Consider the types of digital Assets relevant to you... Data and information stored electronically or on a cloud; Online accounts - social media , email, online gaming; Intellectual Property – eg copyrighted material, Trademarks, computer codes; Websites or blogs generating income; Artwork, music, ebooks, or any digital IP generating income; Accounts used to manage money [...]
Your email signature could be signing more than you think, a new High Court judgment has ruled. In a recent dispute over the sale of some land, the owners’ lawyer may have unwittingly cost his client £25,000. In an exchange between lawyers for both parties, Daniel Tear set out terms and a sale price £25,000 [...]
We are always looking for more efficient ways to get the grind of paperwork done and allow our lawyers more time to help you. We are among a handful of Scottish firms so far to have invested in a dedicated estate tax and law programme called 'Isokon' - already widely used in England. Isokon is specifically [...]
In recent months the number of enquiries regarding what to do with property investment portfolios has increased markedly. There is no doubt one of the main reasons for this is the gradual phasing out of income tax relief for loan interest and other finance costs on residential/buy-to-let properties. Until April 2017, taxpayers obtained relief for [...]
Our Friends at Bright Care Asked The Sons And Daughters Of Their Elderly Clients For Their Top Tips On How To Prepare For Care Of An Elderly Relative What came through clearly was the need to prepare for care needs of an elderly relative, years in advance. The care needs of elderly parents often [...]
As we see Councils buying back ex council homes to add to rental stock the next sell off will be in public land or buildings Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 commenced today and has the potential to impact on anyone transacting with a public body. Part 5 of the Act provides [...]
Buy–to–let portfolio holders with more than 4 properties will be subject to cross portfolio checks to prove their overall borrowing still affordable. This continues the pressure on private landlords as the Government seeks to reduce the amateurs in the sector and pushes to release housing back for owner occupiers and move renters into dedicated PRS [...]
From April 2017 each individual will be offered a “family home allowance” of initially £100,000 and increasing to £175,000 by 2020-21. Following the design of the existing “Nil Rate Band” of £325,000, it will be capable of transfer between spouses and registered civil partners . The effect will be to permit up to £1m to [...]
From the 6th of May 2015, ‘Pension Reform Day’, new rules will allow those aged over 55 to draw down some or all of their money to invest in options such as a buy to let property. The requirement to buy an annuity will be removed and pension savers will have greater flexibility in accessing their [...]
One of the great frustrations as a lawyer of long experience is knowing that if clients had taken simple action to protect themselves and their family in advance, then really expensive legal procedures to rectify problems could be avoided. Take Powers of Attorney for example, which can become useful at any age due to illness [...]