Author Archives: hjs

  1. 11th February 2025

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    Please note that our Newton Abbot office will close at 4.50pm on Tuesday 11th February. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

  2. Christmas Day Dinner Fundraising – update!

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    We are thrilled to share the highlights of our December fundraising efforts!

    Thanks to the incredible generosity of our team, partners and Facebook followers during our December Christmas Jumper Day, we successfully raised £500 which was shared between two local and remarkable charities, The Alice Cross Centre & The Salvation Army, Newton Abbot.

    Each year, both charities host their Annual Christmas Dinner event on the big day; a heart-warming event offering a festive meal and companionship to those who might otherwise spend Christmas Day alone.

    On Friday 13th December, we donned our festive garb and raised funds in our offices, and then shared our Facebook post with our followers, with every like gained, being matched with a donation from our Partners.

    Following our fundraising, we were delighted to present both the Salvation Army and The Alice Cross centre with a cheque each for £250.00, helping cover the cost of their Christmas Day Dinners.

    Above: PA, Sophie, pictured with HR Manager, Lindsey and Andy representing The Alice Cross Centre.

    Nigel from the Salvation Army, pictured with PA, Sophie, shared that their day was a great success, with over 50 attendees coming together to enjoy a festive meal, companionship, and holiday cheer.

    Well done, Nigel, the Salvation Army team and The Alice Cross centre, for making Christmas Day brighter for so many!

  3. Joanne Osborne – 20 years with Scott Richards!

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    Raising a congratulatory toast to Private Client Executive, Joanne Osborne!

    Jo has been a dedicated, valued and hard-working part of Team SR for an incredible 20 years this month!

    Jo joined Scott Richards Solicitors in 2005 as an assistant in the Family department, originally based at our Dawlish office. In 2008, she moved to Teignmouth, and joined the Private Client department following the closure of our Dawlish office.

    As a result of her hard work, Jo then undertook a Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Paralegal Studies, and was promoted to Paralegal in 2017.

    Since then, Jo has continued to climb the legal career ladder and develop her legal knowledge. She is now a Private Client Executive, specialising in Wills, LPAs and Probate work and amazingly, is also undertaking further studies to gain her Solicitor qualification.

    Thanks for everything you do, Jo; and here’s to many more 🥂

    Ps. Sorry, we had to drag up an old photo or two! 😉

  4. DIY Wills VS Instructing a Solicitor

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    When planning for the future, deciding how to draft your Will is a critical step in ensuring your wishes are honoured and your loved ones are protected. While a DIY Will, or a non-regulated Will-writing service may seem cost-effective and straightforward, they can carry significant risks. Understanding the pros and cons of each approach is essential to making the right decision, as Paralegal Lucy Hawkins outlines below:

    There are many options available to individuals when looking to prepare a Will, including home-written Wills, Will writers and regulated solicitors such as our firm. Whilst it is tempting to choose the cheaper route, either creating a DIY Will, or instructing a non-regulated Will-writing service, choosing these options may result in issues and further costs later down the line.

    Your Will is an important legal document that needs to be prepared and executed in the right way so as to ensure it is valid. If you choose to write your Will yourself, the risks can include:

    1. Invalid Execution: DIY Wills are often invalidated due to failure to meet formal legal requirements, such as proper witnessing or signing.
    2. Interpretation: Without legal expertise, the wording of a DIY Will may be unclear or open to interpretation. Ambiguities can lead to misunderstandings about your intentions, causing disputes among beneficiaries or claims from unintended parties.
    3. Omissions of Key Provisions: A DIY Will may overlook critical elements, such as appointing guardians for minor children, addressing debts, or stipulating what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you. These omissions can create confusion and legal challenges.
    4. Failure to Address Complex Circumstances: Estates involving blended families, business ownership, international assets, or beneficiaries with special needs require tailored planning. A DIY Will may not adequately address these complexities.
    5. Increased Likelihood of Contestation: A DIY Will is more vulnerable to being contested, especially if it appears incomplete, inconsistent, or improperly executed. Legal challenges can result in costly litigation, delays, and even the invalidation of the Will.
    6. Tax Implications: Poorly drafted DIY Wills may fail to consider tax planning, potentially increasing the estate’s tax liability and reducing the inheritance for your beneficiaries.
    7. No Professional Advice: Without a solicitor’s guidance, you may miss opportunities to optimise your estate plan or avoid potential pitfalls, such as inadvertently disinheriting loved ones or creating undue hardship for executors.

    With a non-regulated Will-writing service, the risks can include:

    1. Lack of Accountability: Non-regulated will-writing services are not subject to oversight by professional regulatory bodies, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK. This means there’s limited recourse if they make errors, provide poor service, or fail to deliver on promises.
    2. Inadequate Legal Expertise: Staff at non-regulated services may lack the qualifications or legal expertise necessary to draft a legally sound Will. This increases the likelihood of errors, omissions, or non-compliance with legal requirements, which could render the Will invalid.
    3. Generic or Incomplete Wills: Non-regulated services often rely on templated documents that may not be tailored to your specific circumstances. Complex family arrangements, trusts, tax planning, or international assets may not be adequately addressed, leading to unintended outcomes.
    4. Risk of Invalid Execution: Non-regulated services may fail to guide you through the proper execution of your Will, such as ensuring it is correctly signed and witnessed. Errors in this process can invalidate the document entirely.
    5. Potential for Hidden Costs: While these services may advertise low initial fees, additional charges can arise for amendments, storage, or additional advice. These hidden costs can make non-regulated services less cost-effective than initially perceived.
    6. Limited Support for Disputes or Challenges: If your Will is contested, a non-regulated service may not provide support or expert testimony to defend its validity. This can leave your estate vulnerable to legal disputes and increased costs for your beneficiaries.
    7. Privacy Concerns: Non-regulated services may not adhere to the same data protection and confidentiality standards as regulated professionals, potentially putting sensitive information at risk.

