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5 ways to be greener in your bathroom now! 1. Use soap bars instead of shower gels There is a chemical, as well as aesthetic, difference between liquid soap and soap bars. Soap is made from a combination of fat/oil, water, and an alkali (traditionally...
October will see a major milestone in notice periods for residential tenancies where landlords are seeking possession, as they revert to pre-pandemic requirements. But with fears of a tough winter, as gas prices soar and furlough support ends, landlords...
If you own an electric scooter, quad bike or similar mode of transportation, it’s important to understand the rules and your obligations. In this article, we set out how and where you can legally use these types of vehicles. Powered transporters and...
A more straightforward digital system to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) could come into play, but experts say that it is vital that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect elderly and vulnerable people from abuse. In this article, we look at...
Martin Tolhurst is delighted to announce that it has maintained its ISO 9001:2015 certification, which it achieved in 2019. ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognised standard that ensures services meet clients' needs through an effective quality...
When a couple makes the decision to separate, the breakdown of the relationship can have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, grandparents of any children of the relationship can suffer and even be prevented from seeing their grandchildren as often as...
With pupils making their return to school, and many coronavirus restrictions now lifted, we understand that both parents and pupils will have questions about what to expect. In this article, we look at the rules around wearing masks, self-isolating and...
A recent survey has given some insight as to reasons why a buyer withdraws from a transaction. The survey was carried out by a “quick buy” company that specialises in buying houses where transactions have recently fallen through. Almost...
When someone you love has passed away, the last thing you will be thinking about is debt. However, there are many misconceptions about debt and inheritance, and it is essential to understand the position. Many people believe that when a person dies, the...
There are various challenges that come with foreign travel this year: from the added expense of Covid tests to the risk of quarantine if your chosen destination moves to the amber or red list. As a result, many holidaymakers are choosing to vacation here in...
Parents have a legal responsibility to provide financially for their children even if they no longer live with them. What happens if a parent doesn’t pay? Under a child maintenance arrangement, child maintenance is usually paid by the parent who does...
As part of our drive to reduce risk to clients we have recently obtained 2 further accreditations. The first is the award of Cyber essentials Plus to recognise our work in having processes to prevent cyber-crime and fraud. We are very aware of this daily...
In a time where cyber threats are at an all time high, it is important for firms across the country to invest time and effort into securing their systems against these threats. At Martin Tolhurst Solicitors, securing and ensuring your data is safe is one of...
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted almost every industry in the UK, with many businesses experiencing a severe strain on their cashflow as a result. While commercial tenants may be struggling to pay rent in full and on a regular basis, their landlord could...
If you intend to leave savings, property or other assets to family or friends after you die, you need to consider inheritance tax (IHT). It could cost your heirs up to 40% of their inheritance. By planning ahead, you can minimise IHT and ensure as much of...
With the COVID-19 vaccine being quickly rolled out across the UK, there are concerns among some about the long-term impact and side effects of the vaccine. As a result, some are reluctant to get the vaccine themselves or let their children be vaccinated. The...
The world of social media can often seem like the wild west of the internet. Everyone has simple access to an audience and can share anything they wish. In a matter of minutes, a post can go viral, spreading a message or causing damage to a brand's...
With travel restrictions prevailing in the UK, for many, travelling to their usual holiday destination may be impractical or even impossible. However, travelling around the UK is permitted, and with warmer weather and beautiful countryside, camping in...
We are thrilled to announce that we are now members of the Legal Sustainability Alliance, an inclusive movement of law firms committed to taking action and working collaboratively to improve the environmental sustainability of our operations. We...
It seems that people in the UK are a charitable bunch. In fact, last year, just under £3 billion was donated to charity in wills, which is expected to rise to £3.4 billion by 2022. This figure means that 3.5% of all of the money left in estates...
The easing of lockdown may have been the catalyst for the announcement by billionaire Bill Gates and his wife that they were heading for divorce and separate lives, with data from Google showing a surge in searches for divorce guidance as restrictions were...
The British Conveyancing Awards are seen as one of the major industry awards for conveyancing and cover the entire United Kingdom. This year’s Awards seek to recognise individuals, teams and companies who have gone above and beyond to support buyers...
Residential landlords are under pressure to keep on top of a raft of new legislation and guidelines this year, including many protections for tenants extended by the government during the pandemic. They include a continuing hold on evictions, the new...
Dementia Action Week runs 17th - 23rd May 2021 and is a national event that sees the public coming together to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia. When a person receives a dementia diagnosis, this doesn’t automatically...
Over the past 12 months, I have dealt with more equity release lifetime mortgage cases than in the previous 5 years put together. There is no doubt that equity release is becoming a more popular product and this is likely to increase as house prices rise...
