Summer Bank Holiday: Closed
Leave a CommentOur offices will be closed for the Summer Bank Holiday from 5.00pm this Friday 23rd August, and will reopen at 9.00am, Tuesday 27th August.
Wishing you all a pleasant bank holiday weekend đ¤
Our offices will be closed for the Summer Bank Holiday from 5.00pm this Friday 23rd August, and will reopen at 9.00am, Tuesday 27th August.
Wishing you all a pleasant bank holiday weekend đ¤
Private Client Solicitor, Christine Shute explains how you can plan ahead to help reduce your family’s inheritance tax (IHT) bill.
Latest figures from HMRC show that inheritance tax receipts have risen by 7.2% since last year. By taking advantage of available tax reliefs and planning carefully, families can make sure their loved ones pay the smallest tax bill possible and get the most out of what they inherit.
The Association of Lifetime Lawyers, of which Christine is a member, represents a community of the most qualified legal professionals in the UK supporting vulnerable and older people with expert advice and support.
Christine said: “With more estates than ever liable for IHT, it’s crucial to plan ahead to avoid a large tax bill for your loved ones. If the value of your estate is below the current nil rate band allowance of ÂŁ325,000, no inheritance tax (IHT) is owed, provided the allowance hasn’t been reduced by relevant lifetime gifts.
“For married couples or civil partners who leave their entire estate to each other, HMRC permits the full transfer of the nil rate band to the surviving partner, effectively doubling the allowance to ÂŁ650,000. Even if only a part of the estate goes to the spouse, the unused portion of the nil rate band can still be transferred upon the death of the second spouse.
“If your estate includes a business or related assets, at present, additional reliefs currently apply at rates of either 50% or 100%. Likewise, certain agricultural properties, such as land used for rearing animals or growing crops, can pass free of IHT, provided specific criteria are met.
“Creating a Will is essential to ensure your assets are distributed to your chosen beneficiaries. Without a valid Will, your estate will be divided according to the intestacy rules, which may result in your family not receiving what you intended. Research from The Association of Lifetime Lawyers shows nearly half of UK adults (49%) do not have a Will. It’s important to consult a legal professional to help you draft a Will.
“Given the recent change in government, we’d recommend keeping an eye out for any potential policy changes and speak with a member of our Private Client team to help minimise your tax bill.”
To contact Christine, or a member of our Private Client team, call us on: 01626 772 441, or email law@scottrichards.co.uk.
A tee-rific time had by all at Armada Property’s Charity Golf Day earlier this month, swinging for the fantastic, Rowcroft Hospice.
Thanks for putting on such a great event – with everyone donating so generously on the day, we can’t wait to hear the final tally raised for this great cause!
Scott Richards’ HR Manager, Lindsey McIntyre and MCILEx, Patrick Nicholls were today welcomed to Churston Ferrers Grammar School Careers Fair 2024.
Lindsey said, “It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with aspiring students and showcase the diverse career paths available within our firm. We made a concerted effort to highlight not just the roles of lawyers, but also the variety of other integral positions within a law firm. We believe that a law firm thrives on the diverse talents and skills of its entire team. By showcasing the wide range of roles, we hope to have inspired future legal professionals, highlighting the importance of each position in ensuring the smooth operation and success of a law firm.”
Lindsey and Patrick enjoyed interacting with the attendees, answering questions, and offering guidance to those interested in pursuing a career in law.
Patrick, “It was particularly rewarding to see the enthusiasm and interest from students eager to learn more about the legal profession. I enjoyed being able to explain the different pathway options now available to students hoping to work in law, specifically the CILEx route, which I personally took.”
We look forward to participating in more events like this in the future and continuing to support the next generation of legal talent.
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth and to the organisers for hosting such a successful event!
A quick stroll to the seafront to showcase this month’s dress-down Friday charity, the incredible Teignmouth RNLI.
As locals to the Teignbridge area, our staff fully support the incredible work of the RNLI and often see them in action, especially over the busy summer period.
Thanks to all our staff who donated, and a few of our generous clients who offered to pop money in the donation tin when they saw who we were raising money for – amazing community spirit!
#supportlocal #RNLI #TeamSR #Teignmouth #Community
Sadly, family disputes and breakdowns often result in grandparents becoming estranged from their grandchildren. This is distressing and can impact the emotional wellbeing of both the grandparents and their grandchildren.
