orders - What does this mean?

Jemma Bryans
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Introduction Sir Andrew McFarlane, the President of the Family Division issued a memorandum setting out the correct approach that should be taken when draft orders in the Family Court. This is available on the Judiciary.uk website. Standard Orders ...

How long does probate take?

Amber Morris
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Beneficiaries often ask how long it will take to receive their inheritance. The short answer is that “it depends”. Every estate is as unique as the person who owned the assets. If the person rented their home and only had one bank account,...

Brethertons' Senior Associate, Dani Green wins Young Professional of the Year award at NOTB Awards 2021

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Brethertons are so proud of our Senior Associate in Residential Leasehold and Enfranchisement, Dani Green, for winning the title of Young Professional of the Year. We are also delighted to be highly commended for Legal Services Provider of the Year...

Good Divorce Week 2021

Katie Phillips
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You may have read in the news this week that it is ‘Good Divorce Week’. This is a campaign spearheaded by Resolution, an organisation committed to reducing the conflict within Family Law. Many of the Family Department are members of Resolution....

What is a stranded spouse?

Monique Wagner
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Stranded spouses is the term used when a family travels abroad on holiday and one spouse is intentionally left behind either with or without the child(ren). One spouse deliberately removes the other spouse's and/or the child(ren)’s passport and...

Improved Diversity and Equality for all workers at Jaguar Land Rover

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Following the successful Employment Tribunal case of Rose Taylor –v- Jaguar Land Rover Ltd (Case No 1304471/2018) in September 2020, Jaguar Land Rover have signed an agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to improve its policies...

Brethertons Support for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research

Jon Rees
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We were pleased to visit SMSR – Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research - at the National Spinal Injuries Centre this week where we met with Charlotte Minoprio and Derek Cutler as their new fundraising year begins. Brethertons has a long tradition of...

Business as Usual?

Lindsay Gutteridge
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Business as Usual? If you are a business owner, planning for the future is something that often gets pushed to the bottom of the list, particularly following a global pandemic. Lawyers like myself spend a lot of time reminding business owners to put in...

Brethertons Solicitors Focus On Giving Back To The Community whilst they plan the Move into fabulous new Banbury Offices

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On the 10th December 2020, Brethertons new offices on 19 South Bar Street, Banbury were officially opened by Banbury Town Mayor, John Colgrave and Brethertons’ CEO, Alison McCormack . Brethertons vacated their Waterperry Court site in 2020 and are now...

Family, Personal Injury and Real Estate Litigation Teams at Brethertons Receive Recommendations in the Chambers & Partners Directory 2022.

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Brethertons LLP are thrilled to have been named, yet again, as one of the top law firms in the practice areas of Family , Personal Injury and Real Estate Litigation by the leading industry publication, Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2022. The...

A Guide To Claiming Under The Inheritance Act 1975

David Richards
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Imagine the following situation. Your mother and father divorced and some years later your father remarries a woman who has two children from her first marriage. You all get on well, celebrating Christmas and other holidays together. Suddenly, your father,...

Give A Little - Make A Will Fortnight

Sarah Horton
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We are once again supporting the Katharine House Hospice Make a Will Fortnight from 4 -15 October 2021 across all three of our offices in Banbury, Bicester and Rugby. It is a great opportunity to provide vital support to a local hospice, and at the...

Legal 500 recommend Brethertons as one of the top legal service providers in the West Midlands and South East

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Brethertons are proud to announce that we have again been recommended in eleven practice areas in The Legal 500 UK 2022, along with four of our top lawyers receiving individual rankings. Each of our teams that we put forward for ranking have been recommended...

What if my ex does not bring my child back from a holiday abroad?

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As Covid-19 travel restrictions have started to ease, many people and families have once again started to consider the possibility of international holidays rather than staycations. Aside from the current Covid-19 worries and practicalities still...

Help - what can I do to help myself or a loved one?

Sarah Horton
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I recently watched Channel 4’s drama “Help” staring Jodie Comer as key worker at Bright Sky Homes, a fictional Liverpool care home, and Stephen Graham as one of the residents, set during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK. ...

Brethertons, Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research, Neuro Convention 2021 - and an Abseil

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Solicitors from the Brethertons spinal cord injuries team attended the European Neuro Convention 21 which was run within Naidex 2021 at the NEC (see our companion blog covering the wider Naidex event ). With two of our team about to abseil the...

COVID-19 Vaccine for children aged 12 - 15 - What if you do not agree with your partner/ex-partner or child?

Jemma Bryans
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The topic of vaccinating young children has been in wide discussion for parents, the Government, and chief medical officers. Recently the Government has accepted the recommendation from the UK’s medical officers that children between the ages of 12 to...

Brethertons at Naidex21 and the European Neuro Convention

Jon Rees
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Brethertons were pleased to attend the Naidex Exhibition at the Birmingham NEC on 15 th and 16 th September – and the European Neuro Convention 21 which was run within the Naidex event. Naidex is Europe’s most established event for ‘the...

Is your Will valid? Will disputes are increasing!

Amber Morris
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“It was so important to get it right” – how local law firm Brethertons LLP kept “business as usual” for clients desperate to update their Wills in lockdown. Back in March 2020, as Covid-19 was taking hold across the UK and...

Brethertons is proud to announce that it has achieved certification from Cyber Essentials Plus

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This month, Brethertons is proud to announce that it has achieved certification from Cyber Essentials Plus proving its dedication to cyber security and protection from cyber attacks. Cyber Essentials is an official UK Government backed scheme that...

Should I put digital assets in my Will?

Amber Morris
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In an increasingly digital world, many of us are guilty of not thinking about how our digital lives will pass on our deaths. Many of us now hold digital photographs on our mobile phones, monies in digital wallets like Paypal, social media accounts and even...

Working at Brethertons

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What are the benefits of a Lasting Power of Attorney?

Laura Stuart
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According to research undertaken by Alzheimer’s Research UK, the number of people with dementia is projected to increase rapidly. It is predicted one million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025 and this will increase to two million by 2050*. It...

Can I apply for a Non-Molestation Order?

Poppy Harber
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If you have been the victim of domestic abuse, you can apply for a ‘Non-Molestation Order’. This is an injunction in the form of a Court Order that protects you or your child from being harmed or threatened by the person who has abused you. ...

How To Purchase The Freehold Of Your Building

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In 2017, the issue of ground rent being charged on new build properties caught the media’s attention. The cases involved some developers securing contracts with leaseholders that saw the initial ground rent of £200-£400 charged on their new...

COVID 19 - Guidance For Safe Working In The Workplace

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The government has issued modified 'Working safely during coronavirus (COVID 19)' guidance (the ‘guidance’) to cover safe working practices following the move to Step 4 of its roadmap that took place on 19 July. Here I will look at...

I am not married or in a civil partnership and I do not have any children. Does it really matter if I don't have a Will?

Annabel Burchett
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This is a common question will drafters get asked, and the answer is, if you want to decide who inherits your estate on your death, then yes, is does matter. If you pass away without making a valid Will, your estate will be dealt with under the Intestacy...

Brethertons Ranked as One of the Top Providers of Private Wealth Law in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021

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Leading legal services provider Brethertons LLP, is celebrating after being named as one of the top law firms in the region of Oxford and Surrounds for Private Wealth Law. The Chambers High Net Worth Guide researches and ranks the world’s best...

Am I Eligible For Legal Aid?

Monique Wagner
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Legal Aid is a government funded scheme that helps individuals who are on low income access legal advice/representation. Once granted, a legal aid certificate will cover legal costs including Solicitor fees, counsel’s fees and disbursements such as...

The New Domestic Abuse Act 2021

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If you or your children are in immediate danger, please call 999 and ask for the police.  You can also call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247. After years of promises, especially by former Prime Minister Theresa...

What Happens If A Joint Account Holder Loses Mental Capacity?

Nakita Smith
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It is not uncommon for individuals to have a joint bank account with a spouse, partner or adult child. This arrangement provides easy access for both parties to make withdrawals or to manage joint expenditure such as household bills. Joint accounts may...

What the case of H-N And Others (Children) means for Domestic Abuse in Finding of Fact Hearings

Jemma Bryans
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The long-awaited Judgment of H-N And Others (Children) was handed down on 30 th March 2021. There were four cases (joined on appeal) before the Court of Appeal. The appeals were particularly looking at the process in which the Courts consider domestic...

Narcissistic Ex-Partners

Liz Headley
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For many who have managed to escape from an abusive relationship there is initially a huge sense of relief, finally life can become more ‘normal’ again and they can begin to rebuild their self -confidence and self-worth. Whilst this is true, the...

What is a Divorce Doula?

Priti Vadgama
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Everyone seems to have heard of a doula who offers support before, during and after childbirth. “What is this new concept of a divorce doula?”, is what I asked myself when I first heard this term. Apparently a divorce doula is a...

Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day - 21 May 2021

Jon Rees
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A day to increase understanding of spinal cord injury; raise the profile of spinal cord injury and highlight challenges faced by people who have suffered spinal cord injury. Who does spinal cord injury affect? A spinal cord injury is estimated to...

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021 - Family Breakdowns

Liz Headley
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Monday 10th May 2021 marked the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, looking after our mental health should always be a priority, but this year, having experienced a pandemic which, for most of us, has invited significant changes and increased stresses, it...

Dementia Action Week and Lasting Powers of Attorney

Laura Stuart
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Dementia Action Week is a national event which runs from 17 th May to 23 rd May. It is a time to raise awareness of dementia and encourage individuals to take action to improve the lives of people living with dementia. At Brethertons, we are supporting...

Living with Abuse

Liz Headley
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British broadcaster, journalist and weather presenter, Ruth Dodsworth has recently featured in the media after her ex husband was jailed for 3 years for coercive and controlling behaviour. I watched an interview with her earlier on daytime tv where she...

Brethertons Renew ALEP Membership as Specialists in Leasehold Enfranchisement

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Brethertons renew ALEP membership as specialists in leasehold enfranchisement. Brethertons are pleased to confirm, that they have renewed their membership of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP), an organisation which exists to...

Thriving Law firm Brethertons LLP Announces New Partner Promotion

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Brethertons solicitors is delighted to announce a new Partner appointment. The business now boasts 25 partners and 87 lawyers, including Paralegals, supported by a dedicated team of support staff. All work together across and within teams to...

Help - I have received a Settlement Agreement

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Perhaps now more than ever, Employers will seek to enter into Settlement Agreements with members of staff that are no longer going to be part of the business. This is much more than a dismissal letter and should be handled appropriately.   A Settlement...

I'm getting married or divorced - should I make a Will?

Amber Morris
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The simple answer is – yes! Marriage, separation and divorce can have unintended consequences on how your estate passes when you die, whether you have a Will or not. Marriage Many people don’t realise that marriage revokes your Will unless...

Updates to rates of pay: the 2021-22 tax year

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As HR personnel and business owners will be aware, weekly rates of pay and other statutory rates in employment legislation are updated annually in line with the new tax year.  We give an overview of the key points to note below. Rates of pay As from...

Brethertons Solicitors Announce the Appointment of a New Trainee Solicitor

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Brethertons are delighted to announce the appointment of a new trainee solicitor. A training contract has been awarded to paralegal staff member Bethany Martindale . The training contracts offered at Brethertons allow the trainee solicitors to develop a...

Thriving Law firm Brethertons LLP announces new partner promotions.

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Brethertons solicitors has announced the promotion of a number of lawyers; including three to Partner, three to Senior Associate and three to Associate positions. Joining the Partnership in the 2021 promotion round are lawyers Emma Crocker, Ben Foley, and...

Supreme Court Rules A Child Applying For Asylum Cannot Be Refouled

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We recently discussed the Court of Appeal decision in Re G (A Child) (Child Abduction )   in which   Kim Lehal, a partner in our family law department, represented the charity reunite .   The Court of Appeal ruled that a child who is...

Supreme Court handed down judgment in the case of G v G [2021] UKSC 9

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On 19 March 2021 the Supreme Court handed down judgment in the case of G v G [2021] UKSC 9.  Reunite intervened in the appeal and was represented by Kim Lehal of Brethertons solicitors instructing Richard Harrison QC and Jennifer Perrins of...

