By Katey Bentley 27/01/2021 16:23
When you buy a home or a piece of land in the UK, a percentage of the property price is to be paid as ‘stamp duty’. Generally, no stamp duty is levied on properties that are £125,000 or under. However, in July of last year, Chancellor Rishi Sunak had announced that the stamp […]
Read MoreBy Haleema Khan 21/01/2021 12:27
Dealing with delays from the Home Office reaching a decision on your Immigration Application? Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Home Office has sought to justify several reasons that delays in decision-making have arose. However, despite these reasons, whether it be a direct cause of Covid-19 and the consequences of Brexit; or simply because of […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 19/01/2021 16:55
Inheritance Tax is the tax on an estate of a person who has died. The estate includes everything the person owns (property, money & assets) and any property or money they had given as a gift in the seven years prior to death. If the estate’s value is £325,000 or below, no inheritance tax has […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 13/01/2021 11:53
Everyone is aware of the severe consequences of COVID-19 on a person’s physical health. But only a few have noticed the pandemic’s impact on the mental health of people. According to a study in the UK, the percentage of the population with mental health issues has increased from 18.8% in 2018 to 27.3% in 2020. […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 11/01/2021 12:33
The ‘Right to Build’ scheme was launched by the government in 2016 in an effort to improve the housing market in the UK. The whole idea was to encourage people to build or commission their own homes instead of purchasing already-built homes. Under the ‘Right to Build’ scheme, those who want to build or […]
Read MoreBy Haleema Khan 06/01/2021 10:17
On the 11th November 2020, it was officially announced that the Immigration Act 2020 had received Royal Assent to end free movement on New Year’s Eve. The new Immigration Law will close the book on free movement and transform the United Kingdom’s Immigration system into a single point’s-based system consisting of tiers that offer […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 04/01/2021 12:27
From 1st January 2021, UK nationals will come under some travel restrictions when visiting countries in the EU. First of all, due to COVID-19, EU countries are not allowing travellers from other countries. Now, even the UK nationals will not be allowed. However, a few individual countries in the EU may allow for restriction-free travel. […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 21/12/2020 11:51
An attorney is someone who can help you make decisions or who can make decisions on your behalf. He or she becomes important if, at some point, you lose the mental capacity to make decisions due to an accident or an illness. To appoint an attorney, you must prepare a legal document called Lasting Power […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 14/12/2020 12:07
Starting from 1 January 2021, employers in the UK are required to apply for a sponsorship licence if they want to hire non-UK residents. Sponsorship Licence will also be needed if employers want to retain their present employees who are non-UK residents. How to apply for a sponsorship licence? Before applying for a sponsorship license, […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 07/12/2020 12:54
‘Right to Buy’ is a scheme for tenants living in the UK. If you are a tenant of a home and you want to purchase it, you get a big discount on the market value of the home. However, the discount is available only if you have been a tenant for at least 3 years. […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 30/11/2020 11:13
Islamic Estate Planning is the process of writing a will to ensure that, after your death, your estate is distributed in accordance with Islamic Law as well as the law of the land. For a Muslim, writing a will is one of the most important duties. In fact, Islamic tradition states: “It is the duty […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 24/11/2020 10:12
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many individuals applying for entry clearance and leave to remain are unable to meet the minimum income requirements specified in the family Immigration rules In view of the situation, the Home Office in the UK has made reasonable concessions to the minimum income requirements for the applicants. It is […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 23/11/2020 11:11
A property chain is a link connecting many homebuyers and sellers. How does this link form? Well, suppose you are selling your home and buying a new one. The person selling to you may also be buying a new home from a third person. Similarly, the person buying from you may be selling his […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 16/11/2020 12:13
Since every estate is different, the time it takes to settle the estate may also differ. Most times, an executor would take 8 to 12 months. But depending on the size and complexity of the estate, it may take up to 2 years or more to settle the estate. Why does settling an estate take […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 11/11/2020 11:21
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK has been subjected to restrictions related to travel, quarantine, and lockdown. These restrictions have led sponsorship license holders to have a few concerns about their employees. Here, we try to address a few of those concerns If a sponsored worker cannot travel to the UK, can […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 09/11/2020 11:30
When a couple with a child (or children) get separated, they must decide with whom the child will live. In some cases, both parents make a mutual decision. But if this is not possible, a Child Arrangements Order becomes necessary. It is a Court order that determines which parent the child will live with and […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 03/11/2020 13:03
