It is still the case that many people don’t know that there is no such thing as “common law” marriage. This very often means that, on separation, the financially weaker party has little or no protection in law when a relationship ends, irrespective of how long the parties have been Read more…
In June 2025 the High Court ordered that Bernadette Rogers, a retired nurse who had cared for her mother (Sheila Wills) from autumn 2017 until her death in April 2020, should be remunerated for the care she provided. Sheila suffered from dementia and was uncomfortable with live-in carers at her Read more…
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently reviewing how firms and professionals support bereaved customers. Its research found that fewer than half of bereaved customers (47%) felt they received the support they needed, with unclear procedures and long delays among their most common concerns. For executors, these challenges can be Read more…
In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of probate disputes in England and Wales. According to data from Solomonic, in 2025 alone there were 1,200 probate claims issued in the High Court. However, this increase in disputes is perhaps most evident in the 11,589 caveat Read more…
Recent guidance from the Law Society of England and Wales has highlighted growing concern around changes to pensions due to come into effect on 6 April 2027, which would make personal representatives responsible for paying inheritance tax (IHT) on a deceased person’s pension assets. Personal representatives have a duty to Read more…
As we come to the end of Empty Homes Week, it feels timely to ask a simple but important question: If we are struggling to build enough new homes, why are so many existing homes standing empty? The Building Target Gap The current Government target is to deliver 1.5 million Read more…
Across the UK, hundreds of thousands of homes stand empty, while over a million households wait years for social and affordable housing. This imbalance highlights a structural problem in the nation’s housing system and points to a fundamental flaw in how housing supply is managed and utilised. Homes left empty Read more…
Encephalitis is the medical term for inflammation of the brain, often triggered by infections or as a result of autoimmune dysfunction. Herpes Simplex Encephalitis (HSE) is a particular type of encephalitis. This occurs when the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which is incredibly common in the general population, gains access to Read more…
The UK Government has announced a major shake-up in leasehold law that could bring welcome relief to homeowners across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. Under the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, ground rents on existing leasehold properties in England and Wales will be capped at £250 per year, a move Read more…
Taylor Emmet’s Wills and Trusts Disputes team acted for the Personal Representative of a substantial estate worth over £2 million in a rare and complex kin inquiry that has resulted in what appears to be the first reported kin inquiry for approximately a century. The case, later reported by The Independent, Read more…