Can an employer require employees to wear a face mask at work?

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It would seem that the answer is potentially yes!  Masks have been with us for some time now – it’s currently law that face coverings are worn in all indoor public places and anywhere else where adequate social distancing cannot be...

Rishi Sunak's Budget Gives Boost To Generation Rent

Emma Crocker
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Rishi Sunak’s Spring Budget provided good news for first-time homebuyers.  Not only was the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday extended until the end of September 2021 (more on this below), but Mr Sunak announced the government will back a new...

Family Solicitor Joanne Soar Acts For Subjected To Life-Changing Injuries Baby

Joanne Soar
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There are times when members of our team are involved in cases which remain with them for life.  For Joanne Soar , who specialises in public law for children, that case is X County Council v AB & CD [2015] EWFC 98.  Described by the...

Top Reasons to update your Will

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SPRING - into action Top Reasons to update your Will - Besides doing it for those you love (or dislike!) With spring pleasantly around the corner and the promise of your favourite flowers and plants once again, coming into bloom. Use this...

International Women's Day 2021

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International Women's Day (IWD) on 8th March 2021 celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and also continues to campaign for gender parity. In 2016, Lexis Nexis blogged about women in the legal profession stating...

LPA Attorney's That Don't 'Care A Lot'

Holly Waddelow
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If you have not seen the recently released black comedy I Care A Lot   [C1]    you are in for a treat.  Rosamund Pike plays Marla Grayson, a Guardian who is appointed by the Court to care for elderly people who have lost mental...

Human Rights Damages No Longer Clawed Back By LAA In Care Proceedings

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In yet another example of how #we don’t just know the law…we make it, family law partner, Matthew Montanaro led the way for the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to issue new guidance that ensured those who brought successful human rights claims...

The Uber has finally arrived

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It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for (and I don’t mean when Schools will reopen!), the Uber litigation has finally reached its conclusion.  Let’s start at the beginning, in 2016 some former Uber drivers claimed that they...

Overprotected - What if Britney Spears lived in England and Wales?

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Throughout most of 2020 and into 2021, the “Free Britney” movement has spread across social media. The movement regards pop megastar Britney Spears, who is under a ‘conservatorship’ whereby her father and a trust company manage her...

Relationship Breakdown During the Pandemic

Liz Headley
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This week on the BBC 1 programme Morning Live the recent increase in people contacting law firms about separation and divorce was discussed. A lawyer was interviewed online and asked what she felt individuals should be looking for in a lawyer when they were...

National Apprenticeship Week 2021

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National Apprenticeship week this year runs from 8 th – 14 th February 2021 and aims to shine a light on the work being done by both employers and Apprentices themselves across the country. Over the past year, Brethertons have been lucky enough to...

Children's Mental Health Week

Liz Headley
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Monday 1st February was the first day of Children’s Mental Health Week and it would seem that in these extraordinary times we should all be more vigilant about children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.  Recent figures suggest that...

How to deal with January blues

Liz Headley
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Well, this week kicked off with what is known as ‘Blue Monday’. January is notorious for being a difficult month with people recovering from the excesses of Christmas, trying to keep to their new year resolutions, attempting to stabilise their...

Serious Injury support - what is out there and how can it help you?

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There are many different forms of support out there to assist seriously injured people and their families, from blogs and podcasts to in-person meet ups and charities.  If you have not been fortunate enough to have received Peer Support in hospital or...

Family Mediation Week - helping separated families know which way to turn

Simon Craddock
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Family Mediation Week – helping separated families know which way to turn More than any other time of the year, January is a month when families decide to separate. For most, this will be their first experience of separation, and they will start...

Hague Convention Return Orders and Asylum Applications

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Re G (A Child) (Child Abduction) Kim Lehal, a partner in our family law department, recently represented the charity Reunite in the ground-breaking case of Re G (A Child) (Child Abduction) .  Founded in 1987, the Reunite International Child...

Call "ANI" - Assistance for those Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Liz Headley
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Sadly, domestic abuse continues to affect many individual’s lives in a manner of different ways. In these troubled times as we search for a way to reduce and contain the sometimes awful consequences of Coronavirus, we have yet to find a cure for...

Covid19 and Serious Injuries Litigation - A New Business As Usual

Jon Rees
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What might otherwise have taken a good many years has been achieved in months as solicitors adapt to new ways of working because of the Covid19 pandemic. Our serious injuries specialists are no exception. We might not be meeting in person quite so often but...

Self-care in the new year and beyond

Liz Headley
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I was listening to a GP who was being interviewed on a television programme talking about burn out and what he was saying appeared to make a lot of sense and for me was food for thought. Lockdown and the consequences of it has proved challenging for most of...

What do I do when someone dies?

Amber Morris
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What do I do when someone dies? Firstly, I am sorry that you are having to read this. Whether you have just lost a loved one or you are preparing for the worst, bereavement is a terrible thing to have to endure. The most important things… ...

Brethertons Coronavirus Update 6th January 2021

Alison McCormack
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How Do The New Lockdown Regulations Impact The Provision Of Legal Services? The new national lockdown came into force in England on 4 th January 2021. The government has now published regulations which can viewed at  ...

Coronavirus & Domestic Abuse

Liz Headley
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I know it’s a very different start to the year and I am sure we will all remember it as such. This time last year no-one could have predicted that 2021 would begin in this way, but let’s all try and remember that positives can sometimes come out...

A Different Christmas

Liz Headley
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Most families will be wondering how Christmas will be for them this year as we head towards, what is usually for most of us, a time of festivity with family and friends. Of course, the changes that COVID-19 has already brought to Yuletide 2020 are much in...

Gender Fluid And Non-Binary Persons Are Protected Under The Equality Act 2010

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Every so often a legal case is decided that brings the law up to date with changes that have been taking place in society for some time.  Roe v Wade (a woman’s right to abortion), Gillick v West Norfolk & Wisbech Area Health Authority ...

New Office For Legal Eagles

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On the 10th December 2020, Brethertons new offices officially opened on 19 South Bar Street, Banbury were by Banbury Town Mayor, John Colgrave and Brethertons’ CEO, Alison McCormack. The office at 19 South Bar is, for Brethertons, a temporary...

Life Under a Microscope..Making Difficult Decisions

Liz Headley
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The pandemic has invited us all to put our lives under the microscope and think about our choices. Things that we would normally take for granted have no longer been available to us and many of us have had to make some major adjustments to our lifestyle,...

Family Justice Professionals Mark 'Good Divorce Week 2020' with Free Advice Sessions

Dominic Wisdom
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Family law professionals in Bicester, Banbury and Rugby are showing their support for Good Divorce Week 2020 (30 th November -4 th December) by offering free advice sessions to families later this month. Good Divorce Week is an annual campaign that aims...

Trust and Hope - and APIL's Rebuilding Shattered Lives Campaign

Jon Rees
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The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has launched a new campaign Rebuilding Shattered Lives video - see this powerful animated film which aims at highlighting the difference experienced solicitors can make in the aftermath of serious injury....

Brethertons Solicitors Announce the Appointment of Five New Trainee Solicitors

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Brethertons are delighted to announce the appointment of five trainee solicitors. Training contracts have been awarded to paralegal staff members; Jules Mackenzie, Amber Morris , Pamela Pagani, Jemma Bryans and Victoria Lea-Holton. The training contracts...

Brethertons Coronavirus Update 12/11/2020

Alison McCormack
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How do the new lockdown regulations impact the provision of legal services? The new national lockdown came into force in England at 12.01am on Thursday 5th November and will last until at least Wednesday 2nd December. The government has now...

What is a Right to Manage Company and is it right for me?

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A lot of the frustrations we hear about from tenants usually centres around the management of the building and issues with a lack of management or poor management, works not being undertaking in good time and the building not being looked after as well as it...

Help! The Lease on my flat is expiring

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Believe it or not we get consulted by flat owners on a reasonably frequent basis, who are worried about this problem. As a long leaseholder, you should be keeping an eye on the term of your lease.  The Leasehold, Reform Housing and Urban Development...

Family, Private Wealth, Personal Injury and Real Estate Litigation teams at Brethertons Highly Rated in the Chambers & Partners Directory 2021

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Brethertons LLP are delighted to have been named, yet again, as one of the top law firms in the Midlands and Thames Valley by leading industry publication, Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2021. The Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2020 was released on 22 th ...

Brethertons announce move to new offices in South Bar Banbury!

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Alison McCormack , Brethertons CEO announced today that the firm have signed a lease for securing premises in South Bar, Banbury. Alison confirmed, “In early October, we announced we were selling our premises at Waterperry Court in Middleton...

We Are Moving!

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As many of our clients based in North Oxfordshire will know, for over 15 years Brethertons have occupied a very prominent position near the Town Centre at our offices in Waterperry Court near the train station. In January of this year, after many happy years...

Stamp Duty Relief - Should I Buy That Leasehold Property?

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SDLT Relief?  Should I Buy that Leasehold Property?  Given the recent new relief on Stamp Duty Land Tax (“SDLT”), which is in place until 31 March 2020 on properties up to a value of £500,000, you may think that now is the...

Brethertons rated one of the top legal service providers in the West Midlands and South East Regions - Legal 500 Rankings 2020

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Brethertons rated one of the top legal service providers in the West Midlands and South East Regions – Legal 500 Rankings 2020 Brethertons are proud to announce that we have again been recommended in 11 practice areas in The Legal 500 UK 2020, along...

Deputyship - Removing or Replacing your Deputy

Laura Stuart
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A Deputy can be appointed by the Court of Protection to manage a person’s financial affairs when they are unable to manage them themselves.  The person whose financial affairs are being managed is called the protected party. The Deputy can be a...

Brethertons' client's success in unanimous decision of the Employment Tribunal

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  Press Release 16 th September 2020 Brethertons’ client’s success in unanimous decision of the Employment Tribunal widening the protected characteristic of gender reassignment to include gender fluid and non-binary...

How can I help my adult child manage their finances?

Laura Stuart
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  • Author

There are many parents across the country whose children suffer from a birth or acquired disability, such as a brain injury or learning difficulties. As they grow older, these children continue to require support to help them to be independent. When you...

Can I transfer my home to my children to avoid it being sold to pay my care fees?

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Can I transfer my home to my children to avoid it being sold to pay my care fees? For the majority of people, the family home is their most expensive asset and many people are concerned that should they ever require residential care, they may be forced to...

Radical Changes to Home Ownership Proposals

Roger Hardwick
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What else is 2020 going to throw at us? Covid19, Lockdowns, BREXIT…if that is not enough The Law Commission published reports in July which could radically and fundamentally change what we recognise as leasehold ownership. If you did not happen to be...

Mum wants to give me some money but I'm her Attorney - what should I do?

Laura Stuart
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Close family relationships often mean that the donor - the person who grants the Power of Attorney  - choses a family member to be their Attorney. With Lasting Powers of Attorney for Property and Finance once they are registered at the Office of the...

Did Someone Say Commonhold?

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“Did someone say commonhold?" I heard of that once ... a long time ago. The concept of Commonhold was initially introduced under the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.  Although popular and widely used in other countries it did not...

I am a Financial Attorney - How Do I Start Acting?

Laura Stuart
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  • Author

When you are appointed as an Attorney for someone under an Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney to deal with finances, it can be confusing to understand when and how you can start helping the donor (the person who made the Power of Attorney) with their...

What is a Breach of the Lease?

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A residential long lease can be quite a long and confusing document.  So much so that many leaseholders confess to not having actually read their own lease in full.  Even if you have read your lease fully, can you remember everything you can and...

Summer Holidays

Liz Headley
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To most of us, the word ‘holiday’ conjures up thoughts of time off, leave, or a break, suggesting a bit of respite from the humdrum of everyday life and some of those parental duties that dominate the daily grind. This year however, for some,...

Is my Covid-19 lockdown Will valid?

Amber Morris
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  • Author

In a previous blog (   click here to read ) I discussed some of the things to be wary about when drafting your own Will or instructing a company to draft your Will on an “execution-only” basis, ie. without getting any legal advice. ...

How do I support my elderly relative during Lockdown?

