A perfect storm is being created. Leasehold ownership is being given an increasingly bad name, with headline-hitting stories about rapidly increasing ground rents and high service charge figures making many prospective owners wary of investing in a leasehold property. But high-rise living shows no sign of diminishing, particularly in more urban areas, where development space is at a premium. Many looking to get a foot on the housing ladder or to relocate have no choice other than to hope their dream home does not turn into a nightmare. But the Government thinks it has the answer.

Given that the media is full of reports of the Government struggling to make efficiencies and to balance the books, it perhaps comes as no surprise to hear that court fees are set to increase.

Undue influence describes the situation where an individual is coerced into making a will that is unrepresentative of their actual intentions of how they want their estate to be managed. This pressure can take many forms and can present as physical force, mental pressure or a combination of both.

The Times has reported this week that there are developments afoot on plans to reform the legal position between cohabitees who decided not to get married.

It is sometimes the case that family farming businesses can result in disputes between family members. This often arises where the children have worked on the farm for years, often will low or no pay, on the clear understanding that they will inherit the farm when their parents give up or pass away.

A cause of action is a legal claim that gives a person the right to sue for a remedy in Court. It’s imperative that we identify one before writing on your behalf and this insight explains more about how Tozers can help you with your dispute or potential dispute.

In a previous Insight we outlined the case of Carry Keats’ estate and whether a partial but not complete tearing of the will document could be enough to revoke the will by destructions.

The Intestacy Rules apply to both spouses and civil partners in the same way and they are top priority. However, where a marriage or civil partnership has been dissolved by a legally recognised decree or there is ongoing judicial separation, the surviving spouse/civil partner is no longer entitled to inherit under the Intestacy Rules.

When a loved one dies, it can be distressing to learn that their Will did not sufficiently provide for you. These situations can often be complicated due to the size of the estate, the nature of the gift, or whether the person died intestate (without a Will).

Section 20 of this act stipulates how a Will can be revoked and prescribes an exhaustive list of the methods for revoking a will. The Wills Act emphasises the preference for revocation to be made in writing yet it is recognised that parties may not always do this and prescribes revocation by some other means, including through the destruction of the will document.

Trade mark practitioners have been closely watching the dispute between Skykick and Sky for its significant implications on trade mark law. On Wednesday 13 November the Supreme Court handed down its decision which brings some much-needed clarity to the complex legal landscape. We take a look at this judgement and what it means for trade mark law.

In a recent case involving the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, the ICO issued a penalty notice due to non-compliance with UK GDPR obligations. The incident stemmed from a data breach that occurred during a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response. While FOIA requests are typically limited to public authorities, the lessons from this case are relevant to all businesses handling personal data. Read our latest insight for a breakdown of the key points.