Posts from November 2015
Inheriting ISAs to be made simpler
The right to inherit an ISA from a spouse or civil partner who has died is a relatively recent right, but the process is very complex. ...
30/11/15SDLT on second homes in the Autumn statement
The attack on owning 2nd homes goes on. The extra 3% could be very confusing in many cases. We await the legislation for April 2016 but...
30/11/15More attacks on tax avoidance in the Autumn statement
The only consolation is that they are looking again at DOTAS and IHT -revised proposals are due out soon.
30/11/15Competition forces down will prices but powers of attorney are bearing up
It would have been interesting if this survey had included the prices of powers of attorney, given that the number of these being...
30/11/15Court rules on life sustaining treatment
The Court of Protection Re N [2015] EWCOP 76, Mrs N’s daughter brought the application for the Court’s determination as to her mother’s...
30/11/15Buy-to-let SDLT changes
From 1 April 2016, second properties will be subject to an additional rate of SDLT. This will be applicable for properties worth greater...
30/11/15Pension relief set to be reduced!
With all possible avenues of tax planning being blocked, one of the only way to legitimately reduce your tax bill is to save for your...
24/11/15Will the autumn statement be harsher than expected?
It is envisaged that the Chancellor may increase capital gains tax in his autumn statement on 25 November. It is also envisaged that...
24/11/15Resolution Dispute Resolution Week - Putting #childrenfirst
This week is Family Dispute Resolution Week. The purpose is to raise awareness of conciliatory methods of resolving issues arising as a...
23/11/15UK non-dom changes unfair, unreasonable and disproportionate
Serious questions are being raised by UK professional bodies in relation to the United Kingdom’s politically motivated decision to reform...
20/11/15Limiting treatment for seriously ill children
The case of C, a baby born early this year (in a car on the way to hospital and deprived of oxygen because of the difficult circumstances...
20/11/15Simon Vaughan receives a fair outcome in his divorce financial proceedings
Simon Vaughan, the soldier seriously wounded in Afghanistan, successfully fought off his wife's claims for a share in his specially...
19/11/159 month custodial sentence for non-disclosing husband
Justice Mostyn has imposed what is thought to be the longest immediate custodial sentence for non-disclosure in the Family Court history....
18/11/15UK to have beneficial ownership register
The UK will require overseas territories to: 1. Allow HMRC access to company beneficial ownership information without restriction 2....
17/11/15Will witnesses ... post death
A recent decision by Derby Crown Court serves as a reminder that even if a will has been genuinely signed by the testator, it must still...
17/11/15Cohabitee Dispute - Barnes v Phillips [2015] EWCA Civ 1056
This is an interesting case for cohabitees - Barnes v Phillips [2015] EWCA Civ 1056 . This appeal judgment concerned the purchase of a...
16/11/15UK buy-to-let investors will be taxed more harshly than anywhere else!
The full implications of George Osborne's buy-to-let tax measures are yet to be felt. What is certain is that private landlords will be...
16/11/15Reducing the risk of dementia - help from Alzheimers Research
Dementia is a disease many don't want to think about. Some helpful info from Alzheimers Research, with a new free guide, worth seeing. A...
13/11/15Treasury flags up further attacks on personal service companies
This is apparently likely to be in the Autumn Statement on 25 November.
13/11/15Is it the end of the personal service company
The effect of the proposed changes could mean that an individual working through a personal service company will have to be remunerated...
13/11/15Gift Aid's 25th birthday - great for tax-effective giving
Gift Aid offers many opportunities for giving to charity, tax effectively. The options of giving shares or land, saving CGT on gains, as...
13/11/15Property ownership - nefarious tax evasion or common sense?
Owning UK property through offshore companies and trusts is not new and, until recently, has not been particularly news worthy. However,...
13/11/15Description of asset leads to will dispute
Guthrie v Morel, 2015 EWHC 3172 Ch concerned a legacy of a property referred to as ’87 Loma del Rey’, left by the deceased Brian Morel to...
12/11/15Charities battle potentially invalid will
Marie Curie Cancer Care, The Royal Institute of Cancer Care and The Royal National Institutes of Blind and Deaf People are currently...
12/11/15Funeral Rites...
A recent case before the High Court has highlighted how difficult the sensitive issue of funeral arrangements can be for those left...
12/11/15Inheritance claims by a cohabitee
A recent statistic released by the Office for National Statistics shows that the number of cohabiting couples with children has increased...
11/11/15Cohabitees on the Rise but Misconceptions Remain
The Office of National Statistics have published data which confirms that cohabitee relationships are on the rise. These relationships...
11/11/15Continued Rise of the Silver Splitters
Divorce rates continue to rise among the over 50's, contrary to the norm. With people living longer, living more active lives and...
10/11/15Spouses and civil partners can inherit the ISA pot
150,000 married ISA savers die every year. Under old rules, their ISA wrapper and the tax advantages ceased on death. Since 6 April...
10/11/15HMRC continue to fail the taxpayer!
Following hot on the heals of HMRC's continued failure to answer telephone calls quickly or at all it has emerged that HMRC is taking...
09/11/15