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With lockdown still affecting a lot of people whose health could be at risk if they catch Covid-19, we are supporting our loved ones in lots of different ways. Keeping in touch Some families and friends have made sure that their relative feels supported...

How do I get my goods back when a customer does not pay?

David Richards
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One of the ways in which sellers can protect their business against buyers that do not pay for goods, is to incorporate a Retention of Title (ROT) clause in their Terms and Conditions of sale. The purpose of this blog is to highlight some of the pitfalls of...

I need to recover a bad debt- how do I go about it?

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In this blog, our litigation Lawyer, gives an insight into their top tips for avoiding bad debts. As we inevitably head into what is likely to be one of the deepest economic recessions in our lifetimes, it is fair to say that many businesses are struggling...

Settlement Agreements - why do I need to see a lawyer?

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I am often approached by employees who have received a Settlement Agreement from their employer  indicating that “all I need is a signature from you and then I get my payment”. Unfortunately, when executing a Settlement Agreement as a...

Can I Carry Out Alterations To My Flat?

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The lockdown has been a great opportunity for most people to finally get around to that bit of DIY, decorating or, in some cases, complete overhaul of their properties that they’ve been wanting to do for a while.  However, if you are a long...

Making Relationship Decisions During Lockdown

Liz Headley
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Whilst there are benefits to spending more couple and family time together, this prolonged period of isolating ourselves from family, friends and the outside world has potentially put a strain on the happiest of relationships. I have recently read about or...

Why do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney for my Health and Welfare?

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Many people think that having a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney to deal with their finances is all that they need in case they are not able to deal with their finances - but what happens about decisions for your health and welfare if you are unable to...

How do I get a capacity assessment during COVID-19?

Amber Morris
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In recent years, people have been thinking about how they can protect themselves in the event that they lose capacity in future. Unfortunately, sometimes those protective measures cannot be put in place in time. As solicitors, we often see people in a...

How do I Negotiate a Settlement Agreement?

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It is a sad fact that one of the outcomes of the pandemic is that many hundreds of thousands of people will lose their job as a result.  Employers will seek to enter into Settlement Agreements with members of staff.  The purpose of this blog is to...

Can I keep using the joint bank account?

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Powers of Attorney - They can’t manage their finances anymore – can I keep using the joint bank account? This is a question many people can face. Joint Bank accounts They may have always shared a joint bank account with their spouse or...

Children Living With Adult Conflict

Liz Headley
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As mooted in a previous blog, lots of children and young people have returned to school with mixed feelings; glad to see some of their friends but a little resistant to a more structured day with some pressure on them to demonstrate learning. For some...

Can I pursue an employment tribunal claim?

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In short, the answer is yes you certainly can. However, it would be fair to say that it may take many months if not years for claims to be resolved. It is common knowledge that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has recently confirmed that the Treasury will...

Divorce and Separation following COVID 19

Josh Russell
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Divorce is difficult for anyone in any circumstances but the strain COVID-19 has placed on married and unmarried couples is significant and with so much uncertainty surrounding employment, house prices and pension values at present, a common question we are...

I Am Getting Divorced - Why Do I Need To Make A Will?

Sally Clark
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The short answer is that everyone should have an up to date Will to ensure that their wishes are put into effect after their death. However, it is particularly important to check whether you need to make, or amend a Will when you are going through any...

Making Your Own Will - The Pitfalls of DIY and Homemade Wills

Amber Morris
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It feels like a long time ago since 23 rd March when Boris Johnson announced that the country was going into lockdown. Over that period, solicitors and will writers across the country were inundated with enquiries from people who wanted to update their Will...

Supermarkets who are supporting domestic abuse victims

Liz Headley
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Spending a bit more time at home has allowed me the indulgence of watching the odd bit of daytime television, some of it being quite interesting and helpful. I have just watched part of a programme that has informed me that supermarkets have turned their...

Rising anxiety in children and how to help

Liz Headley
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In the last few weeks I have received an influx of referrals requesting I offer work to children and young people who are experiencing raised anxiety levels. This probably isn’t surprising as the Covid-19 crisis has potentially invited all of us to...

Powers of Attorney- How do I replace my Attorney?

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When you make a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney you appoint the people you feel you can trust to manage your financial affairs and act in your best interests. However times change and so do some relationships. Thinking about who you have appointed...

What do I do if my child is taken by my ex-partner in lockdown?

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We are in a very different time at the moment. A time of uncertainty, a time of worry and a time where everything we do is for protection. We are staying at home to protect ourselves and our loved ones and most of all our children. So if this is disrupted,...

Help! I want to sue my neighbour as we have a boundary dispute. What can I do?

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Boundary disputes between neighbours are unfortunately not rare. The lockdown during the Covid crisis has seen an increase in instructions from individuals approaching lawyers complaining that the people next door are “neighbours from...

How do I keep in touch with my loved one if they are in a care home during COVID-19?

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As the shops have started opening with pubs and restaurants soon to follow we all hope that we can start returning to normal but this might not be the case if your loved one is in a Care Home. During lockdown many Care Homes have taken the...

Visiting Brethertons - Here is how we will keep you safe

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Following the government’s guidance, we are pleased to tell you that our offices have started to re-open. How will we keep you and our staff safe? As you might expect, we have introduced some new measures to keep you safe when you visit us. A...

How do I resolve a boundary dispute?

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Lawyers are often consulted by individuals who are very upset that they have become involved in the dispute with their neighbour. Some lawyers dislike acting in boundary dispute cases and give them a wide berth, while other lawyers enjoy picking through the...

Grandparent's Gloom - being a Grandparent during COVID-19

Liz Headley
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As a grandparent myself, I enjoy reading contributions to Gransnet daily. Today I was drawn to a piece written by one grandmother regarding her low mood and how she was struggling to manage isolation under Covid-19 restrictions. I am sure you will be...

How to get a Lasting Power of Attorney during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The current pandemic, caused by a coronavirus called Covid-19, has caused widespread problems for those who struggle to manage their own finances. People who are often able to do things with assistance, such as go to the bank or buy food, may now have to...

How to get care in your home

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If you decide that you, or your loved one, need support at home in order to maintain independence you may decide to have a carer coming into the home to provide that support. Getting your care needs assessed If you do not know what help you need you can...

Protecting Your Loved Ones

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We are celebrating the contribution that carers make to supporting our loved ones this week. When thinking of carers many people think of adult children looking after elderly parents, but the reality is that carers come in all shapes and sizes. In fact,...

Choosing your Care Home

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Making the decision that you or your loved one can no longer be safely supported at home and need to go into a Care Home can be a difficult one. However, if you take the time to research and get to know the Care Home and what support the carers can offer...

Safe Space for Those Experiencing Domestic Abuse

Liz Headley
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For those who are living with an abusive partner, lockdown has provided greater opportunity for their abuser to exert even more control. As I said in a previous blog, we can’t blame lockdown as being the cause of any sort of abuse but it has provided...

Are you a Carer for someone else?

Emma Stewart
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New figures show that 4.5 million additional people are caring for others because of the pandemic, and this is on top of the 9.1 million unpaid carers who were already caring before the pandemic according to recent figures released for Carers Week. This...

National Carers Week - Families caring for people with dementia

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This is the week that we take time to thank the carers who are supporting our loved ones. During this very difficult time whilst the country is trying to deal with COVID -19 we can see their selfless dedication putting themselves at risk to provide care for...

Domestic Abuse Helpline

Liz Headley
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I have just been watching BBC News on BBC 1 where part of the programme was dedicated to Domestic Abuse and how calls to the National Helpline run by Refuge have increased in this period of lockdown. I think it’s a good thing for society in general to...

Isolation Stories: Family Breakdowns during COVID-19

Liz Headley
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I enjoyed all four of the Isolation Stories in the series shown recently on ITV1, a couple particularly resonating with the work that I do. I have already offered my thoughts on one of the stories and would just like to consider the final episode. It told...

Covid-19 - Can an Attorney pay a relative for care?

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If you are appointed as a Deputy or Attorney dealing with a relative or friend’s property and finances the effects of the Coronavirus may have impacted on their care arrangements. Paying your family members or friends for care Often the people...

Can I still see my children during lockdown?

Jemma Bryans
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  • Author

COVID-19 has had a big impact on the country and we are here to provide guidance to support families and children as the situation around COVID-19 develops. The government published guidelines on staying at home and keeping a social distance away from other...

How are Brethertons providing legal services in lockdown?

Sally Clark
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The straightforward answer to that question is in the same way we have always done, being focused on our client’s needs, providing accurate and high quality legal advice and dealing promptly and efficiently with your legal requirements. The way we are...

Registering a death during the COVID-19 restrictions

Emma Stewart
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During the current restrictions, it has become much more difficult to deal with some of the aspects of bereavement that were normally done in person. At the moment, the only way to register a death is by telephone. When one of your family has died, the...

How to arrange a funeral in lockdown

Holly Waddelow
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There is no question that we are in unprecedented times and it has been tough for all of us to cope with the new normal, but those of us who have lost a loved one in such difficult times have been left with questions. One of the most important questions is...

Self-Care is Important - Especially Now

Liz Headley
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We are all managing these difficult circumstances in our own way and hopefully seeking whatever support is available to us in whatever way we can. For those who are fortunate enough to have a partner they can share their worries and emotions with, hopefully...

What can we do if we are concerned about family or friends living with domestic abuse?

Liz Headley
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I have continued to consider the plight of those living with domestic abuse in these difficult times and I remain extremely concerned for the risks that they might be facing whilst self- isolating. I guess we all have a responsibility to try to be aware of...

Remember The Vulnerable

Liz Headley
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I have just seen that both Childline and Barnados are urging people to remember the children in our society who are living in families where there may be parental domestic violence and abuse of some description. Children living in families such as these...

Priti says #you are not alone

Priti Vadgama
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The Home Secretary, Priti Patel on the 11 th of April 2020 said the number of domestic violence calls have increased by 25% since the introduction of the lockdown. The calls received by Refuge , Women’s Aid and other organisations state that the...

Funding of Lay Advocates - A Recent Case

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Brethertons recently represented a child in the case of Re C (Lay Advocates) [2019] EWHC 3738 Fam. This case involved a child that was removed from their parents as the Children’s Services Department felt neither the mother nor the father had capacity...

Relationships Under Pressure

Liz Headley
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I don’t think any of us are in any doubt that Covid-19 has had a huge impact on all of us, it has certainly made me reflect on the things that I have taken for granted, from the freedom to go out whenever and wherever I want, to seeing those who I love...

How to Manage Rising Anxiety

Liz Headley
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I have just been listening to the news and it mentioned that Mental Health Helplines have had an unprecedented increase in calls from people talking about their raised anxiety levels. I guess this is nothing to be surprised about, for most of us this is an...

Making a Will During COVID-19

Sarah Horton
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COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It is caused by a virus called coronavirus.  You will doubtless be aware that Government and NHS guidance in this area has been changing rapidly, and so you should always seek the most...

Bereavement during COVID-19

Liz Headley
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I have just read the Gov.uk latest advice for safe funerals and whilst I can completely concur with the safety aspects, my heart goes out to all those who can’t say goodbye to their loved one in the way that they would wish. Anyone who has been...

How Brethertons can help your family with bereavement

Emma Stewart
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Help with bereavement during the COVID-19 restrictions We understand how difficult it is at this time if you have lost a loved one and are trying to arrange the funeral. If you are Self-isolating or Shielding and need assistance with anything like...

COVID-19 Coronavirus Announcement March 2020

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In response to the spread of COVID-19, we would like to reassure our clients that we are doing everything possible to continue to provide a full service offering to you. Our Lawyers are now all working remotely from home and can continue to assist you...

Contact with Both Parents

Liz Headley
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Hopefully many separated parents will feel reassured by the information offered in the blog  from Melanie Tubbs, lawyer at Brethertons LLP. It very clearly outlined guidelines on how separated parents can manage contact with their children during this...

Coronavirus and Contact

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In these uncertain times, a lot of parents are concerned about what to do if their children want to see a parent they don’t live with or if there is a Court order in place that says they must send their children for contact. First of all, don’t...

