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Clarkson Hirst Solicitors

Life Interest Trust Wills versus Simple Wills

When considering making a Will, many clients are often concerned with the rising cost of care fees. It is possible for a couple to plan your affairs to help minimise the cost of residential care fees by adopting a will structure called a ‘ Life Interest Trust’. Any assets held in the trust would be…
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What are pre-contract enquiries?

You will often ask your solicitor where are we up to. Your solicitor will reply ‘we await replies to enquiries’ What does this mean? Questions we put to the sellers solicitors before we exchange contracts are known as pre-contract enquiries .There may be issues not covered by the Sellers Property Information Form, the Sellers Leasehold…
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Prescriptive Right of Way

This guide looks at rights of way obtained through a period of long use. These rights are known as prescriptive easements. The guide will consider: What is a prescriptive right of way? A prescriptive right of way is a property right known as an easement that has been acquired over someone else’s property through long…
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What is Shared Ownership?

It is a form of home ownership where a purchaser who cannot afford to buy 100% premium of a lease purchases a percentage of the premium, typically 25% or 50%, and they then ‘own’ that share. The landlord retains the remaining share and leaseholder pays rent to the landlord for the same and then also…
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Children Law Specialist

Charlotte Bamber has been awarded the Law Society Children Law Accreditation, a recognised quality standard for practitioners representing children in children law proceedings. The accreditation covers all types of children law work and is recognised by the Legal Aid Agency. It’s a way for clients and professionals (such as guardians) to choose a qualified practitioner when…
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Experienced conveyancer joins our team

I am pleased that Cath Steele has joined our firm after a lengthy career with a solicitors firm in Salisbury. Catherine Steele is our Licensed Conveyancer, she has over 16 years conveyancing experience and has been a full-time fee earner for 5 years. Catherine is a member of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers which regulates…
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Consultation on ground rents in existing residential long leases opens 

The Government has today published its consultation seeking views on capping ground rents in long residential leases in England and Wales. The consultation is entitled “Modern leasehold: restricting ground rent for existing leases”. The consultation period is 6 weeks and the consultation period will close on 21 December 2023. In June 2023, the Leasehold Reform…
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November discount on Wills and Conveyancing Quotes

For Wills and Conveyancing quotes only. In November, we are offering 10% off our fees net of vat. To claim this, please contact our solicitors.

King’s Speech announced Leasehold reform

King Charles III set out the measures that his government intends to bring forward in this session of parliament. Amongst those measures, it was announced that the government was to embark on further leasehold reform designed to make enfranchisement claims simpler and cheaper. Whilst the draft Bill has yet to be published (at the time…
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Conveyancing Process Part 3 – Investigation of Title

Investigation of title and contract The seller’s solicitor needs to examine the title to be able to draft a contract for the sale of the property. The draft contract should clearly explain the terms and conditions of the sale, the land agreed to be sold by the seller, and so on. Without a thorough investigation,…
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