Described in the Law Society’s Gazette as an ‘Inherently unfair’ probate fee hike, the Law Society has welcomed the government’s U-turn on a probate fee hike
Help to Buy scheme to start allowing 35-year mortgages
Homeowners buying a property under Help to Buy are now allowed to take out 35-year mortgages. The government has moved to close what it describes as a loophole, which has seen purchasers using the scheme facing difficulties and uncertainty if they wanted to take out a mortgage with a term of more than 25 years
Extended rights for pregnant employees and new parents
Pregnant women and new parents are set to receive extended legal protection against being made redundant after they return to work. The move is part of the government’s ‘Good Work Plan’
Manager must pay compensation for racially abusing colleague
A council manager has been held personally responsible for compensating a work colleague he subjected to racially abusive comments. The case involved
More additions to ‘Good Work Plan’ to protect low-paid workers
The government has introduced a new set of additions to its ‘Good Work Plan’ which aims to increase the rights of workers. Some of the key elements of the scheme include: • workers to be given enhanced rights to tackle
UK house prices jumped 0.7% between March and April
The latest House Price Index figures show that the cost of an average home in the UK jumped 0.7% between March and April. The annual rise to April was 1.4%, bringing the cost of the average property to
Government aims to improve parental leave entitlements
The government has launched a consultation on how to ensure greater equality in parental leave entitlements. The consultation will ask whether statutory paternity leave for fathers and same sex partners should be
Woman committed to prison for contempt in family dispute over will
A woman has been committed to prison following a dispute with her brother over their late father’s estate. The court heard that neither of the siblings had been named as executor of their father’s will but the sister had taken the role without authority to do so.
Charity unfairly dismissed dyslexic worker over spelling errors
A dyslexic charity worker was unfairly dismissed after making spelling errors that led to him being denied a new role. James Bulloss had worked as an adviser for the homeless charity Shelter. His role included working night shifts and weekends to work on the phone help lines. After three years he requested to join the webchat team and was given a four-week trial. His team leader, Ms Jackson, spotted several …Read More
Son entitled to inherit farm despite falling out with parents
A judge has ruled that a son was entitled to a share of the family farm, despite having fallen out with his parents, because he had worked for more than 30 years on the understanding that the land would pass to him The High Court heard that in 1981, the parents made wills under which the son and his brother would inherit the farm property and business equally. The son …Read More