COVID-19 Coronavirus Announcement 24/03

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Announcement : In response to the spread of COVID-19, we would like to reassure our clients that we are doing everything possible to continue to provide a full service offering to you. Our Lawyers are now all working remotely from...

Coronavirus - Brethertons Update 19/03 2020

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At Brethertons the health, wellbeing and safety of our staff as well as our clients is paramount. In response to the spread of COVID-19, we would like to reassure our clients and other visitors to our offices that we are following UK Government...

One in eight of women in the workforce is over 50

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By 2022 this will be one in six. Does your organisation have a menopause policy, or a menopause or wellbeing champion? Many women will have perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms that affect their work: for one in three the symptoms are severe. These range...

Pensions and Decree Absolute

Sheila Osborne
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One of the questions we are frequently asked is:  When should I apply for my Decree Absolute if I have a Pension Sharing Order? When a divorcing couple reach a financial agreement, that agreement should be made into a court order called a Consent...

"Why have I got to see Mum/Dad...I am not going!"

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A separation can be difficult, especially when there are children involved. Children cannot always understand how the situation has changed or why their parents do not get along. However, in some cases the children are prevented from seeing the parent they...

How important is a valid marriage? Part I

Katie Phillips
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The legality of Sharia ‘nikaah’ marriage ceremonies have this week been tested by the Court in the case of Mrs Akhter and Mr Khan. Mrs Akhter and Mr Khan had a religious nikaah ceremony to celebrate their ‘marriage’. But the ceremony...

International divorce - scenario on marital property in Australia

Dawn Millar
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Q:  I am a British citizen, and have lived in England for the past 12 years, but I am Australian by birth.  My spouse and I both live in England, but we have properties in Australia as well as in the UK. Can I make an application in the...

New Senior Associate Joins our Dispute Resolution & Residential Leasehold Team at Brethertons

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This week, Brethertons is delighted to welcome Senior Associate, Dani Green into our experienced Dispute Resolution, Residential Leasehold and Enfranchisement team. Dani rejoins Brethertons from Bolt Burdon where she was a Senior Enfranchisement...

Think your employer doesn't have a right to your private life? Think again.

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A recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) case has upheld a decision that a Probation Service Officer (PSO) was fairly dismissed for failing to disclose to her employer child protection issues and dealings with social services. The Tribunal correctly found...

International Divorce

Dawn Millar
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It is vital to obtain early advice when contemplating a divorce or separation, particularly when there is an international element to the decision. Whether divorcing parties marry or live outside of England and Wales, or they have property or investments...

Spotlight on..A Placement Year in Marketing

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Author: Anca Bogdan, Marketing 1. How long have you been at Brethertons? I have been working at Brethertons for around 7 months now, I started on the 15th July 2019. 2. What career path have you taken so far? I am a Coventry University student,...

Spotlight on..Careers in Marketing & CRM

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At Brethertons we are proud to have a hard-working, vibrant Marketing and CRM team based in our Banbury office. Our team work with all of the practice areas to support with any marketing and new business development they require. Working as a Marketing and...

Spotlight On..A New Brethertonian - Rebecca Cross

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Author: Rebecca Cross, Family 1.       How long have you been at Brethertons? I started on 14 th October 2019 2.       Why did you join Brethertons?  I saw the advertisement for...

Whistleblowing protections - Who? What? When?

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You might have seen in the recent press reports on the Supreme Court case of District Judge Claire Gilham, whom the SC found to be a ‘worker’. This important categorisation of her employment status has established her full...

Spotlight on..An Associate

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Author: Pasqualina Marcucci - Residential Conveyancing 1.          How long have you been at Brethertons?             A little over six years. I will be...

Spotlight on..Careers in Wills, Trusts and Probate

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At Brethertons we are proud to have an award winning Wills, Trusts and Probate team operating out of all 3 offices; Banbury, Bicester and Rugby. Our lawyers specialise in giving clear, pragmatic advice on the personal affairs of clients. We are empathetic...

Spotlight on..A New Brethertonian - Tas Harknett

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Author: Tas Harknett, Financial Controller 1. How long have you been at Brethertons? I have been at Brethertons for just under two months! 2. Why did you join Brethertons?  I joined because I wanted to work in a new industry and working in the...

Spotlight on... An Executive Lawyer

Annabel Burchett
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Author: Annabel Burchett - Wills, Trusts & Probate 1. How long have you been at Brethertons? I have been working at Brethertons since October 2018.    2. What career path have you taken so far? I undertook my law degree at the...

Spotlight on...Careers in Residential Conveyancing

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At Brethertons we are proud to have an award winning Residential Conveyancing department, operating out of all 3 offices; Banbury , Bicester and Rugby . We believe our conveyancing services stand out from the crowd by focusing greatly on client care...

New Associate Joins Residential Leasehold Team at Brethertons

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This week, Brethertons is delighted to welcome new Associate, Verity McMahon to its experienced Enfranchisement and Residential Leasehold Law team.      Verity joins Brethertons from Adcocks Solicitors Limited where she was a Leasehold...

New Year Resolutions For Business People

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Every year without fail millions of people make New Year's resolutions, most of which will be broken by 5 th January. An easy way to keep a New Year resolution is to make one that will benefit your business. During the course of the year, commercial...

Why Business People Need To Make A Will

Sarah Horton
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If you want an easy to keep New Year resolution, make one that you know makes sense, have probably been putting off for years and that will benefit your business. A significant number of people never make a Will even though we have all heard the saying...

Key Considerations for Tenants before signing a Commercial Lease

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When agreeing terms of a Commercial Lease with your Landlord, some matters such as rent, the extent of the property being let and the term of the lease are ordinarily addressed, however often other equally important terms are not addressed in the level of...

Commercial Lease Renewals - Be Prepared For When The End Is Nigh!

Julia McVeigh
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When a commercial lease is coming up for a renewal it can now present the Tenant/Lessee with an interesting and possibly lucrative opportunity. It could also prove to be unusually expensive! When considering a Lease renewal, you firstly need to know which...

Directors Duties - Stick Your Nose In Your Own Business!

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There is often a misconception that once someone is appointed director of a limited company they can pretty much act as they please. It is not that simple. This blog post seeks to explain a little about some of the issues that arise when taking on the...

What if my ex and I cannot agree which school our child should go to?

Poppy Harber
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Once parties separate there is sometimes a disagreement as to which school their child should attend, particularly if the separation results in a child’s address changing or if parents have separated some time before a child starts school.  A...

New Partner Joins Brethertons Wills, Trusts and Probate Team

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This week, Brethertons welcomes new partner, Sarah Horton to its experienced Wills, Trusts and Probate team.  Sarah joins Brethertons from Johnson & Gaunt where she was a Head of the Wills, Trusts and Probate department. Sarah has over 10...

Why Resolution is beneficial for separating families in more ways than one?

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All of our lawyers here at Brethertons are encouraged to be members of Resolution.  But what does that mean for our clients? Resolution is a body of family law professionals who promote dealing with family law in a constructive and non-confrontational...

Happy Halloween! Now let's talk about Christmas...

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The clocks have changed and autumn is well and truly underway; bringing soggy leaves and (already!) pink, frosty mornings.  It’s an exciting time of year, with its pops and bangs and sparkle and parties… Or is it?  Perhaps...

How do I enforce my Child Arrangements Order?

Jemma Bryans
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  • Author

A problem that can unfortunately arise from having the benefit of a Child Arrangements Order is when a parent or other individual named in the order fails to comply with the provisions of the order. To apply to enforce your Child Arrangements Order you must...

Brethertons picks up three awards at the ESTAS Conveyancer Awards 2019

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Leading legal services provider Brethertons LLP, is celebrating after winning three awards at the ESTAS Conveyancer Awards 2019.   The ESTAS Awards which took place on Friday 18 th October in London, determine the best conveyancing firms in the UK....

Family, Personal Injury and Real Estate Litigation teams at Brethertons Highly Rated in Midlands and Thames Valley

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Leading legal services provider, Brethertons LLP, is celebrating after being named as one of the top law firms in the Midlands and Thames Valley by one of the leading industry publications, Chambers and Partners UK Guide 2020. The Chambers and Partners UK...

The Office of The Public Guardian announces a further Refund Scheme for Deputyship fees

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It was only in February 2018 that after a review the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) announced that having reviewed their fees, they had overcharged on the registration fee for Lasting and Enduring Powers of Attorney from 01/04/2013 to 31/03/2017 and set...

Top 200 law firm, Brethertons Solicitors has promoted six lawyers to Partner

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We are delighted to announce that six lawyers have become Partners here at Brethertons: Kim Lehal - Family  Dominic Wisdom  -  Family Sioban Calcott -  Dispute Resolution David Richards  - ...

Berks Bucks and Oxon Law Society Legal Excellence Awards 2019

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We are delighted to announce that  Roger Hardwick , Partner and specialist Enfranchisement and Residential Leasehold solicitor  has won the ‘Lawyer of the Year’ at the Berks Bucks and Oxon (BB &O) Law Society awards . The...

Brethertons Rated One of the Top Legal Service Providers in the Legal 500 UK

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Brethertons was rated one of the top legal service providers in the West Midlands and South East regions. We are delighted to announce that Brethertons has again been recommended in The Legal 500 UK 2020, with a remarkable 12 teams receiving...

Security of tenure in leases - why is it a big deal?

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Well the answer depends on whether you are a landlord or a tenant. In summary, security of tenure is the tenant’s statutory right under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 to be granted a new lease of their business premises once their current lease...

Can I change my child's surname?

Bethany Martindale
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  • Author

When parents separate, an issue that can arise is that of changing the child’s surname, usually because the mother may wish to revert to her maiden name or perhaps if she meets a new partner and the new family unit wish to all share the same name. It...

Brethertons Scoop Two Awards at the Law Firm Services Awards 2019

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We are delighted to announce that last night, at the Law Firm Services Awards 2019, Brethertons were named ‘Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year’ for West Midlands, for the second year in a row, as well as receiving the Bronze Award for...

What took so long? Domestic Abuse Bill given prominence again in Parliament

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In the year ending March 2018, an estimated 2 million adults aged 16 to 59 experienced domestic abuse in the last year (1.3 million women and 695,000 men). This is an alarming government statistic. Something needs to change and fast....

Brethertons is Shortlisted for Four Awards at the ESTAS Conveyancing Awards 2019!

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  We are thrilled to announce that we have been shortlisted for the regional awards for our offices in Banbury, Bicester and Rugby as well as the award for the Best Local Group at the  ESTAS Conveyancing Awards 2019. The ESTAS Conveyancing...

Right to Buy - Meaning and Eligibility

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Have you ever thought about purchasing your council/housing association property? Perhaps as a way to climb the property ladder or secure your home for your future and that of your family? If eligible, the scheme would allow you to purchase the property at...

Costs Orders in Financial Proceedings: Getting your Ex to pay!

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It is now fairly well accepted that the rule in family proceedings is that “each party pays their own costs”. At least, it has been so since 2006 when it was incorporated into the Family Procedure Rules following judicial criticism in 2003. ...

Brethertons is Shortlisted as Family Law Firm of the Year for the South 2019

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We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for ‘Family Law Firm of the Year: South’ at this year’s Family Law Awards. The Family Law Awards , which will take place on Wednesday 27th November in London, is a highly...

Men in Controlling Coercive Relationships

Liz Headley
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After commending the programme I Am Nicola, aired by Channel 4, I was thinking how useful it would be if we were able to watch a programme where a male suffered abuse at the hands of a female perpetrator. Unfortunately, in my experience it is not uncommon to...

What if my ex doesn't return our child from holiday?

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As we are coming to the end of the school summer holidays, the issue of a child being returned from a pre-agreed holiday may be an anxious time for some separated parents. More often than not, when parents separate, the issue of holiday contact and a summer...

Emotional Abuse and Control - 'I am Nicola'

Liz Headley
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  • Author

Did you watch the Channel 4 programme “ I Am Nicola ” aired on 23 rd July 2019 starring Vicky McClure and Perry Fitzpatrick? It was extremely powerful viewing offering great insights into the insidious nature of emotional abuse. Nicola and...

Stress of Summer School Holidays

Liz Headley
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  • Author

It would be nice to think that the idea of having your children home for six long and sun filled weeks would bring a certain amount of pleasure to parents and I am sure that it can. However, the other side of that is the worry about childcare, if parents...