In a divorce, separation of assets can become the most complicated issue. If both parties make a mutually acceptable financial agreement either on their own or by using a mediator, it becomes easy to obtain a legally binding agreement from the court known as a financial consent order. In a case where this is […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 02/11/2020 10:32
If you are planning to adopt a child from another country and want him/her to have British Citizenship, you must be aware of the following In some situations, the child becomes a British citizen automatically on the date of adoption In other situations, the Secretary of State will carefully consider if the child qualifies for […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 27/10/2020 14:13
Spousal support, or Alimony, is the maintenance amount paid to the former spouse after divorce. It could be a one-time lump sum payment or a monthly payment for a fixed number of years (term order basis) or until the death of either party (joint lives basis). Most of the divorced individuals prefer to pay […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 26/10/2020 14:56
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to separated parents. Co-parenting itself is quite a task in the first place. With the pandemic, there have been additional strains. Having to work from home, care for the child and help them with home schooling has taken a toll on many parents. The government is […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 19/10/2020 10:36
Debt recovery can be exhausting when your debtor is showing no signs of repayment. In a few cases, taking legal action becomes necessary. If this is what you want to do, consider the following: Steps to take prior to taking legal action Have a polite yet firm conversation in person with the debtor. At […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 14/10/2020 09:57
On July 8th 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the stamp duty threshold will be raised from £125,000 to £500,000 until March 31st 2021. What is stamp duty? When you buy a house or a piece of land in the UK, you are required to pay stamp duty, which is a percentage of the […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 12/10/2020 15:27
If your wife is not in a position to make financial decisions and there is no power of attorney in place, you must apply to the Court of Protection for deputyship over her finances. Only if you are appointed as a deputy by the court, you get legal authority to manage her finances. You cannot […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 12/10/2020 11:57
Steps you should take when someone dies and leaves a will When someone dies leaving a will, the executor of the will becomes responsible for administering the assets of the deceased. The deceased individual, through his will, appoints one or more individuals to serve as executor. If you have been appointed as executor, you need […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 05/10/2020 16:29
In many countries around the world, the law requires a person to leave his property, or at least a portion of it, to family members and relatives who survive him. But in England and Wales, such “forced heirship rules” do not exist. An individual can make his own decision about who must inherit his property […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 02/10/2020 16:43
Many people immigrate to the UK looking to start a business. In March of 2019, business immigration in the UK underwent a significant change. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa was replaced with two new visas – Innovator Visa and Start-up Visa. After the change took place, many immigrants who were on the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 14/09/2020 11:16
An executor is a person responsible for the administering of the property, possessions, and money of a deceased individual. He is appointed through a will written by the deceased individual prior to his death. The responsibilities of an executor include: Arranging for the funeral Making sure all the wishes of the deceased are respected Administering […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 09/09/2020 14:00
In what’s being heralded as one of the most significant insolvency reforms in decades, the UK government has thrown many thousands of struggling businesses a lifeline. Officially entered into force on 26 June 2020, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 has brought about the most sweeping changes to the UK’s insolvency framework since the […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 01/09/2020 14:41
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced an extension to legal protections for private tenants in the UK for an additional four weeks. The requirement for landlords to provide six-month eviction notice periods – introduced to protect tenants affected by the COVID-19 crisis – will now continue until March 31, 2021, at the earliest. This means […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 26/08/2020 15:44
Whether you are thinking about selling your property or in the midst of a property transaction, the prospect as a whole can be quite daunting. Particularly when the administrative side of the sale gets underway – the complexity of which never fails to take first-time sellers by surprise. Selling a home in the UK involves […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 21/08/2020 13:54
If you are subject to immigration control while in the UK and you intend to get married, you will need to ensure all applicable rules as outlined by the Home Office are followed. You will need to give notice of a civil partnership or marriage and fulfil the following requirements: If you are already in […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 19/08/2020 13:46
