What happens when you die without a Will in England & Wales?

The statutory legacy amount has increased from £250,000 to £270,000, with effect from 6 February 2020. This is the fixed sum that surviving spouses and civil partners are entitled to if their partner dies without a Will (known as dying intestate) and they have children. Although the rise is a welcome development, it is important to be aware that dying without a Will, regardless of your family situation, can cause problems for your loved ones and estate at an already difficult time.

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Business as usual during the Corona Virus outbreak 

We are living in uncertain times at the moment. I am writing to all our clients with Owen White & Catlin to reassure you that we will remain available to you for advice and legal support over the coming weeks and months, providing “business as usual” as far as we can.

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We’re Moving! Hammersmith Office Relocation

Owen White & Catlin is delighted to announce that our Hammersmith Office is relocating. This move is to accommodate our continued growth and enhance our client services. As of 30 March, you’ll be able to find us at our new address, which is Third Floor, Sovereign House, 361 King Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9NA. You can find a map to the office here.

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Is Now the Right Time to Re-Mortgage Your Home?

  Switching your mortgage can seem like an intimidating process, however the process is relatively straightforward, and many homeowners with a mortgage will choose to do so at one time or another. The rate of interest set by the Bank of England has remained below one per cent since 2009 – these historically low-interest rates have enabled buyers and property owners to access better mortgage rates and deals in recent years.

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Practical Tips for Negotiating the Divorce Process

Making the decision to divorce, or being informed by your spouse that they wish to do so, will often result in strong feelings and emotions. The end of your marriage can be overwhelming – the steps you take to resolve issues arising from the end of your relationship will play a vital role in how matters will be handled and how you can move forward. Here, our expert divorce solicitors provide a list of practical tips to help you manage some of the issues that commonly arise during the divorce process. Concentrate on what will be best for your…

Do I Need a Court Order to Settle My Family/Child Dispute?

  The stress and anxiety that comes with separating from your partner is only exacerbated when there are children involved. In an ideal world, parents would come to an amicable decision between themselves about what is best for their child after separation, but this is not always possible. Mediation can be used, whereby parents are assisted by an independent third party to help reach a joint decision about childcare arrangements rather than going to court where a judge makes the decision. However, if you cannot agree on the best way forward, it is always recommended that you seek legal advice…

Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Make a Will Fortnight – 14th – 28th October 2019

For a third year in a row, our Addlestone office will be taking part in the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Make a Will Fortnight. The scheme runs from Monday 14th October for two weeks and enables people to write a new Will (or update their existing Will). There will be no fee payable to us for the Will but you will be asked to make a donation to the hospice. The suggested donations are as follows; Codicil (an amendment to an existing Will) £100 A single Will £150 Joint or Mirror Wills £250…

Fear that abolition of section 21 notices will increase homelessness

In April 2019, the Government announced proposed changes to the tenant eviction process in England. The consultation, which ends on 12th October 2019, is asking for views on how to implement proposals to repeal section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 as well as strengthen the possession procedure under section 8 of the 1988 Act.

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What do Landlords Need to Know About the Tenant Fees Act 2019?

  In May 2019 we highlighted changes coming into force regarding unfair fees charged by letting agents (Tenant Fees Act 2019: Letting Fee Ban Comes into Force 17th May 2019). In this article, we look at the impact on landlords in more detail. What does the new legislation mean for landlords? The Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force on 1st June 2019, radically changing the fees that a landlord can charge their tenants. As a consequence, some costs that previously might have been recovered from tenants may now have to be borne by the landlord. The provisions apply to…

The Extension of Civil Partnerships to Opposite-Sex Couples

Last year, Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, won a landmark case in the Supreme Court to be entitled to a civil partnership rather than marriage (please see our blog Restricting Civil Partnerships to Same-Sex Couples Breaches Human Rights 12th July 2018). It was considered discriminatory that an opposite-sex couple only has the option of marriage, whereas same-sex couples now have two options to formalise their relationship-marriage or civil partnership. Civil partnerships were introduced in 2004 to enable same-sex couples to access similar rights, responsibilities and protections as those afforded by marriage. Marriage was not available to them until legislation in…