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Martin Tolhurst is proud to announce that we have recently been re-accredited with the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) quality mark. This quality mark is a recognised standard for residential conveyancing practices in the UK, awarded by the Law Society. ...
Last year I went on holiday to Peru and I have become a bit of a Peru bore, so taken was I with the country and its people. So for the last time ever I will mention Peru again but this time -What Peru can teach UK law firms- it’s time we all channelled...
Entering into a new lease as a commercial property tenant can be a daunting experience and it may be difficult to understand which parts of your Lease are key to understand throughout your occupation. You may feel that once your lease has completed and you...
Sometimes the smallest of decisions can spark the fiercest debates in law firms. It’s a year since we changed how we address our formal letters. I had a small group of sensible people in to discuss alternatives. It got a bit heated. “Dear...
We're thrilled to announce a new partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust, a respected wildlife charity dedicated to protecting Kent's amazing natural spaces. This exciting collaboration, starting April 1st 2024, builds on our ongoing commitment to...
Martin Tolhurst is delighted to announce the well-deserved promotions of Tom Bexhell and Hannah Stanford to partner. Both Tom and Hannah have distinguished themselves through their dedication and exceptional skills, solidifying their positions as valuable...
Inheritance challenges and disputed wills are soaring, but it’s not just the high profile, wealthy that are fuelling the action. Figures from the Ministry of Justice come against a backdrop of headline-catching disputes such as the case of Russian...
It’s National Conveyancing Week. I am sure you haven’t missed it. It was squeezed between “National pork pie Day” and “International Check your Feet for Verrucas Week”. There’s a problem about the scheduling for 2025...
To celebrate National Conveyancing Week we look at our own conveancying team within the firm. In this blog post, we are delighted to feature Tom Bexhell, one of the conveyancers at our Ashford office. In his interview, we will learn about...
National Conveyancing Week is an annual event that celebrates the dedicated and skilled professionals who work tirelessly to ensure that property transactions run smoothly. In this blog post, we are delighted to feature Gemma Nie, one of the conveyancers at...
In celebration of National Conveyancing Week, we sat down with Charlotte, a valued member of our property team, to learn about her path to becoming a Chartered Legal Executive and what sets her apart in the field. What led you to pursue property law as a...
Any responsible business will have recognised and accepted the need for businesses and individuals alike to take positive action to improve sustainability and cut carbon emissions. With a commitment by the UK Government to reaching net zero by 2050 there is...
It is possible to make a Power of Attorney online, but whether you should is an entirely different matter. The process of making a Power of Attorney seems straightforward, but for those who are unfamiliar with the process, there are many potential pitfalls...
This blog has been quiet for many months sadly. The marketing department monsters said I could not write something every week and the blighters have been proved right. That’s another lunch I owe them. My last edition was September. Is it because...
If you live with your partner, or considering moving in together, you may have thought about a cohabitation agreement. But do you actually need one? There is, of course, no legal requirement to have a cohabitation agreement to live with a partner, but it can...
We are thrilled to announce our continued membership with Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce for 2024! As a proud member, we value their dedication to supporting local businesses like ours. Their network, resources, and advocacy have been...
Common Myths about Inheritance Tax Planning: Busting the Misconceptions Inheritance tax planning is a crucial aspect of financial management, yet it is often shrouded in misconceptions and myths. As the New Year begins, it's an opportune time to...
We are excited to share that so far that Team Tolhust has raised an incredible amount of £17,500 for our current Charity of the Year, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital! It's a tremendous achievement and so far the largest...
As a landlord in the UK, dealing with commercial tenants can be a complex and challenging task. There are many different aspects that need to be considered. Landlords need to understand the legal framework, review the rights and obligations that should be...
The family-focus of Christmas is often followed in January with news of unhappy couples calling it a day, leading to so-called Divorce Day , as family lawyers receive a surge of enquiries when they re-open after the break. Generally, divorce...
Three children have won a share of their father’s £700,000 estate after a hard-fought case that reached the High Court in London. The siblings took action when their father Kenneth Grizzle died and they found they were excluded from his...
Conveyancing can be a long and stressful process, but the work of conveyancers helps to reduce this significantly by taking on many of the more complex tasks. Selling a house can be daunting, and many legal considerations need to be taken into account to...
Agreeing shared contact for children can be difficult for divorced or separated parents. Here we break down your options to help this Christmas. When any relationship breaks down, it can be difficult for parties to agree on the best way forward to separate,...
More often than not, if a tenant does not leave a property voluntarily, then, to evict them lawfully the landlord will usually have to follow the following key stages to obtain possession lawfully: Serve the relevant notice(s) and await expiry of the...
In 2022, equity release loans in UK totalled around £6 billion. In 2023, due to higher rates of interest, this is likely to fall to around £2.5 - £3 billion of loans being taken up. The managing partner of Martin Tolhurst,...