Following the publication of initial details earlier in the year, the Future Fund was officially launched by the UK government on May 20. A new initiative targeting new businesses and start-ups struggling to access other types of government relief, the Future Fund is an investor-backed scheme open to all businesses that meet the eligibility criteria. […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 17/08/2020 14:31
The UK government has announced the introduction of the new legislation for foreign health and care workers looking to work and settle in the UK. Confirmed in a joint statement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Home Secretary, the new ‘Health and Care Visa’ pathway is set to go […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 13/08/2020 10:48
With no indication as to whether or not the alteration will be permanent, the Home Office has confirmed a significant reduction in Tier 2 Health Worker visa costs. Effective as of August 4, the reduction has slashed hundreds of pounds off the usual costs of immigration and nationality fees for applications, which stand to save […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 07/08/2020 15:22
The UK government has announced an extension to a recently introduced support scheme for the families of overseas NHS staff, who lost their lives to Covid-19. Known as the Home Office Bereavement Scheme, the initiative automatically grants indefinite leave to remain to those who have lost family members to Covid-19 while working for the NHS. […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 05/08/2020 11:42
When two or more people make the decision to purchase a property together, they may choose to buy the home as ‘joint tenants’ or ‘tenants in common’. But what are the main differences between these two property purchase pathways? Joint Tenants Purchasing a home with one or more other people as joint tenants mean that […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 24/07/2020 15:16
Note: The Home Office is expected to make additional updates to its information and advice released to date, therefore the information in this post is also subject to change. If you would like to discuss any aspect of UK visa applications and related policy in more detail, book your obligation-free consultation with Aristone Solicitors today. […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 13/05/2020 12:27
Being left out of a deceased person’s will is always a difficult and sensitive issue. The same also applies to circumstances where you or any other beneficiaries feel they have not been allocated as much as they are entitled to. Contesting a will can be complex and challenging at the best of times, though is […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 07/05/2020 17:23
The Covid-19 crisis has brought with it unprecedented uncertainty and challenges for families up and down the UK. One of which being the extremely sensitive issue of handling the administration of a deceased individual’s estate, having lost their life suddenly and unexpectedly to this terrible disease. Now more than ever, it is important to understand […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 01/05/2020 13:18
As of March 2019, the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa program was officially closed. In its place, two new immigration schemes were established — Innovator and Start-up — both of which involve the challenge of receiving an official endorsement from a recognised UK body. Now more than ever, ensuring you fully understand the requirements of the new UK Innovator Visa […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 21/04/2020 15:56
The UK Innovator Visa is a special category of visa introduced for experienced professionals and entrepreneurs looking to establish innovative businesses in the UK. A minimum investment of £50,000 is required under the scheme, alongside endorsement from an officially recognised body. Obtaining endorsement is often the most challenging part of the process – call Aristone […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 15/04/2020 14:39
A leading solicitor at one of the UK’s longest-established law firms has issued a stark warning to property owners, for whom a new ‘game-changing’ second property tax policy could have severe repercussions. In a press release issued by MFG Solicitors, Gary Priest spoke of the potential implications of the government’s imminent Private Residential Relief overhaul, […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 09/04/2020 16:28
The government has brought forward a new measure due to outbreak of Coronavirus which means that landlords will have to give all tenants three months’ notice if they intend to seek possession. This protection covers most tenants in the private and social rented sectors in England and Wales, and all grounds of evictions. The guideline confirms […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 06/04/2020 15:31
Aristone Solicitors offer professional consultancy for individuals considering taking part in Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programmes (DAPP). If you have any questions or concerns regarding your eligibility or would like to discuss DAPPs in more detail, please contact Aristone Solicitors for an obligation-free initial consultation. What Are Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programmes (DAPP)? Organised by a variety […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 30/03/2020 12:17
As the world comes to terms with the potential implications of Covid-19, many are finding themselves forced to ask a number of difficult questions. It can seem as if there is never a ‘good’ time to think about preparing a final will and testament, though preparing for all possible eventualities is important. Ensuring you prepare […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 04/03/2020 18:38
