Inheritance Tax Do I Need Some Advice

Although often in the news, inheritance tax is still not widely understood. That's worrying, because it affects thousands of families every year. If you thought inheritance tax was just for extremely wealthy people to worry about, think again. Rising property prices and increasing stock market values have meant more estates than ever are likely to face an inheritance tax bill. In fact according to the Office for National Statistics, the amount of inheritance tax collected has doubled over the last five years, and the number of estates paying inheritance tax has nearly tripled over the same period. Acknowledging the inheritance tax problem faced by large numbers of homeowners, the Government has introduced an additional inheritance tax allowance of up to £175,000 in April 2017 to apply to the family home in certain circumstances. However, even with…

How Well Do You Know Your Customer

Knowledge is power and detailed knowledge of customers will greatly improve your chances of obtaining payment if they should later become debtors. For the small but problematic proportion of outstanding debts that are likely to lead to court action, it is vitally important to ensure that you have enough information to enforce a judgment successfully should the need arise. In this article Ware & Kay Solicitors, advise business owners to handle all new enquiries with extra care. "In the excitement of taking on a new customer or contract, before you begin your first transaction, take care to obtain as much information as possible to ensure that you can pursue them effectively in the event of non-payment," says Jethro. New consumer customers If your customers are consumers, obtain personal information, carry out credit checks and validate telephone…

Ware & Kay To Act For Make It York

Ware & Kay Solicitors, one of York's leading law firms, has been chosen to act as the Solicitors for Make it York which is York's new Destination Management Organisation, tasked with helping to improve the economic well-being of the City. Make it York brings together the work currently delivered by Visit York, Science City York (SCY) and City of York Council's inward investment, business support and events and festivals teams into one new strategic and dynamic company. Peter Kay, Senior Director at Ware & Kay Solicitors said 'We are delighted that Ware & Kay has been chosen to act as the Solicitors for Make it York.  York's new Destination Organisation has an overarching remit to market the city and its surroundings - nationally and internationally - as an exciting place to live, visit, study and…

Employment Law May 2015

In this article, we provide updates to figures which took effect from 5th April, provide an update on the recent holiday pay case and set out major changes to Parental rights, the principal one being the introduction of Shared Parental Leave. Annual Updates which took effect on 6th April 2015 Parental payments Type of payment Rate Maximum period Statutory Maternity Pay (Higher rate) 90% of weekly earnings 6 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay (basic rate) £139.58 per week (or 90% of earnings if lower) 33 weeks Maternity allowance £139.58  per week (or 90% of earnings if lower) 39 weeks Statutory paternity pay £139.58 …

It Is Strictly Legal!

DONATION TO PRESIDENT'S CHARITY OF THE YEAR Michael Peach, the President of the Yorkshire Law Society and Director from Ware & Kay Solicitors Ltd handed over a cheque to Martin House Children's Hospice after raising money for his chosen charity throughout the last year. Ware & Kay have been active supporters of Martin House for many years and last year Michael took time out of his busy working schedule at Ware & Kay where he specialises in Commercial and Residential Property to visit the hospice. This has enabled him to understand the work that it does for children and young people with life-limiting illnesses and their families both during their lifetimes but also in the years following their bereavement. The hospice is the only one for children and young people in North, West and East…

Court Fees Increase From 22nd April 2014

2014 No. 874 (L. 17) 1. This explanatory memorandum has been prepared by the Ministry of Justice and is laid before Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. This memorandum contains information for the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. 2. Purpose of the instrument 2.1 This instrument changes existing fees in the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008. The fee changes are being brought as part of a wider review of fees across the civil court system to ensure that the income they generate more closely matches the costof the service being provided. The instrument changes the wording for some fees to reflect changes resulting from the creation of the single County Court on 22 April 2014. 3. Matters of special interest to the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments 3.1 References in the Order to "a county court" or "county courts…

Make A Will And Dying Matters Awareness Week (18-25 May 2015)

Every year St. Leonard's Hospice joins forces with the national organisation 'Dying Matters' to encourage people to be more open about death, dying and bereavement. Make a Will and letting your family and friends know your wishes are vital, and it can be a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think. This year, St. Leonard's Hospice are offering you the opportunity to have a Will written, in exchange for a donation to the Hospice. St. Leonard's Hospice are very grateful to the participating solicitors who are giving their time, free of charge, to write basic Wills in exchange for a suggested donation to St. Leonard's Hospice. To take part, simply contact Ware & Kay. Arrange an appointment Please do this within a month of the campaign launch.  Numbers are limited, so please book early…

Key Changes In Employment Law

Some significant changes to employment law started in April this year, mainly in the area of family leave.  The headline news is the introduction of shared parental leave but various other changes will also take effect. Gillian Reid our Head of Employment at Ware & Kay, looks at the main changes and what you need to do as a result. Shared parental leave A flexible system of shared parental leave and pay will be available where the expected week of childbirth started on or after 5 April 2015.  The mother must still take the first two weeks off after the birth but the rest of her leave and pay can then be shared between the parents, either in turns or at the same time.  This means that up to 50 weeks' leave and 37 weeks…

Boundary Disputes Where Do You Draw The Line

"To hear the words 'a boundary dispute' is to fill a judge, even of the most stalwart and amiable disposition, with a deep foreboding since disputes with neighbours tend always to compel… some unreasonable and extravagant display of unneighbourly behaviour which profits no one but the lawyers" A little cynical, perhaps; but that was Lord Justice Ward's view in the leading case of Alan Wibberley Building v Insley (1998), who rightfully observes, that whilst every dispute has the potential to become personal to the parties involved - the parties become entrenched and it becomes a "matter of principle" - that is even more so, when the parties are engaged in a boundary dispute. Often, the land subject to the dispute has little or no substantial monetary value; but it may have a real non-money value…

Martin House Make A Will During May

Leave your legacy to help us continue ours... Martin House Children's Hospice is launching their third Make a Will Month, working with local solicitors Ware & Kay. During the month of May, you can make or update a Will with Ware & Kay for a reduced fee of £60 for a single simple Will and £110 for a pair. In the York area alone Martin House currently supports over 65 families. To these families with children with a shortened life expectancy the hospice, based in Clifford near Wetherby, provides support and practical help when it really matters. "Legacies make up more than a quarter of our entire voluntary income, meaning the cost of caring for one in four of our children is covered by gifts left in Wills" explains Alyson Wort from Martin House. "There…