Brethertons Ranked as One of the Top Legal Service Providers in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2019

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Leading legal services provider Brethertons LLP, is celebrating after being named as one of the top law firms in the region of Oxford and Surrounds for Private Wealth Law. The Chambers High Net Worth Guide researches and ranks the world’s best...

Brethertons Appointed As Members of Equity Release Council

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Top 200 law firm Brethertons LLP have been accepted into the membership of the Equity Release Council (ERC).    The ERC governs standards of conduct and practice in the equity release sector and aims to spread awareness of how homeowners can...

Energy Efficiency - Can you afford to ignore it?

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Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) Owners of a commercial property – whether they intend to rent or sell the property – must comply with various obligations before the rental or sale of the property can take place. This could involve capital...

Forfeiture - potential pitfalls you need to be aware of

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Forfeiture provides the right for a landlord to enter the property let to the tenant and reclaim ownership prior to the contractual termination of the lease due to the tenants default. It is arguably a draconian measure and one which the Law Commission has...

Comparison of Residential and Commercial Lease Service Charges

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There are substantial differences between residential and commercial leases. Residential service charges are the subject of substantially more legislation and rules than those of commercial leases. Although there are the RICS Guidelines in respect of...

Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2019

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Brethertons Solicitors Highly Commended at the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2019 Brethertons are delighted to announce that we have been awarded highly commended Solicitor Firm of the Year – Outside London at the Enfranchisement and...

When it's too late for a Power of Attorney

Amber Morris
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  • Author

“I’m still young.” “I’ll get around to it at some point.” “It won’t happen to me.” We regularly hear the above reasons not to make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) . A number of things can cause...

Dangers of AirBnB Leasehold Properties

  • Posted

Do remember that short-term property lets are not a new phenomenon. Organisations like AirBnB have recently grown which has made the issues concerning short-term lets a new focus. AirBnB has become the shorthand reference to these particular types of let....

The success of the pre-action protocol for debt claims?

Ben Foley
  • Posted
  • Author

Are you a property manager looking to recover a debt from a tenant and/or guarantor (where the tenant/guarantor is an individual)? This blog reviews the pre-action protocol for debt claims and how successful it has been since its introduction. Background...

Buying a Commercial Property at Auction?

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Purchasing a property at auction is an appealing prospect for potential buyers in that valuable investments can be obtained on favourable financial terms. Therefore, to ensure that this is the case, potential buyers are advised to give consideration to the...

White Paper - Top 10 Legal Cases All Property Managers Should Know

  • Posted

Leading Property Management, Legal Services provider Brethertons will release a new white paper focused on the ‘Top 10 Legal Cases All Property Managers Should Know’ . The white paper is the product of a research project with leading Barristers...

Brethertons Strengthens its Legal Services Offering for Property

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Top 200 law firm, Brethertons Solicitors is delighted to announce the promotion of Partner and Head of Practice Area, Debbie Phillips to Director of Legal Services for Property. Alongside this, Debbie has been welcomed in the Executive Committee at...

Pre-nuptial Agreements and Family Farms

Priti Vadgama
  • Posted
  • Author

At the start of any relationship or even if you are thinking of getting married you may not be thinking about getting a pre-nuptial agreement. However more and more people are finding out how their relationships can be strengthened by them discussing...

Divorce and the Family Farm

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If you are in the farming community and in the midst of a separation, the thought of divorce and somehow untangling assets is probably one keeping you awake at night. However, whilst cases which centre around a family farm can be complicated, we at...

New CEO appointed at Top 200 Law Firm

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Brethertons LLP has announced the appointment of Alison McCormack to the position of CEO effective from the 11th April, succeeding Shaun Jardine. Alison joined Brethertons ten years ago in 2009. Before joining Brethertons, Alison spent nearly 14 years at...

"No fault" Divorce

Dawn Millar
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Will “no fault” divorce bring about a whole new concept – divorce in haste, repent at leisure? The proposed new legislation for no fault divorce means that one spouse/civil partner can give the other formal notice that they want a...

The Gig Economy - Where are we now?

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“Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world’s most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world’s largest accommodation...

When is the right time to divorce?

Priti Vadgama
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  • Author

Divorce can be a difficult, stressful and traumatic time and it is therefore arguable that it is never a good time to divorce. However the recent case of Jenkins v John Collins Partners Solicitors Ltd published on 4 th April 2019 illustrates that timing in...

How much notice? The proposed changes for the "no-fault eviction" procedure

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For those that work within the Housing Sector it has become apparent that there is increasing pressure on Local Authorities and Housing Associations to provide housing for tenants that are no longer able to remain in privately rented accommodation. There...

Civil Partnership Vs. Marriage

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As of March 26th 2019 we find ourselves on the cusp of new legal territory in the world of Family Law, although what substantive difference it will make on a practical level is dubious. On 26th March 2019 the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths...

Local Solicitor Appointed To The Bench

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Law firm Brethertons LLP is delighted to announce that one of their Partners, Matthew Montanaro, has been appointed to sit as a Deputy District Judge. Matthew Montanaro a Partner in the Child Care Team was appointed to the Midlands Circuit on the 13 March...

Brethertons Doubles Size of Partnership

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Top 200 law firm, Brethertons Solicitors has promoted nine members of staff to Partner, effectively doubling the size of the Partnership in one fell swoop. Joining the Partnership are lawyers Amy Edwards; (Employment and Company Commercial), Tom Ansell; (...

Standstill agreements - to use or not to use

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If you are currently a party to a standstill agreement in an "inheritance act" claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 then you might wish to give this article some serious thought. Standstill agreements are...

Brethertons recognises Residential Leasehold specialist

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Top 200 law firm, Brethertons Solicitors is delighted to announce the promotion of Chartered Legal Executive Linda Ball. Linda Ball, a member Residential Leasehold team has now become one of only 22 Associates in the firm. Linda’s workload focuses...

New Appointment for Dispute Resolution Team at Brethertons

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Top 200 law firm Brethertons LLP grows its Dispute Resolution team with appointment of Chartered Legal Executive George Smith. George brings a wealth knowledge to the Dispute Resolution team, with expertise in dealing with contested Wills, disappointed...

Brethertons Expand Team of Legal Experts in Dispute Resolution

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Top 200 law firm Brethertons LLP expands its Dispute Resolution team with appointment of Susan Ellis as Associate Solicitor. Susan brings a wealth of expertise to the Dispute Resolution team, specialising in housing, leasehold management and residential...

Buying a home

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Congratulations, you have found your dream home and had your offer accepted. What do you need to do next? 1. You need to choose a solicitor There are many conveyancing firms out there, I would advise to phone for a quote rather than looking at online...

Brethertons appoints new Head of HR

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Top 200 law firm Brethertons LLP appoints Christine Morran to the firm as Head of Human Resources. Christine who has previously worked for Thames Valley Police, Bibby Financial Services and more recently The Curve Group will be responsible for the...

The removal and replacement of the cladding on your building

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Who is going to pay for the removal and replacement of the cladding on your building? In the immediate aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, on 14 June 2017, the Department for Communities and Local Government (“DCLG”) issued initial written...

Purchasing property with a partner

  • Posted

In my 7 years in practice I have come to realise something; at the risk of sounding woefully unromantic, a property purchase is a business transaction. Full stop. Like purchasing shares in a business, buying a classic car or even investing in legal...

Selling your home

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“How long will it take to sell my house ?” is probably the question we are asked most as conveyancing solicitors. So how long does it take? If you like watching soaps, you may be under the impression that by simply signing a Transfer Deed...

Brethertons appoints new Company Commercial Paralegal

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We have appointed a new Company Commercial paralegal to our team of legal specialists. Sara De Rinaldis joins Brethertons from Meade King Solicitors where she worked as a Corporate Paralegal for over 2 years. She has experience in dealing with a...

International Womens Day

  • Posted

International Women's Day (IWD) on 8th March 2019 celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and also continues to campaign for gender parity. In 2016, Lexis Nexis blogged about women in the legal profession stating...

Starting an Apprenticeship

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Author: Charlotte Ogilvie This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week by highlighting the stories of some of the apprentices who have started their careers at Brethertons and the different paths they have chosen following completion of their...

Abbie's Apprenticeship Journey

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This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week by highlighting the stories of some of the apprentices who have started their careers at Brethertons and the different paths they choose following completion of their qualifications. We are proud of...

Probate Stealth Tax

  • Posted

When a loved one passes away, your Executors might need to apply for a “Grant of Probate”. This document gives your Executors the power to close your bank accounts, sell your house and carry out any wishes you have given in your Will. ...

A day in the life of an Apprentice

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Author: Sophie Kite This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week by highlighting the stories of some of the apprentices who have started their careers at Brethertons. We are proud of the investment we make into those starting their careers and...

Stamp Duty changes

  • Posted

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is the payment of tax required if you buy a property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. There are particular thresholds which determine just how much SDLT is due starting at £125,000 for...

The Homes Act 2018 - The Grenfell Effect?

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The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (the “Act”) is a prime example of a piece of legislation which has been in the pipeline for some time however, it would appear that the tragic circumstances of the Grenfell Tower disaster has...

New Appointment for Serious Injury Team at Brethertons

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We are delighted to welcome Allison Fitchett as a Senior Associate to our  Serious Injury team . Allison brings a wealth expertise in all aspects of serious injuries law which will enhance the team’s nationally recognised niche spinal cord...

Religion and belief in the workplace

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What do you do if you feel like your employer has treated you unfairly based on the employer’s own religion or belief? Naturally, you may think of brining a discrimination claim. However, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in the case of Gan...

Brethertons appoints new Family Solicitor

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We are pleased to welcome a new Solicitor, Priti Vadgama , to our Family team .  Priti’s experience is varied across all aspects of Family Law including, divorce, cohabitation issues, financial issues arising from divorce and separation...

New Appointment for Employment Team at Brethertons

  • Posted

We are pleased to welcome Roy Magara as an Associate in our Employment team.    Roy brings a wealth of expertise in both contentious and advisory elements of the law including discrimination, whistleblowing claims, restrictive covenants,...

Proud platinum sponsor of the 2019 IRPM Annual Seminar

  • Posted

Brethertons is the proud platinum sponsor of the 2019 IRPM Annual Seminar Brethertons is delighted to confirm it is the platinum sponsor of this year’s Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) Annual Seminar , taking place on Thursday 13...

Cost of a Death Certificate to rise by 275%

Amber Morris
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  • Author

Many people will know that when registering a death you can obtain copies of a death certificate for just £4.00 each. After the initial registration, it would cost you £7.00 to obtain each official copy. As of tomorrow (Saturday 16th February...

Valentine's Day

Liz Headley
  • Posted
  • Author

Well it’s that time of year again and for those more optimistic than me it can be a time of anticipation and excitement. What could be better than waiting for a huge romantic gesture from either your partner or your potential new partner? I do wonder...

Consultation on extending maternity rights

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I have recently returned to my role in Brethertons’ employment team from a ten-month period of maternity leave, and in this time I was fortunate in meeting a sociable circle of new parent friends.  During my maternity period (whilst adapting to...

It's National Sickie Day!

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Hot on the heels of January’s depressing Blue Monday comes today’s ‘National Sickie Day’, apparently. Statistically the first Monday in February heralds the highest number of sick days of the year in Britain – whether this...

Our Innovative Approach

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Our Innovative Approach: Why we are offering our fixed fee divorce for a third of the price. It is a common misconception that divorce is a simple and easy process, especially with the large, confusing and repetitive information that can be found on the...

Changes in Domestic Abuse Laws

Liz Headley
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  • Author

It was good to see and hear in the media last week that there are going to be potential changes in Domestic Abuse Laws in the future. It feels at last that some of the ‘mysteries’ around domestic abuse are being addressed. Not so long ago when...

Emotional Abuse - Crystal's story

Liz Headley
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  • Author

The idea of domestic abuse usually conjures images of physical suffering however, a great number of individuals suffer from emotional abuse which is just as damaging but often suffered for longer due to the lack of visible evidence. Crystal is a fictional...

