If you have a claim against someone, it is important that you send a letter to the prospective defendant setting out full details of your claim. This is called a ‘Letter of Claim’ or “Letter Before Action”. 

The majority of people involved in the rented housing sector (both private and public) in England will encounter the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (“HHSRS”) from time to time.

If you have a child or children under the age of 18, you may have thought about appointing a guardian. But what exactly would this entail, both for you and for them?

All too often, family members make promises to other family members relating to their property. Further, in reliance on those promises and assurances, those family members suffer some kind of detriment in expectation of receiving the specified property or assets.

The day-to-day steps taken by attorneys and deputies are quite similar – but there are some important differences. This question-and-answer document may help to answer some of the more frequent questions people have. 

ChatGPT can be a helpful tool to assist with drafting. You provide clear instructions and context for the document you need to draft, and it will come back with some wording which may be a helpful starting point. For parties who want to launch into litigation over a dispute, the temptation can therefore be to try to start that process by using ChatGPT to prepare the letter of claim. However, that can have significant consequences.

For many people, the family home is their principal asset and a question which we regularly get asked by our clients is whether they should give away their property, or whether they should put it into joint names with their children.

Michelle Beckett reflects on the case of Mrs S, where sadly despite her reporting a breast lump and being seen by her GP on 3 occasions, the appropriate action was not taken until the 3rd appointment and it was argued that this negatively impacted on her long term treatment and prognosis.

With the advent of ‘no-fault divorce’ in 2022, many couples are now able to focus on the practicalities and financial arrangements post-separation, rather than get tied up in lengthy arguments about whose fault the relationship breakdown ultimately was. This has led to a rise in the number couples approaching solicitors when they have either reached an agreement, or are very close to doing so.

In House of Commons today, 19 October 2023, will be the first ever debate in history on the topic of birth trauma. 

The BBC are today (16 October) reporting that a group of 30 organisations, led by Shelter, have written to the Prime Minister to ask him to ensure progress is made with the Renters Reform Bill. The letter says that scrapping the so-called ‘no fault evictions’ should be “at the heart” of Government plans.

There is a strict process that must be followed to comply with the Community Infrastructure Levy (“CIL”) regime and if this process is not followed to the letter, then you could end up paying the price in surcharges and/or the loss of a previously applicable exemption or relief.