Do it yourself (DIY) wills have become more and more popular over recent years. Yet with their popularity has come a rise in contentious will and probate matters. The legal requirements of a will are…
Neath firms raise funds for Tŷ Hafan
Businesses from Neath Port Talbot raised more than £3,000 for Welsh children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan at an annual lunch organised by law firm Hutchinson Thomas and the Neath round table. The event, which took place…
Reforms to divorce laws to ease family conflict
It has been announced that divorce laws in England and Wales are to be reformed to enable couples to separate with less delay and animosity with the introduction of ‘no fault’ divorces. Currently when seeking…
Hutchinson Thomas selected to trial online divorce pilot scheme
The distressing process of going through a divorce may be about to get a little easier – if a pilot scheme being trialed by a Welsh law firm that would mean the entire process could…
The controversy over consent forms to access digital data
It has recently been announced that the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are introducing standardised consent forms in England and Wales to enable access to mobile phones and other electronic…
Inconsistencies in out of time Inheritance Act claims
There has been much confusion of late concerning the Inheritance (provision for family and dependents) Act 1975, following two recent cases that saw differing judgements regarding out of time claims. There is a strict six-month…
Lifetime ISAs: key points for first time buyers of new homes
What are lifetime ISAs? Lifetime ISAs (individual savings account) can be used to buy your first home or for savings later in life, such as retirement. To open a lifetime ISA account, you must be…
Japanese knotweed: a warning to landowners
Japanese knotweed is notorious for how difficult it is to eradicate, with it often taking years of treatment to remove the plant. It is fast growing through its underground roots (or rhizomes) and can block…
Reforms to criminal records scheme could help job seekers
The government will have to review the whole criminal records disclosure system for children and young people following a ruling by the Supreme Court earlier this year. Reforms to the system could mean the legal…
Supreme Court ruling highlights divorce difficulties
The ending of a marriage can be an extremely difficult time for all parties involved. However, the separation of a married couple can be even more troublesome when the grounds for divorce are not met…