While there is a legal presumption that a child should live with a parent (most of whom automatically have âparental responsibilityâ), the same does not apply to grandparents. Not infrequently we see cases where Mum and Dad have separated acrimoniously and have stopped their children from seeing their ex-partnerâs parents. However, the Family Courts recognise that the presence of a grandparent in the life of a child is, in most cases but not all, an important part of that childâs upbringing. Fortunately, estranged grandparents have several ways in which they can resume contact with their grandchildren.
The first step would be to consider whether grandparents and parents can mediate, either through letters between solicitors or via formal mediation, to resolve the dispute in an amicable manner. Mediation requires parents and grandparents to meet with an independent, professional âmediatorâ to discuss the issues and attempt to reduce conflict with a view to resuming contact. Successful mediation avoids the need for legal action. However, if mediation is unsuccessful, or indeed inappropriate in some circumstances, for example, where there has been a history of domestic violence between Mum and Dad, grandparents will need to apply to court to obtain an âorderâ which gives them a legal right of access to their grandchildren. This should be a last resort as it can be costly and will undoubtedly increase the emotional turmoil. However, for some, court is the only reasonable option.
In certain circumstances, grandparents will need to ask the court for permission to apply first. This is because they do not have an automatic right to contact. Before applying for permission, grandparents must obtain a âMIAM certificateâ from a mediator to show the court that they tried to resolve the issue through mediation but were unsuccessful. To find out more about mediators in your local area, you can search online, or ring your local firm of solicitors for advice.
The primary aim of the court is to ensure the welfare of any child. The court will consider whether the grandparentsâ contact is in the childâs best interest. If the grandparents played a significant role in the childâs life previously, the court is likely to favour an application for contact. Through this process, grandparents can obtain a âChild Arrangements Orderâ stating what contact that they will have with their grandchildren. In some circumstances, where the childrenâs own parents canât provide them with a safe and stable home, it is also possible for grandparents to apply for a âLive Withâ order. The children will live with their grandparents, and they in turn will have all the parental rights and responsibilities as those of the childrenâs parents. This means that the grandparent can take decisions about the childrenâs schooling and healthcare without the childrenâs parentsâ involvement.
The most important thing to remember is that the childâs welfare is paramount.
If you are looking for assistance in relation to grandparentâs rights or any other family matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Family Team at Scott Richards.
Please telephone the office on 01626 772441 or email law@scottrichards.co.uk.
This article should not be treated as legal advice. Please contact us if you require legal assistance.
Get free legal advice on the beach in Devon this summer with the University of Exeter & Scott Richards Solicitors
We are delighted to announce that we have teamed up with the University of Exeter to provide the UK’s first, Law on the Beach event!
On Wednesday 5th June 2024, between 10.00am – 3.30pm at Teignmouth Yacht Club, beachgoers can drop in for free legal advice from Team SR, as well as law students from the university.
The event is similar to our Saturday Surgeries, in that no appointment is necessary, and the public can simply pop in to get confidential advice on a range of issues, and information about the next steps they should take.
âLaw on the Beachâ was the idea of Professor Sue Prince from the University of Exeter Law School and is inspired by a similar idea run by the University of Newcastle Law School in Australia. The aim is to support those impacted by the cost-of-living crisis with an urgent need for legal assistance and give students valuable learning opportunities.
Dr Craig Newbery-Jones, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Exeter Law School, said: “This initiative not only addresses a critical societal need but also provides our students with invaluable practical experience. By working alongside experienced professionals and tackling real-world legal challenges, our students will develop the skills and empathy needed to be effective advocates for justice.”
The University of Exeter Access to Justice clinic is run in Exeter during term time. For more information or to arrange and appointment email a2jclinic@exeter.ac.uk. Our Saturday Surgeries take place twice a month, and you can find information about our next clinic, here.
Please note that our offices will be closed on Monday 27th May for the Spring Bank Holiday. We will reopen as normal on Tuesday 28th May. Wishing everyone a pleasant bank holiday weekend.
Relaxation & tension relief delivered straight to our desks? Yes, please!
We were delighted to welcome The Wellness Angels to our Teignmouth office, who provided seated massages for a selection of our staff, helping to work through some of those pesky desk knots!
To learn more about The Wellness Angels, please visit their website: https://thewellnessangels.co.uk/
#employeewellness #staffperks #TeamSR #GoGreen #massage #thewellnessangels
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our dear colleague and friend, Partner, Chris Wills.
Chris was a beacon of positivity, with an infectious and upbeat attitude that never failed to brighten the day.
He will be greatly missed by us all at Scott Richards and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
In honour of Chrisâ memory, and to allow our team to pay their respects and attend his funeral service, our offices will be closed on Friday 17th May, from 1.00pm.
We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.