Domestic Abuse - Hidden Effects on Children

Liz Headley
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  • Author

Sometimes it can be hard for parents to accept that even though they believe they have done their very best to protect their children from the conflict between them, children can be really good at picking up on tension and there will be an emotional and/or...

Domestic Abuse - what protection can the Courts offer?

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Recent blogs by my colleagues Kim Lehal and Liz Headley have discussed in detail what domestic abuse is and what behaviour constitutes abuse, both physical and emotional but what help and protection is available? Non-Molestation Orders Known informally...

Domestic Abuse: What is coercive control?

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Domestic abuse is more than violence. It is not just physical. A pattern of behaviour which seeks to take away a person’s freedom or take away their self-esteem can be more damaging than a single act of violence. Until recently this type of controlling...

Abusive Relationships: Part II

Liz Headley
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  • Author

Emotional Abuse It’s a sad fact that some people remain in very unhealthy relationships and become completely diminished by them. Emotional abuse is often insidious and can be extremely difficult to recognise if it has always been part of a long term...

Abusive Relationships: Part I

Liz Headley
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  • Author

What is an Abusive Relationship? If someone mentions the word abuse a whole range of mental images appear in people’s minds usually depicting physical maltreatment of some description, where victims are bruised, battered and left considerably visually...

Brethertons win Corporate Fundraiser of the Year

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We are delighted to have been awarded the ‘Corporate Fundraiser of the Year’ at the Oxfordshire Mind Supporter Awards 2018. At the end of 2017, Brethertons' employees voted to make Mind their Charity of Choice and have been raising money...

Brethertons Highly Commended at Property Awards

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At a fabulous Christmas in New York themed ceremony on the 23rd November 2018 in Finsbury Square London, Brethertons were thrilled to receive ‘Highly Commended’ recognition in the Legal Services Provider of the Year award. The News on the...

Three Easy Steps to Protect Your Property From Fraud

Lottie Dunkley
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  • Author

Property fraud is on the rise and your property is probably the most valuable asset you own so it is important to protect it from the risk of fraud. People are increasingly falling victim to property fraud because the tactics fraudsters use are much more...

Is Brexit a ground for frustration?

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In the recent case of Canary Wharf (BP4) T1 Limited (Landlord) and European Medicines Agency (Tenant); the Tenant is seeking to rely on the doctrine of Frustration to vacate its premises at Canary Wharf, London. Frustration is a doctrine that acts as a...

Stamp Duty for Shared Ownership Properties

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You may by now have heard the news from the Autumn Budget that first-time buyers purchasing shared ownership homes will be eligible for first-time buyers relief. But what does this actually mean? We’ve set out below an overview of the law, the changes...

Brethertons Recommended in Chambers & Partners UK 2019 Guide

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We are thrilled that Brethertons has again been recommended in 4 practice areas in the Chambers & Partners UK 2019 Guide, with a notable 7 lawyers receiving individual recommendations. Chambers & Partners UK researches the world’s most...

Brethertons Rated One of the Top Legal Service Providers in the West Midlands and South East Regions

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We are delighted to announce that Brethertons has again been recommended in 11 practice areas in The Legal 500 UK 2018 , with a remarkable 16 teams receiving recommendations. The Legal 500 is the leading guide to law firms in the UK. It is a client’s...

Brethertons welcomes Commercial Property Associate

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We are pleased to welcome Bejul Lakhani-Lever as the latest addition to our Commercial Property team. With over ten years of Commercial Property specialism, Bejul’s wide range of experience will prove an invaluable asset to the established...

Ten Rising Stars with New Internal Promotions

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We are delighted to announce our latest round of internal promotions with the success of ten of our valued lawyers. At Brethertons, we are focused on the growth of the business and we believe a key way is achieved through the development and...

Brethertons Achieve Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year

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We are delighted to announce that last night, at the annual Law Firm Services Awards , Brethertons were named the ‘Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year’ for Wales and the West Midlands. Our Conveyancing team, who work out of our three ...

Warwickshire Legal Aid Franchise Awarded

Simon Craddock
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  • Author

We are pleased to announce that as of the 3rd September 2018, we have a Family Law Legal Aid franchise to cover the Warwickshire area with work being carried out from our Rugby office. This is an expansion from the Banbury office which has had the...

The Children Act on the Big Screen

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A few years ago, I was very excited to read The Children Act by Ian McEwan – one of my favourite authors and a brilliant read. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered it had been grasped by screenwriters and transformed into a film. The story...

News on the Block's Hot 100

  • Posted

We are delighted to announce that three Brethertonians have again been named in the News on the Block Hot 100 list! News on the Block is a leading publication within the property management sector and its opinion holds great sway throughout the industry. ...

Nuptial Agreements: Where are we now?

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You will be held to the terms of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement as long as it is fair. From the days of my studies though, and the early part of my career, I always had it drummed into my head that Nuptial Agreements were in no way enforceable, and...

National Surrogacy Week

  • Posted

It’s National Surrogacy Week , raising awareness about modern families and about surrogacy. As this is a complex evolving area of law, it is therefore important that legal advice is sought as early as possible. Here is our legal guide to becoming a...

The importance of making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

  • Posted

According to Alzheimer’s Research – the UK’s leading dementia research charity – the number of people with dementia is projected to increase rapidly over the next several decades, mainly due to increases in life expectancy and...

Top Service Provider Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018

  • Posted

Brethertons have been Ranked as One of the Top Legal Service Providers in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2018 Leading legal services provider Brethertons, is celebrating after being named as one of the top law firms in the Oxford and Coventry...

Annual Staff Conference 2018

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On Thursday 5th July, Brethertons held its second Annual Staff Conference. It was a fantastic opportunity for employees across all practice areas and all regional offices to come together to discuss strategy, clients and get involved in team building...

Supporting IRPM by sponsoring Legal Award

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We sponsored and presented the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM) Legal Award for outstanding performance in its full membership exam to Stavros Markantonis, London East Area Manager of Millstream Management Services. Stavros was...

Finalists for the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards

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We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for three awards at the upcoming Modern Law Conveyancing Awards . We have been nominated for Conveyancing Firm of the Year in both the South and Midlands region, as well as National...

Winners at the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards

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We are delighted to announce that Roger Hardwick , Partner in Residential Leasehold, has won both the Solicitor of the Year Award and the Regional Professional of the Year Award at the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards . We were also highly...

Interview with an Associate (Technical Specialist) in Conveyancing

  • Posted

Karen Middleton is an Associate and Licenced Conveyancer in our Residential Conveyancing  team in Rugby. We caught up with her to get an insight into her role and her time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? Dealing...

Am I a Cohabitee or a Common Law Spouse?

Katie Phillips
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  • Author

The concept of a ‘Common Law’ spouse is not a new one, but over the years the term has gone out of fashion so, I had believed the misconception was finally disappearing. I was therefore surprised to see the BBC using the term in their article ...

An Interview with an Executive Lawyer in Corporate Commercial

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Ben Hancox is an Executive Lawyer and Solicitor in our Corporate Commercial team in Rugby.  We caught up with him to get an insight into his role and his time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? The key priorities within my...

Finalists for the Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards

  • Posted

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for three awards at the upcoming Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards . The firm has been nominated for Solicitors Firm of the Year and Roger Hardwick , Partner Residential Leasehold , has...

Building your career - views from a new Brethertonian

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Antonia Kirby is an Executive Lawyer and Solicitor in our Family team in Banbury.  We caught up with Antonia to get an insight into why she joined Brethertons, what Brethertons is like as a place to work, and her experiences during the application...

Interview with an Associate in Residential Conveyancing

Emma Morris
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  • Author

Emma Morris is an Associate (Management Development) in our Residential Conveyancing team.  We caught up with her to get an insight into her role and her time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? As an Associate (MD) in the...

Interview with a Senior Associate (Technical Specialist) in Family

  • Posted

Matthew Montanaro is a Senior Associate (Technical Specialist) and Solicitor in our Family Care team.  We caught up with him to get an insight into his role and his time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? Achieving my...

Interview with an Executive Lawyer in Wills, Trusts and Probate

Laura Stuart
  • Posted
  • Author

Laura Stuart is an Executive Lawyer and Solicitor in our Wills, Trusts and Probate team in Rugby . We caught up with her to get an insight into her role and her time at Brethertons. 1. What are the key priorities in your role? My key priority...

Recovering Tribunal Costs

  • Posted

In the Employment Tribunal the general rule is that each party will bear their own costs. Unlike the Civil Courts, the successful party cannot normally reclaim their costs from the other side. There are exceptions to this rule, if a party has acted...

Changes to Payments in Lieu of Notice

  • Posted

When an employee’s employment is terminating, payments in lieu of notice (“PILONs”) allow employers to pay an employee their basic salary (often in a lump sum) for the notice period which they would otherwise be required to work. This is...

Emma Farrow's Apprenticeship story

  • Posted

Author: Emma Farrow This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week by highlighting the stories of some of the apprentices who have started their careers at Brethertons and the different paths they have chosen following completion of their...

Sophie Gregory's Apprenticeship story

  • Posted

Author: Sophie Gregory This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship week by highlighting the stories of some of the apprentices who have started their careers at Brethertons and the different paths they have chosen following completion of their...

Valentine's Fallout

Liz Headley
  • Posted
  • Author

Well it’s the morning of February 15th and you might be basking in the afterglow of a very romantic, loving evening where you were showered with compliments, good food and other gifts. You might be in a right old ‘strop’ because your...

RED January

  • Posted

It's been just over a week since I finished RED January and surprisingly, I feel like I could do another month of running every day. The effect that exercising has had on me is nothing short of incredible - I feel energised and motivated to continue....

Gender Pay Gap update

  • Posted

The Gender Pay Gap has caused controversy among many and has been the topic of countless debates. It seems that the inequality in pay may be down to more than just direct discrimination, but due to a lack of salary increases for part time workers. Research...

What is a Transfer of Equity?

  • Posted

A transfer of equity or transfer of title is when someone is added or removed from the title to a property. There can be a number of reasons why someone may wish to undertake a transfer of equity of their property. For instance, they may wish to...

The ET fee claims process

  • Posted

Last Friday the employment team received remittance advice from HM Courts and Tribunals Service regarding our first application for Employment Tribunal (‘ET’) fee reimbursement.  The online reimbursement application process is quick and...

Help to Buy: Shared Ownership - What does it mean? Who can help?

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“Shared Ownership” is one of HM Government’s Help to Buy schemes. It is designed to help prospective purchasers who are unable to afford a mortgage for 100% of the property value. It instead offers the purchaser an opportunity to purchase a...

The Gender Pay Gap

  • Posted

Many of you will be familiar with the term the Gender Pay Gap. This is the difference in the average earnings of men and women. In order to reduce the size of the Gender Pay Gap the government has introduced the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap...

Human Rights Act Claims - Guidance Given

  • Posted

When things go wrong with children being looked after or under the watchful eye of the state, damages claims can sometimes be brought for breaches of their Human Rights. What can go wrong? Often it is simply that the local authority has delayed so long in...

Sponsorship licences - what you need to know

  • Posted

Employers are currently struggling to recruit, unemployment rates are low, and in certain industries and sectors the ‘battle for talent’ is a real problem. Employers need to recruit to fill skills gaps in their organisations and some are...

It's that time again... Welcome to 2018!

  • Posted

The first week back at work is always tough, but at least by now, you are getting over the post-holiday blues! I hope that everyone’s New Year’s resolutions are going well, and you have not delved into the box of chocolates just yet. Lots...

Employee, Worker or Self-Employed?

  • Posted

The distinction between workers and the self employed has caused vast confusion to employers and employees in 2017 and is likely to continue to do so in 2018.  We have seen a number of recent cases brought to Tribunal to clarify the status of an...

Brethertons to support mental health charity, Mind, in 2018

  • Posted

Brethertons Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce its Charity of the Year 2018 as the mental health charity, Mind . ‘ Mind ’ is a national charity that provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing mental health issues. As one in...

The Christmas You Want

Liz Headley
  • Posted
  • Author

If this has been the year where a significant relationship has ended for you, you are probably approaching Christmas and New Year with some ambivalence. These mixed feelings are very normal and natural as you are probably facing circumstances that feel...