Unfortunately accidents can happen to anyone at any time. These accidents can result in individuals losing the ability to make their own decisions. If this should happen, the Court of Protection in the UK steps in to protect the interests of vulnerable...
Cohabitation has become increasingly common, with more and more couples choosing to live together without getting married or entering into a civil partnership. However, it is important to note that cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights and...
In leases, break clauses serve as crucial provisions that provide commercial flexibility for both landlords and tenants. These clauses can allow either party to terminate the lease before the expiration of the fixed term, subject to certain conditions being...
The new Law Net Autumn/Winter 2023 Business First Magazine is out now! This edition is packed full of features including creating a supportive workplace, sustainable buildings, legally compliant HR and EDI essentials. And we are delighted to have an article...
An article in the Law Society Gazette a few weeks ago revealed that a couple were stung with an £89 annual storage fee for their wills, having already paid £4,500 for their wills and been told the storage fee would be £49. Meanwhile, the...
When a court issues an order, it is legally binding and must be followed by all parties involved. Unfortunately, there are instances where one parent may disregard or breach a court order, causing frustration and potential harm to the child and the other...
Recently I visited another local law firm to chew something over. It’s nice to have other Firms in your area you get on well with despite competing for the same clients. The chap I was speaking to took me into their kitchen to make a cup of tea. Their...
When parties to a statutory lease extension are unable to agree on the final terms there is a process in place whereby a final decision can be given by the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). This article provides some further information about how...
Connor joined the firm in February 2021 as an Office Administrator and qualified as a Solicitor in September 2023. He is currently working in the Commercial Property department within our Gillingham office. Andrew-Ashley Edwards, Commercial Property...
This year, Organ Donation Week runs between the 18th - 24th of September. The campaign is designed to raise awareness about organ donation and transplantation. While most of the UK now runs on a system of opting out, it is still something you should discuss...
We are proud to announce that Martin Tolhurst Solicitors is now a signatory to the Greener Litigation Pledge , joining a growing list of law firms committed to minimising the environmental impact of our practice. The Greener Litigation Pledge is...
In 2022, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) registered over 770,000 Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and this was an increase of nearly 10% over the number of registrations from 2021. However, the waiting times between making an application for...
Last month the SRA issued a stern warnings about training by solicitors. We are not doing enough apparently and this needs to change. In our firm aim pleased to say, somewhat smugly, that this does not apply as we train everyone regularly through a variety...
Ian Quayle the Managing Editor of Property Law UK takes the opportunity to ask an experienced residential conveyancer a series of questions concerning the state of modern residential conveyancing and to share knowledge and experience with readers of Property...
Why does it always rain in Manchester? I confess to having some regional prejudices. I’ve worked my whole life in sunny Kent, the garden of England, with its picturesque Castles, Cathedrals and poly tunnels producing all those lovely strawberries for...
What you need to know when buying a New Build Property in the UK. Buying a new build property in the UK can be an exciting venture, offering modern designs, energy efficiency, and the opportunity to be the first owner. However, purchasing a new build comes...
Two weeks ago we looked like we had a network problem and no-one could log in as well as the phone system being down. It was not the dreaded cyberattack but it might be a while before everything was back up so I set about a rare but satisfying task –...
When it comes to travelling abroad with a child, parents often have questions about the legal implications, especially if the child has a different surname. In England and Wales, parental rights and responsibilities are primarily governed by the Children Act...
At Martin Tolhurst, giving back to our community is at the heart of what we do, and this year, we're proud to support Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) as our charity of the year. Our team has rallied together in an incredible show of support, with...
Whether you are a landlord or tenant, it is sensible to seek specialist legal advice from the offset. The procedures, rules and fixed time limits surrounding this area of law can be complex. Regaining possession of a commercial premises that has a...
In a world that is becoming increasingly conscious of its environmental impact, it's vital for organisations to take meaningful steps towards sustainability. We are thrilled to share a remarkable accomplishment from our Sittingbourne office, where...
One of the trickiest issues as a lawyer is when there appears to be an issue about a client’s mental capacity. Are they capable of understanding what you’re doing for them and its legal effect? The client may have said or done something that has...
Magna Carter is late this time round and I have a good reason. The dog eat my homework is not an excuse I can use with the marketing department monsters as they know I do not have a dog. At the risk of alienating anyone still read this weekly blog/guff I am...
In the year to 31 March 2022, fraud became the most committed crime in the United Kingdom, with more than 4.5 million offences in a year. However, there is no evidence that the risk of fraud is being translated into police resources – fraud accounts...
Our Wills and Probate team is moving! Currently based in Gravesend offering a wide range of services including wills, probate, powers of attorney, trusts and court of protection, we are excited to announce from Monday 24 July our Wills and Probate team will...
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