If you are considering entering into a lease of commercial premises it is important to be well prepared. There are many things to consider when you begin negotiating the main terms of the lease and failure to consider these items at the outset can make...
Millions of couples across the UK are choosing to forego marriage and live as cohabitees. However, without proper estate planning, they could be putting their finances at risk. Unlike their married counterparts, unmarried couples have no automatic right to...
We’ve got some brilliant news of recognition for the Firm. Last night Martin Tolhurst was Highly Commended in The UK Probate Research Awards 2021 for the South East area, a significant achievement for our Probate department. 2020 and 2021 have...
Family Law cases address a wide variety of issues. We work hard for every single client to try and achieve a positive outcome wherever possible. We have detailed below just some of the cases our Family Law expert Ashley Le-Core have recently worked on and...
Carrying the weight of unpaid invoices can make doing business challenging. The coronavirus pandemic has caused financial difficulties for many and could be making the problem of late payments worse for both small businesses, the self-employed and...
We're incredibly proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the UK Probate Research Awards 2021, for the Best Probate Law firm in London/South-East England category. After winning this award for two consecutive years, Martin Tolhurst is...
The latest issue of Business First has now been released with articles from Mignonette Ellis who explores how staying local as we navigate the "new now" can be fun and tasty, and Ilaria Giurini with 5 top tips for building brand-customer...
Martin Tolhurst Solicitors is delighted to announce the appointment of Abdul Mutallib as a Partner of the Firm, who has achieved his position with persistent and successful work. Abdul brings a unique blended skill-set to MTP’s residential...
Having staff working remotely has presented significant challenges for many businesses, but one of the most difficult to address is the increased cybersecurity risk. As many companies did not have sufficient opportunity to prepare for the transition to...
The COVID-19 outbreak has had an unprecedented impact, both from a social and economic point of view. A key task for brands and our Firm today is to reassure the public and strengthen their emotional connection – in turn gaining and building...
The rules concerning furlough, schools and workplace restrictions continue to change frequently, and it can be difficult for both employers and employees to keep up. However, if you are affected by furlough or there has been a change in your caring...
Recent research has revealed that one fifth of parents have transferred assets to their children to lessen the amount of inheritance tax payable on their estates. Direct Line’s research revealed this amounted to more than 6.9 million parents and the...
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the UK’s economic agenda dominated the Chancellor’s 2021 Budget Statement, with support for business and jobs receiving top-line billing. Coronavirus lockdown keeps chancellor’s attention on...
With small businesses struggling to cope, we’ve all heard the recent battle cry of “shop local”. Supporting other small businesses may just help your own business in these struggling times. Treat yourself! Whether it is a take away or...
Leasehold property owners are set for important changes in the coming months, with the Government’s plans to grant new rights on lease extensions and the ending of ground rent. It is may be the beginning of the end for this form of ownership,...
Non UK residents to pay Stamp Duty surcharge from 1 st April 2021 With all the press focus on the Stamp Duty holiday that is shortly to come to an end it is a good time to also focus on an another potential increase in Stamp Duty due to take effect on 1 st...
ITV’s new Sunday night drama, Finding Alice, may appear far-fetched, but it highlights a number of themes we, at Martin Tolhurst, frequently encounter. Harry, the 48 year old property developer, has died unexpectedly. His family, while attempting to...
Separation is never easy, but if you and your former partner own property together, the situation can be even more complicated. If you have been living with a partner, but you are not married, the legal term is ‘cohabitation’. When cohabitees...
Sometimes the generosity of a friend or relative leaving you a gift in their will can backfire if it turns out your estate will need to pay tax on it or if there is a chance that it could be swallowed up in future care costs or in...
In a world where so much information is available freely online, do you still need the advice of a solicitor? A simple Google search of your legal problems can provide thousands of relevant articles, and perhaps a friend has shared information on social...
If you are setting up a business, you may have questions about which business model is right for you. The way in which you set up your business can have implications for tax, how you are paid, ownership of the business, how business decisions are made, and...
If you have decided to end your marriage by applying for a divorce you may be surprised to learn that there are certain criteria you need to satisfy before your application will be accepted. You may also be surprised to know that, unless you have been...
If you employ workers from overseas, or you plan to in the future, you will need to understand the changes to the immigration system that came into play from January 1 st , 2021. As of this date, a new points-based immigration system operates in the UK,...
As a fresh wave of lockdown measures cut across the UK, retail tenants may be experiencing new concerns about how to pay the rent, but another ticking timebomb is the viability of their landlords. Even before the pandemic, the high street was...
There is no denying that 2020 is a year which will go down in history - for many reasons. The global pandemic, Brexit, and the fallout from these events has had a significant impact on many areas of our lives. These events may have far-reaching implications...