Arrears Recovery Company of the Year Award!

  • Posted

At a glittering ceremony on the 30th November 2017 at the Supernova in London, we were delighted to fight off tough competition to win the Arrears Recovery Company of the Year award. The News on the Block Property Management Awards, which are now in their...

LPAs - Not an early inheritance or a licence to loot...

  • Posted

In anticipation of tonight’s ITV Tonight programme, Caroline Bielanska, former SFE CEO, and author and trainer for STEP, reaffirms the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and the safeguards people can put in place to ensure their LPAs are...

Why should I make a Will?

  • Posted

Author: Richard Biddle Ever thought about making a Will but didn’t? Are you worried about making a Will and therefore don’t get around to it? You are not alone, as approximately 60% of people in England and Wales have not made a Will.  You...

Sweeping reforms sought by The Times

Katie Phillips
  • Posted
  • Author

I was interested to see on the front page of The Times recently that they are calling for an end to “unjust” and “outdated” divorce laws, and have started a campaign to modernise family law. One of the calls by The Times has...

Tribunal Fee Refunds

  • Posted

The day has come; the pilot scheme for Tribunal Fee Refunds has finished and has now been opened up to everyone. If you paid a Tribunal fee since the introduction in July 2013 then you can apply for a refund either online or by post. If you think you are...

Brethertons Annual Staff Conference

  • Posted

On Tuesday 21st November, Brethertons held its first Annual Staff Conference. It was a fantastic opportunity for employees across all practice areas and all regional offices to come together to discuss strategy, clients and develop people engagement. Shaun...

The Hot 100!

  • Posted

We are delighted to announce that this year five Brethertonians have been named in the News on the Block Hot 100 list! News on the Block is a leading publication within the property management sector and its opinion holds great sway throughout the...

Divorce increases to highest level since 2009

  • Posted

Figures released in the news last week show that the number of divorces last year in England and Wales have increased to their highest level since 2009. It is believed that the reason for higher divorce levels is due to ‘household debt’ and...

Promotions of 11 lawyers

  • Posted

Brethertons are delighted to announce the promotions of 11 of its lawyers.   Within Private Client Family Care, Matthew Montanaro has become a Senior Associate with both Joanne Soar and Anna Pugh appointed Associates, all based in Banbury. Gemma...

Shortlisted as Arrears Recovery Company of the Year

  • Posted

We are delighted to announce that Brethertons has been shortlisted for the ‘Arrears Recovery Company of The Year’ at the upcoming Property Management Awards , hosted by News on the Block . The Property Management Awards, which will take place...

Tribunal fees refund scheme commences

  • Posted

Further to the Supreme Court’s decision in July 2017 that the Employment Tribunal (‘ET’) fees regime was unlawful, and the immediate abolition of the fees, the Government launched the opening stage of its ET fee refund scheme last week....

Workload wellbeing

  • Posted

World Mental Health Day happens every year on the 10 October.  Its objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues and to mobilise efforts in support of mental health care around the world.  We work to live (or live to work), so it is...

Shortlisted as Family Law Associate Solicitor of the Year

  • Posted

We are delighted to announce that Gemma Kelsey, an associate within the Family department at Brethertons, has been shortlisted for ‘Family Law Associate Solicitor of the Year’ at the upcoming Family Law Awards . The family law awards, which...

Flexible Working

  • Posted

Flexible working is a term that strikes fear in many employers. June 2014 saw flexible working rights extended to all employees not just parents. This means that any employee (provided they are eligible) can make a formal or informal request to change their...

Latest gig economy decision - drivers are workers, not self-employed

  • Posted

Unless you have managed to escape to an exotic destination for the last few months (without the use of a taxi) you will have, at the least, heard the name “Uber” in the news. Uber was first in the public eye just over a year ago in relation to a...

The appointment of seven new Trainee Solicitors

  • Posted

Following a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to announce the appointment of seven traineeships starting in September 2017. The training contracts have been awarded to three internal staff members; Sophie Forsyth, Emma Simmonds and Gulsabaah Kasu,...

Teacher's Bias

Liz Headley
  • Posted
  • Author

Well it’s that time of year again when a lot of young people will be embarking on the next stage of their journey through the education system. Depending on their exam results, either GCSEs or A Levels, they will now have a better idea of what the near...

Beware! Guarantors ability to walk away

David Richards
  • Posted
  • Author

Landlords need to be aware that when they have a Surety Guaranteeing, for example, a tenants obligation in a Lease, that it is possible to undermine that protection by reaching further agreements with the Tenant.  If there is any variation to the terms...

Tribunal Fees Update

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The uncertainty regarding Tribunal Fees continues.  The President of the Employment Tribunals has said that all claims brought “in reliance upon the decision of the Supreme Court” in the Unison case are to be stayed. This means that claims...

Unusual Break Clause Pitfall

David Richards
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Break Option Pitfall It is an established legal principle that when a lease comes to an end any under lease will automatically terminate. Under The Act a tenancy created by an under lease will continue against the landlord due to security of tenure. In...

The Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims

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The Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims – in Force from 1 October 2017 The Protocol for Debt Claims has now been approved and is due to come into effect as from the 1 October 2017. Below we set out the main points of the Protocol, how this will affect...

Moving rights of way

David Richards
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The case of Shaw –v – Grouby & Another [2017] EWCA CIV233 Among other issues this case considered what was “necessary” for access under a right of way. The article explores this issue. Background The (‘property’) is...

Making the most of your time

Liz Headley
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Two very diverse events recently have prompted me to think about writing this blog, the first was something that my son showed me that had been shared on Facebook. It concerned a Professor lecturing a group of students in America, I’m not sure...

What does the Employment Tribunal fees ruling mean for employees?

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As you have probably already heard the Supreme Court has decided that the current Employment Tribunal fees are in fact unlawful. Unison brought proceedings to challenge the legality of  Employment Tribunal fees (the fees that an employee has to pay...

Permanently excluded from primary school

Liz Headley
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I watched a documentary last Wenesday evening about the rising number of primary school aged children who are being permanently excluded from mainstream education. This means that pupils as young as 5 years old are behaving in such an extreme way –...

What does the Employment Tribunal Fee ruling mean?

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As you have probably already heard the Supreme Court has decided that the current Employment Tribunal fees (the fees that an employee has to pay when they want to bring a claim against their employer) are in fact unlawful. There has been huge...

Keeping Your Children Occupied

Liz Headley
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Are you a single parent with children? How are you feeling about the next six - seven weeks?  The long summer school holidays are stretching ahead of you and in all probability your kids will be really looking forward to the break and not having to go...

Brethertons Announced as Conveyancing Firm of the Year - Midlands

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Last night at a glittering ceremony at the Rum Warehouse in Liverpool, we picked up the ‘Conveyancing Firm of the Year’ Award for the Midlands at the Eclipse Legal Modern Law Conveyancing Awards . Spanning Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, we are...

A Different Sort Of Holiday

Liz Headley
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You’ve sorted out the holiday wardrobe, you’ve bought a generous supply of sun creams, checked the passports and got your money supply sorted. The holiday reading is in the case sandwiched in between those exotic, glamorous garments that you...

Separated Family Holidays

Liz Headley
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As the long school summer holiday approaches I find myself having more and more frequent conversations with children and young people regarding their holidays with separated parents . Getting two holidays instead of one could be construed as one of the...

Southern Conveyancing Firm of the Year

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We are delighted to announce we have been shortlisted in this year’s Law Firm Services (LFS) Conveyancing Awards for the sixth time since 2012. This year we have been shortlisted to win the 2017 Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year for both the...

Oxfordshire Solicitor Triumphs at Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards (ERMAs) 2017

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It gives us great pleasure to announce that Roger Hardwick , Partner in the  Residential Leasehold team at Brethertons LLP has won two awards at the prestigious News on the Block Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards (ERMAs) 2017. At the...

Brethertons shortlisted in national Conveyancing awards

Alison McCormack
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We are pleased to announce that our Conveyancing team have beaten off tough competition to be shortlisted for the Eclipse Proclaim Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2017 in the ‘Conveyancing Firm of the Year - Midlands’ category.  The...

Fantastic Four - Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards 2017

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We are delighted to announce our specialist Residential Leasehold Law team has been shortlisted as finalists at News on the Block’s prestigious Enfranchisement and Right to Manage Awards! The awards celebrate professional excellence in the...

Brethertons are #SCIAware

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Today, Brethertons join in marking National Spinal Cord Injuries Awareness Day #SCIAware. Brethertons are proud corporate partners of the Spinal Injuries Association and its work to help those who have to live with spinal cord injury. Jon Rees who leads...

Brethertons put on Hats for Headway

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Today, Brethertons' Serious Injury team donned their wackiest hats to raise vital funds for those living with the effects of brain injury. As part of Action for Brain Injury Week 2017 (8 – 14 May), Hats for Headway day has been organised by the...

Taking to the Dance Floor!

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This year, Brethertons' Debi Kendall is donning her dance shoes and taking to the floor in Strictly Banbury!  She shares with us her story so far: "I am an avid Strictly Come Dancing fan and after watching my Brethertons colleague, Nicole...

Brethertons Appointed to 'Help to Buy Midlands' Solicitors Panel

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We are delighted to report that we have been appointed to the ‘Help to Buy Midlands’ Solicitors Panel – confirming our commitment to the property sector and the affordable housing market.    ‘Help to Buy Midlands’ is...

Brethertons Named as Top Choice for PRS!

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We are delighted to announce that the firm has been judged as the top legal services provider in the country for the Private Rented Sector (PRS). We fought off tough competition to be shortlisted, and was announced as the winner of the...

Could your business be prosecuted?

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What an interesting couple of months for data protection! See below for updates, particularly relating to how businesses can avoid prosecution. Failure to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Businesses that collect...

Brethertons has had a SpecialEffect

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We are delighted to announce we have raised over £8,500 for our Charity of the Year – SpecialEffect. Based near Witney in Oxfordshire, SpecialEffect ‘puts fun and inclusion back into the lives of people with physical disabilities by...

New Inheritance Tax Relief - Coming Soon!

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The 6 th of April 2017 signals the first major Inheritance Tax relief change in a decade and it builds upon the idea of spouses transferring unused tax-free values of assets (Nil Rate Bands) to each other. At present, a person has up to £325,000...

Probate Court Fees Set to Increase

Emma Stewart
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On 24 February 2017, the Ministry of Justice published responses to its consultation on reforming the fees payable for Grants of Representation (“Probate”).  Currently an application for Probate is either £155 if done via a solicitor...

Can Anyone Measure Unhappiness?

Liz Headley
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How sad it was to read last week of a woman not being allowed to escape an unhappy relationship because the judge decreed her reasons for wanting to end the 39 year marriage didn’t fit with his idea of what would make someone feel miserable and unloved...

Discount Rate Reduced. Help for seriously injured Claimants!

Jon Rees
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I help people who have suffered spinal cord injuries. It seems this morning, the government might have as well. It has been announced today that the discount rate will now be reduced from 2.5% to -0.75%. If you have ongoing losses (perhaps future loss of...

Above All Else Keep Talking

Liz Headley
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Before the New Year I read an article in Business Insider UK that describes the results of a survey undertaken by the University of Virginia over a period of 6 years. It looked at the frequency of divorce among a total of 3597 couple who were asked two...

An Alternative Christmas Tale

Liz Headley
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Leading up to the festive period, I have taken the time to reflect on many workshops which I have run looking at the issues of separation around Christmas and domestic abuse.  In doing so I have written a short story which if you are going through a...

Lonely This Christmas

Liz Headley
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It’s the time of year when you turn on the radio and within minutes you will probably be hearing one of the classic Christmas songs. It could be Mariah singing, ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ or Slade with good old Noddy screaming out...

What is a 'No Fault' Divorce?

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There are only 5 grounds upon which you can prove to the court that your marriage has broken down. These are adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion, 2 years’ separation and 5 years’ separation.  Around 95% of my clients come to me...

Contending with Complexity: Managing increasing needs

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On 16 November our Spinal Injury team attended the 18th MASCIP (Multidisciplinary Association for Spinal Cord Injury Professionals) Conference "Contending with Complexity, managing increasing needs" at Loughborough University. It was an...

