Inheritance Tax Rates
Understanding how inheritance tax works – in particular the rules relating to individual and married couple allowances, current thresholds and applicable inheritance tax rates – can be key to effective financial planning for the future. By planning ahead you may be able to minimise any inheritance tax liability after you die and, in turn, maximise […]
What is the Inheritance Tax Threshold?
UK inheritance tax, commonly known as IHT, is the tax payable on the transfer of assets from an estate to its beneficiaries. The current rate for IHT is 40%, which becomes payable if the estate is greater than the inheritance tax threshold once all exemptions and reliefs have been deducted. What is the inheritance tax […]
What is an Authorised Guarantee Agreement?
Authorised guarantee agreements (AGA’s) were introduced under the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 in an attempt to conciliate the potential risk to the landlord if the new tenant proves unreliable and confusion over the outgoing tenant’s liability. Simply put, an AGA’s is a type of legally binding guarantee used to protect a landlord’s interests […]
Do I Have a Personal Injury Claim?
If you’ve been in an accident, or developed an illness, that wasn’t your fault or was the result of another person’s negligence, you may have a case for a personal injury claim to recover financial compensation. This compensation can be used to cover loss of earnings, medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of earning potential and other […]
Holiday Sickness Claims- Are You Owed Compensation?
When you or your family fall ill abroad, it can not only spoil your holiday but be expensive, upsetting, and possibly cause long-term health problems too. Your tour operator and hotel have a duty of care to you as its customer when you are on holiday. So if any of your party become ill as […]
Do I Have a Case for Medical Negligence?
What is medical negligence? If you receive medical advice or treatment in the UK, you have the right to expect that this will be done to certain standards. In legal terms you are owed a ‘duty of care’ by the person who gave the advice or carried out the procedure. Their duty towards you is […]
What is a Liquidated Damages Clause
A liquidated damages clause is a provision which represents an agreement between parties as to the payment that should be made if a particular contractual term is breached. Where a liquidated damages clause is included in a contract, it is specific to an obligation which is known as the primary obligation, with the payment clause […]
N244 Form (Where to Find & How to Complete!)
The N244 form is an application notice, used to apply for a court order in the civil courts. The N244 form is used in relation to a number of different applications, normally in relation to monies owed to or by the applicant. It could be that this is an application for an initial court order […]
Establishing a Lasting Power of Attorney
Planning for the future can seem like a daunting task, but it’s vitally important to make sure that you have someone you trust to look after your affairs if you are unable to do so yourself. A lasting power of attorney can help with this—it allows you (the donor) to appoint one or more people […]
How to get Power of Attorney
What is Power of Attorney? A Power of Attorney is the grant of legal authority for another person (or persons) to make important decisions and manage your affairs on your behalf in circumstances where you are unable to do so yourself. When you apply for Power of Attorney you are known as the ‘donor’. Any […]
Guide to Intellectual Property Protection
Intellectual property relates to the ownership of different types of literary, artistic and industrial creations. From inventions to innovative designs, intellectual property can prove to be extremely valuable, not only financially but also for individual and commercial recognition. As with any other commercial asset, intellectual property can be bought, sold, licensed, mortgaged or otherwise assigned. […]
What is a Trademark?
The trademark has become the hallmark of modern consumer society. It is a commercially recognised way of indicating origin, quality and reputation. As such, a distinctive trademark can be an effective way of promoting your goods or services, as well as preventing competitors from imitating your brand identity. Under the Trade Marks Act 1994 a […]
Auto Enrolment Pensions (An Employers Guide!)
Since the introduction of the Pensions Act 2008, all UK employers are required to enrol certain employees in an auto enrolment pensions scheme and contribute towards it. This is known as Auto Enrolment. If your business employs 1 or more workers aged between 22 and the state pension age and earning over £833 per month […]
Staff Handbook (What it Needs to Include!)
A staff handbook, otherwise known as an employee handbook, employee manual or company handbook, is designed to provide employees with information relating to their working conditions over and above that contained within the contract of employment. Although the employment contract will set out the core terms and conditions governing the working relationship between you and […]
Dismissing an Employee with Less Than Two Years Service
It is trite law that an employee has the right not to be unfairly dismissed, albeit subject to the qualifying service rule as set out under the Employment Rights Act 1996. As the law currently stands, an employee will require a period of continuous service in your employment for ‘not less than two years ending […]
Grievance Procedure (Employer Responsibilities!)
Despite best attempts to nurture a happy and well-treated workforce, there can be instances where an employee encounters an issue which needs to be addressed. To make sure employees have the best chance of receiving a satisfactory outcome, improve company moral, and avoid potential tribunals, employers must establish a strong and clear grievance procedure. A […]
Contract of Employment (A Guide for Employers!)
As an employer it is your responsibility to keep abreast of any changes in the law and to ensure that when taking on new staff, or renewing contracts for existing staff, that your practices comply with current legislation. As such, it is incumbent upon you to ensure that you provide a legally compliant contract of employment, […]
Early Conciliation in Employee Disputes
When faced with an employee dispute early conciliation can be one of the most expeditious and cost-effective methods of resolution for all parties involved. In this way both you and your employee, or ex-employee, may avoid the time, expense and stress associated with employment tribunal proceedings. What is early conciliation? Early conciliation is a system […]
What is the Minimum Wage? (A Guide for Employers!)
As an employer it is your responsibility to keep abreast of any changes in the law, not least the requirement to pay eligible workers the national minimum wage – and to do so in accordance with the correct rate. No matter how small your enterprise, you are statutorily obliged to pay almost all workers the […]
Sick Pay Entitlement
Most employees who are absent from work due to illness are entitled to some kind of sick pay entitlement. Broadly speaking, an employees’ sick pay could take one of two forms, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or occupational sick pay. SSP is the legal minimum sick pay requirement, while occupational sick pay is a contractual term […]