    Whilst therefore, it can be tempting to prepare your own Will or approach an unregulated Will writer, this can often lead to more issues after you pass away. By appointing a firm of Solicitors, such as Scott Richards to draft your Will, you are safe in the knowledge that we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to ensure not only the correct drafting of your Will to a high standard, but that the surrounding advice in relation to the same is legally sound.

    Scott Richards are dedicated to providing a professional service and giving expert advice, so that you can be confident that your Will meets your requirements and that your loved ones will be provided for as intended when you pass away.  The message here is that, quite simply, ‘you get what you pay for’.

    If you would like to speak to me or colleagues in the Private Client department about your Will, please call me on 01626 772441, or email law@scottrichards.co.uk.

  5. Christmas Day Dinner – Fund Raiser

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    🎄🎅 Christmas Jumper Day for local causes! 🎅🎄

    Today, we’re donning our Christmas jumpers to support two very special, local hubs: The Alice Cross Centre in Teignmouth & The Salvation Army, South West Division in Newton Abbot.

    Both will be hosting their Annual Christmas Dinner on the big day – a heart-warming event offering a festive meal and companionship to those who might otherwise spend Christmas Day alone.

    💚This year, we’re doing more than just a dress-down day!

    In fact, for every like our Facebook post receives, we’ll donate £1 to the Christmas Day Dinner fund! *

    With each dinner costing around £10 per head, your support will make a real difference.

    So, please spread the festive cheer, and like (& share) our Facebook post 🎁🎄

    *Total donations capped at £1,000.00.

  6. Christmas Closing Plans – 2024

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    🎄 Holiday Closing Announcement 🎄

    As the festive season approaches, we want to share that our office will be closed for Christmas break from Friday 20th December at 5.00pm. We ill return to the office on Thursday 2nd January 2025, allowing our team to spend some well-deserved and precious time with their loved ones.

    Please note that our Newton Abbot office will be closed on Friday 20th December, with our Newton staff working from our Teignmouth office on this date.

    We wish all of our clients and local community a joyful and peaceful Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

    Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working with you in the coming year.

  7. Oliver Johnstone – Admitted as Solicitor!

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    Exciting News!

    We are thrilled to announce that Oliver Johnstone will officially be admitted as a solicitor this month!

    Ollie has always had a keen interest in law, and studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol, before achieving his masters in Law, Business and Management at the University of Law, Exeter.

    Ollie has shown exceptional talent and dedication throughout his education, excelling in every seat during his two-year training contract. Now, he embarks on the next chapter of his career as a solicitor in our Commercial Property Department.

    Ollie shared:

    “I am incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received throughout my training and I am excited to join the Commercial Property team. I look forward to contributing further to the firm and helping our clients achieve their goals.”

    Please join us in congratulating Ollie on this amazing achievement! 🥳👏

  8. Ollie & Chay at LegalEx – London!

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    We’re always on the lookout for innovative solutions to keep us ahead of the curve. Did you know, we were the first local firm to launch our own conveyancing app?

    This year, Chay, who works in training and IT, and Trainee Solicitor, Ollie attended the annual Legalex Conference at the ExCeL London, where they explored cutting-edge products and technologies, with a particular focus on new AI initiatives transforming the legal landscape.

    Staying at the forefront of legal innovation helps us ensure we’re providing the best service to our clients – always Straightforward & Reliable. #TeamSR

  9. Fire Warden Training

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    A selection of our team enjoyed hands-on Fire Warden training this week, expertly led by Alan from Essential 6. The training session was both engaging and informative, with everyone providing positive feedback at the end of the day.

    The highlight was most definitely the practical experience our team was able to gain, having the opportunity to handle and discharge a variety of fire extinguishers. Guided by Alan’s expert instruction, staff practiced putting out a controlled blaze, learning how to respond effectively and confidently in the event of a fire emergency. This real-world application reinforced the theoretical knowledge gained during the training.

    A big thank you to Essential 6 and Alan for delivering such a thorough and engaging training session. Their expertise and professionalism ensured that our staff are well-prepared to act as fire wardens, safeguarding everyone in our offices.

  10. £801.24 Raised for Children in Need!

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    Thank You!

    A huge THANK YOU to our amazing staff and wonderful local community for your incredible support at our Cake and Bric-a-Brac Sale in aid of BBC’s Children in Need, last Friday 15th November 2024!

    Together, we’ve raised an incredible £801.24

    Whether you baked, donated, or stopped by for a sweet treat or treasure—you made a difference! Thank you for your generosity🌟

    #TeamSR#CharityBBC Children in Need@bbccin

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