Research suggests that more than 50% of the adult population in the UK either doesn’t have a will or doesn’t understand the importance of writing one. Unfortunately, failure to leave a valid, accurate and detailed will can lead to disastrous consequences for friends and family members. Interest in will writing services and related legal support […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 26/02/2020 14:30
Nobody would choose to be in a position where family mediation is necessary. Difficult and sensitive discussions are never particularly pleasant, though are often necessary to bring important issues to a fair and amicable resolution. Approached sensitively and proactively, family mediation can be beneficial in a number of ways. Particularly when compared to the alternative […]
Read MoreBy Kuljit Lally 19/02/2020 14:37
The vast majority of family disputes can be addressed through communication and the involvement of impartial legal advisers. From inheritance disputes to contentious probate to matters regarding child access and maintenance, it isn’t always necessary to bring family legal matters before the courts. But what does the family mediation process look like? If considering mediation […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 12/02/2020 13:26
It’s natural for clients seeking legal advice to factor costs into their considerations. Ensuring you can afford the legal support you need is important, but so too is choosing a solicitor you can trust. In fact, the results of a new study suggest that trust and reputation are of greater importance to clients than costs, […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 05/02/2020 15:19
Of course, unpaid invoices and debts that drag on for weeks, months or even years can have an even bigger impact on an organisation’s cash flow. Precisely where timely and efficient debt collection can help. Most businesses view professional debt recovery as something of a last resort option, despite its potential benefits. Issues with DIY […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 29/01/2020 14:15
Debt collections are far from rare in the modern business world. If anything, they’re a staple part of the business landscape there’s no getting away from. In fact, research suggests that the vast majority of established businesses are now forced to chase more unpaid invoices and general debts on a daily basis than ever before. […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 20/01/2020 14:28
Unfortunately, insurance companies aren’t always as understanding and empathetic as they could be. This is because at its heart, every insurance provider worldwide is a for-profit business that’s out to make money. Precisely why insurers hire skilled strategists and analysts for the sole purpose of finding creative ways not to pay out on customers’ claims. […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 13/01/2020 14:54
Drafting a will isn’t a particularly enjoyable task. Precisely why more than 40% of adults aged 55 and over in the United Kingdom don’t have one. Nevertheless, formalising the allocation of your assets in the event of your death is one of the most important things anyone will do during their lifetime. What many overlook […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 23/12/2019 14:17
By law, a final will and testament must represent a clear, complete and valid account of the deceased party’s wishes. It must specify precisely how their estate and assets should be distributed, following their death. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a will to contain any number of discrepancies, or be open to interpretation in […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 16/12/2019 15:21
To discover that you have been excluded from a will or allocated less than you were entitled to can be upsetting and infuriating. You may also find yourself in a situation where you don’t know where to turn, having no prior experience in such matters. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your inclusion […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 09/12/2019 14:39
In the wake of a surgical procedure of any kind, the last thing most people want is a heated courtroom confrontation. Unfortunately, everyone makes mistakes – doctors and surgeons being no exceptions to the rule. Astonishingly, a recent Johns Hopkins study determined that medical mistakes and malpractice are the third most common cause of premature […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 08/10/2019 12:00
The whole “No Deal, No Problem” philosophy representing an insult for those who stand to suffer the consequences. Should the United Kingdom leave the EU without a deal, British business travellers may be rendered unable to perform even basic business functions abroad, without first making sense of a complex system of permits and provisions. All […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 18/09/2019 11:42
A move that could spell bad news for landlords, though has been touted as beneficial for tenants across the country. What is Section 21? As things currently stand, Section 21 notices, or “no-fault evictions”, enable landlords to evict tenants without explanation at short-notice, under the condition that their assured shorthold tenancy agreement has expired. Landlords […]
Read MoreBy Mariyam Ferreira 11/09/2019 14:47
Hence, all talk of renegotiating the terms of the deal represents nothing but shameless time-wasting. In any case, the future of more than 2.5 million EU citizens currently residing in the UK is now more uncertain than ever before. If free movement comes to an end on October 31, this would mean UK citizens in […]
Read MoreBy Katey Bentley 22/07/2019 12:50
Tenant Fee Ban For the most part, the Act has brought about new restrictions on the imposition of fees payable by tenants entering into, renewing or exiting a tenancy at the end of an agreed contract. No longer will landlords and letting agents be able to bolt these kinds of additional fees onto their letting […]
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