Blog

It has been reported by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (‘STEP’) that “the number of English wills being contested through high court litigation reached a record level of 188 in 2019, as house prices continued to rise and cohabitation and second marriages became more commonplace”. If you are thinking of making a will (or if you have already made one) and are concerned about the possibility of a claim being made following your death, please feel free to contact us to discuss the matter and obtain advice relevant to your circumstances.  It may not b...

Following a Supreme Court ruling in England, the law now (from 31 December 2019) allows mixed sex couples to be able to enter into a civil partnership. Previously, only same sex couples were able to enter into a civil partnership. Both same sex couples and opposite sex couples can enter into a marriage (and this has now been the law for some time). If you are in a mixed sex relationship and have made Wills, and decide to form a civil partnership now that the law has changed, any Wills made previously will be invalidated by the civil partnership, unless the Wills were made in expectation of...

At Capron and Helliwell we note that there has been a lot in the news recently concerning problems with leasehold properties. Specifically, what does this mean for you as a buyer?  There have been instances where purchasers of flats have been surprised to learn that their flat has rents and other charges due even after paying the purchase price. This is especially alarming where some ground rents increase dramatically at regular intervals. Often, we find people do not know the difference between a freehold and a leasehold property or what this entails.  A freehold property is on...

We here at Capron & Helliwell understand that every penny matters, especially when investing in second properties. Before looking into estate agents and viewing potential properties, make sure you know the impact of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on your budget. Standard SDLT is normally due only from property purchases (but not sales you will be please to know) over £125,000. - at 1% of the property value with the percentage increasing based on property value brackets set by HM Revenue & Customs. This is still the case where you are selling your main residence and buying a new m...