A Double Win for Brethertons as Top Choice in the UK for the Property Management Industry for Legal Services and Arrears Recovery

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Brethertons is delighted to announce that they have been judged as the top legal service firm and arrears recovery provider in the country for the property management industry. The firm fought off tough competition to be shortlisted, and was announced as...

Is there such a thing as a 'Good Divorce'?

Liz Headley
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This week 28 November to 2 December is ‘Good Divorce Week’, a national awareness campaign spearheaded by Resolution and I am fascinated by what is meant by a ‘good divorce’. Some may say that divorce can never be ‘good’...

Brethertons is judged Family Law Firm of the Year in the Midlands

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Last night at a glittering awards ceremony at the Bloomsbury Big Top, our Family Department were delighted to receive the award for Family Law Regional Firm of the Year in the Midlands. Hotly contested by other large legal services providers, Brethertons was...

Avoid the Pitfalls of Comparative Advertising!

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Comparative Advertising The introduction of the European Comparative Advertising Directive 2006 and its implementation into UK law has allowed for companies to advertise their goods alongside those belonging to a third party as long as certain conditions...

Creating Christmas Memories

Liz Headley
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At this time of year we are surrounded by Christmas adverts on television and in magazines. Whatever version you see, there is usually some reference to happy family times with presents, fun, food and laughter. Generations of families are often seen enjoying...

What is a Trustee?

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This week, 7 th – 13 th November, is Trustees week. In the UK there are just over 1 million charitable trustees.  I’ve been asked before what a trustee is. The word says it all!  You are trusted to help to lead and develop...

Creating Christmas Memories for Children with Two Homes

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Most of us treasure fond memories of family Christmases but it is becoming more and more common for children to experience Christmas in two separate homes and managing this can add additional stress to what already can be quite a challenging time for...

"A Notch Above the Rest"

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Brethertons Rated One of the Top Legal Services Providers in the Midlands and Thames Valley Regions Leading legal services provider, Brethertons, is celebrating after being named as one of the top law firms in their regions by leading industry...

Brethertons' Specialist Appointed as Secretary of Brain Injury Special Interest Group

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  Brethertons’ Katherine Lennon, has been elected as secretary of the Brain Injury specialist interest group (SIG) for the national not-for-profit Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) APIL is the leading organisation in personal...

Sally is instrumental to Brethertons LLP

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Brethertons are celebrating after our Chief Operating Officer Sally Jones, won Non Lawyer of the Year at the Symphony Legal Awards 2016.  The annual event rewards firms and teams in the legal sector and this year introduced a new award recognising...

World Mental Health Day - October 2016

Laura Stuart
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According to the Alzheimer’s Society there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK and 225,000 people will develop dementia this year. With 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 having dementia, a number of those individuals will need assistance from...

Case study: The Brunswick Centre - Landmark Case - Upper Tribunal

Roger Hardwick
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Case study: The Brunswick Centre, Landmark Case in Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)  Summary The Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) held that the statutory obligation to comply with section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (“the 1985...

Managing Your Child's Wedding Day as a Separated Parent

Liz Headley
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This topic is one very close to my heart as my youngest daughter is due to get married very soon. Her Dad and I separated over 17 years ago so we have had plenty of time to ‘let go of the past’ to use a cliché, however it is exactly this...

Business Fraud - protect your business

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Business fraud is on the rise as fraudsters have realised that targeting businesses, rather than consumers, can yield bigger pay-outs.   The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has estimated that CEO fraud (where someone in the business pays a...

Could 'Facebragging' Influence the End of your Relationship?

Liz Headley
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I always knew this day would come, the day I would have to come out of the closet and officially announce that I am a Grumpy Old Woman and that in some ways I fervently dislike social media! There, it’s out now for all to see and in some cases no...

Brethertons wins Landmark Case in Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber)

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Admiralty Park Management Company Ltd v Ojo [2016] UKUT 0421 (LC) Brethertons were instructed by Admiralty Park Management Company Limited, in connection with an appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), from the First-tier Tribunal (Property...

Obsession and Possession

Liz Headley
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After recently writing a blog about parental alienation (link here ) and wondering whether this was more likely if the parental relationship was abusive, I was drawn to think more about how often I have to say to clients that they are the victim of...

Creating your family an alternative way

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We were at the Alternative Parenting Show on Saturday and what a show it was! Fertility experts, surrogacy experts, fostering & adoption experts, legal experts, community networks, parents and celebrities all sharing their experiences under one roof for...

Back to school... worried about contact sports?

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There is no doubt most parents want to encourage children to play sports.  It’s good for a number of reasons but how safe are sports like Rugby? In an open letter dated 1st March 2016, signed by more than 70 doctors and health experts, a warning...

Alternative Family Week - Adopting

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This week is Alternative Family Week - a week dedicated to raising awareness about modern families and giving advice to everyone who would love to be parents. Here is our legal guide to becoming a parent through adoption. Adoption In order to adopt a...

Surrogacy in Alternative Family Week

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Alternative Family Week - your guide to surrogacy This week is Alternative Parenting Week - a week dedicated to raising awareness about modern families and giving advice to everyone who would love to be parents. Here is our legal guide to becoming a...

Brethertons Exhibiting at Alternative Parenting Show

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Brethertons LLP to Exhibit at the Alternative Parenting Show on 24 September 2016 The Alternative Parenting Show is the original and biggest exhibition of its kind held annually for men, women, couples and LGBT’s to obtain discrete advice on...

Brethertons Solicitors Rated as a Top Legal Firm

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Brethertons has once again been named as one of the top law firms in the central region, by leading industry publication The Legal 500 Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession. The Firm’s Family team is ranked in the top tier and described as...

Parental Alienation

Liz Headley
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I was saddened to read in an article in The Guardian that Parental Alienation Syndrome in children was on the increase – saddened but not necessarily surprised. In my role as a consultant counsellor speaking to parents who are going through...

APIL Speaks Out - Compensation Culture and Insurance Premiums

Jon Rees
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As a lawyer who helps people with spinal cord injuries, I have a close interest in the wider issues within the field of personal injury law. There is always a lot of talk around ‘compensation culture’ and when I caught BBC Breakfast last Friday...

Gifting property to your children

Holly Waddelow
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I recently had the pleasure of visiting the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon to watch King Lear. This is the first time I had seen this play and was struck by the in-depth plots and schemes and wonderful performance. But with my lawyer’s head on I also saw...

Domestic Abuse Blog

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Domestic Abuse has historically been referred to as Domestic Violence. Domestic Abuse however, is not just physical violence against someone. Domestic Abuse also covers emotional and psychological abuse as well as coercive behaviour. Many people are often...

Competing in the Olympics for those with a Brain Injury

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At Brethertons we are passionate about ensuring clients who have suffered acquired brain injuries have just as a fulfilling life after an accident as they did before. For some clients, that means participating in sports, whether that’s on a...

Are you afraid of employment tribunals?

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The words ‘Employment Tribunal’ have always caused fear in employers, but why?   The main reason is that most people fear the unknown.  You will have heard horror stories about someone else’s experience (which you need to...

Child Maintenance - The Basics

Josh Russell
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Figures from the DWP published recently indicate that 26% of people who contacted the Child Maintenance Service (or CSA, as it used to be referred to) between February 2015 and January 2016 have set up a Family Based Arrangement. But many people do not...

Is your garden hiding every homeowners worst nightmare?

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In the world of conveyancing, there are a number of things for both current and prospective homeowners to be aware of.  One of these problems is the invasive species of plant, Japanese Knotweed (fallopia japonica).  Japanese Knotweed is an...

Break Clauses - Landlords and Tenants alike beware!

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The recent High Court cases detailed below demonstrate some of the complexities associated not only with the rights to exercising break clauses but also in ensuring leases correctly identify the parties thereto.   The first case highlights the need...

Do you want to send personal data to the US?

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Following the ruling of the European Court of Justice in October 2015 which declared the Safe Harbour framework invalid, the European Commission has now announced its adoption of an adequacy decision approving the new EU-US Privacy Shield. So what does this...

Exam Results - Am I Good Enough?

Liz Headley
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Well today is the day that A Level students will find out whether they have attained the required grades to progress on their chosen path, next Thursday GCSE students will face the same situation. There will no doubt be tears, tantrums and celebrations and...

Will Increasing Court Fees Jeopardise Your Claim?!

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Last month we saw the Ministry of Justice announce a further increase to the Court Fees.  This is in addition to the massive increase that took place in March 2015 which has had a particular impact on catastrophic personal injury cases in particular....

Bicester's Picture Perfect

Steven Neasham
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The finalists of Brethertons Solicitors’ photography competition , #PictureBicester, gathered at the firm’s new Bicester offices on Thursday 11th August, to see their work on display. The four finalists’ photos were highly commended by...

The Torment of Not Being Part of Your Child's Holiday

Liz Headley
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I have just been reading an article in the Guardian on how to survive your ex taking your children on holiday and it has brought home to me how many of the people that I speak to struggle with a myriad of emotions when they have to face this. It would be...

Limited Liability - why risk losing it on the basis of an implied contract?

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A recent decision by the Court of Appeal raises potential risks for companies (and their directors) who are part of a group, about the limited liability protections most companies take for granted. The decision could allow the use of the assets of a...

Reasons for separation and divorce

Liz Headley
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I was interested to read some research by Co-op Legal Services around the reasons why couples choose to divorce in the UK. I wasn’t unduly surprised that top of the list was “An inappropriate relationship with someone else” but quite what...

Worker or self-employed? A drive to determine status

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Uber , a company which allows users to book and pay for a cab through a smartphone app, is reportedly defending claims in the Employment Tribunal made by drivers who consider that they are workers for Uber. Uber considers these drivers are...

It's Official - there's lying and then there's LYING

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A judgement issued by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom last week has confirmed that, in relation to insurance claims at least, there really are two kinds of lies.   The question before the court was whether an insurance company could refuse to...

Should separated parents be friends for the sake of their kids?

Liz Headley
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If separated parents try to maintain an overly friendly relationship with each other it can be very confusing for the children, especially the younger ones.    If the kids have been given a clear, firm message that Mummy and Daddy no longer love...

New Appointments at Brethertons Solicitors

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As part of their vision to become the ‘legal firm of the future’, Brethertons is delighted to announce four new partners within the firm. Interestingly, three of the partners are non-lawyers – an innovation allowed under the firm’s...

We're All Going on a Summer Holiday...

Liz Headley
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If you’re as ancient as me you will remember Cliff Richard extolling the joys of a Summer holiday – “fun and laughter for a week or two” - well, for some couples the very idea of spending two long weeks together with their children...

Maintaining Strong Family Links after Divorce

Liz Headley
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One of the sad repercussions of family breakdown is the potential dismantling of the extended family. If children predominantly live with one parent it can sometimes be difficult for the non resident parent to find the time and opportunity to make sure a...

Wills - a jargon-busting guide

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If I had a pound for every time a customer asked me to explain what a ‘Beneficiary’ or a ‘Trustee’ was or what ‘Executor’ meant…well….let’s just say I wouldn’t need to play the lottery on a weekly...

Move Quickly to Preserve Evidence in Spinal Injuries Cases - it could be decisive

Jon Rees
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The Spinal Injuries Association’s advises patients to interview more than one solicitor in order to make an informed decision about who they instruct. It should be a given that the solicitor contacted via the Spinal Injuries Association Manual will...

Future Enterprises held up by the Big Mac

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In 2010 a Singapore company, Future Enterprises, registered a European-wide trademark for its product ‘MacCoffee’ but this week that trade mark has been removed from the register following a successful court application by McDonalds. This...

The Serious Injury Guide - Common Sense Best Practice

Jon Rees
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The ‘Guide to the Conduct of Cases Involving Serious Injury’ sets out the best practice agreed between those experienced in representing claimants, and defendants’ insurers. It is specifically for cases where the potential value of the...

The Hidden Wounds of Domestic Abuse

Liz Headley
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Recently,  Linda Jones brought our attention to Operation Encompass; a scheme whereby schools are informed if there has been an incident of domestic abuse in a child’s home to which the child has been witness. This feels like a big step forward...