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Odd UK Laws
As time goes on laws change on a regular basis, however, did you know that that in 1657, Cromwell’s Law states that it’s illegal to eat Mince Pies anywhere in England on Christmas Day so it begs the question, how many people this year will break the law!
Small Update to Solicit A Lawyer
Ove r the past week or so we have decided to add in some extra pages to further help users to our site.
On the left hand side you should now notice a ‘Top Areas of Law’ section which is broken down into 10 new pages. These pages contain just Lawyers who have updated there information on our site so show that they are conveyancing solicitors for example.
We searched our database to find the top areas the Lawyers / Solicitors cover and created these pages to make it easier to find the Lawyer you want and need.
Changes to our site
Over the next few days you may notice some changes to our site, mainly we are trying to purge the site of repeat listings.
This is a time consuming process but it should ensure that the listings on our site do not repeat, when your are browsing our site or visit the site via the likes of Google.co.uk you may come across an error page stating the page is no longer on our site. This will be because the listing was removed.
Don’t forget you can still browse through out city pages and find a Lawyer / Solicitor close to you and read reviews and comments on them.
Budget 2010 and its effects
Here are some things to think about following the Budget 2010
ISAs
The ISA limit is being raised from £7,200 to £10,200 for 2010/11 and will increase each year after that in line with inflation.
Is now the time to look at moving ‘traditional’ savings to an ISA? Don’t forget to compare rates!
Offshore Tax Evasion
Following a series of ‘disclosure windows’ for offshore tax evaders, these have now slammed shut. The Chancellor has announced three new tax disclosure arrangements between HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and tax haven countries and tax penalties for offshore tax evasion are effectively being increased by 50 per cent.
Take advice if you have undisclosed offshore income.
Use of Tax Losses
The temporary extension of trading loss carry-back from one to three years for losses up to £50,000 continues for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 tax years for unincorporated businesses.
Before making a loss claim, consider carefully what the best claim to make will be.
Pensions
You are reminded that restriction of higher-rate tax relief comes in fully next tax year for high earners.
A review of your pension arrangements may be in order.
Losses on Investments
Losses Due to Financial Services Act Regulated Products Anomalies in tax treatment can arise where compensation is paid to policy holders etc. as a result of the operation of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Tax law is being altered to ensure that compensation scheme payments are treated as if they were the ‘normal return’ of the investment concerned.
Capital Losses on Insurance etc. Policies Held as Investments The Government is to legislate to improve the availability of ‘life assurance deficiency relief’, the practical effect of which is that people who have lost money on policies held as investments will benefit from reduced tax at the higher and dividend rate.
If you have lost money through an FSA regulated investment, take advice.
Inheritance Tax (IHT) Threshold Frozen
The IHT threshold, which was planned to be increased to £350,000, has been frozen – for four years – at £325,000. This is a rate which traps those with relatively modest estates.
If you haven’t done an IHT planning exercise, now is the time to start.
Miscellaneous
Working Tax Credits for the Over 60s
From 6 April 2011, people aged 60 and over will qualify for Working Tax Credits if they work at least 16 hours a week. Currently, those aged 60 and over qualify for Working Tax Credits if:
. they work 30 hours or more a week;
. they work 16 hours or more a week and they have dependent children or qualify for the disability element; or . they work 16 hours or more and they are returning to work after being on certain benefits for six months or more (only available to the over 50s).
Property
The Chancellor announced that he is to double the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 for first time buyers with immediate effect (from midnight tonight). In addition, the rate of stamp duty on homes over £1 million will increase from 4 to 5 per cent.
Benefits
Housing benefit is to be cut for those in expensive properties.
If any of the items in this bulletin apply to you, please get in touch. The end of the tax year is 5 April for individuals.
Gideon P Cristofoli
Senior Partner
6 High St
Alton
Hants
GU34 1BT
tel-01420 82881
fax-01420 89880
apply to work in the UK as a skilled worker
How do I apply to work in the UK as a Skilled Worker?
Written by Mrs. Emel Hussein founder & Sole Practitioner of E.A Law Solicitors, specialists in UK Immigration Law.
A person can apply to enter or stay in the UK in order to work as a ‘skilled worker’. The new Tier system replaced the UK Border Agency Work Permit holder rules and is similar to the Australian Immigration system.
The Tier 2 (General) is for people coming to the UK with a skilled job offer to fill a gap in the workforce that cannot be filled by a settled worker.
Before you apply under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General), you must have a sponsor (employer) and a valid certificate of sponsorship. When you apply you are awarded points based on your qualifications; future expected earnings; sponsorship; English language skills; and available maintenance (funds).
You can apply under the skilled worker category (Tier 2 General) now if you are:
- applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as ‘entry clearance’) under the sponsored skilled worker category (Tier 2 General)
- applying in the United Kingdom with permission to stay (known as ‘leave to remain’) in an immigration category that allows you to switch into the sponsored skilled worker category (Tier 2 General)
- already in the United Kingdom as a sponsored skilled worker (Tier 2 General) and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category.
If you are applying from outside the UK and you are given permission to come here under Tier 2 (General), you will be able to live and work here for a maximum of three years plus one month, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter.
If you are already inside the UK in a different category, you may be able to apply to switch into the Tier 2 (General) category. If your application is approved, you will be able to live and work here for a maximum of three years or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
At the end of the three years, you can apply to extend your stay in Tier 2 (General). If your application is approved the UK Border Agency will extend your permission to stay by another two years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
If your previous permission to stay was as a work permit holder, you can apply under the transitional arrangements for permission to stay for a time that takes you to five years in the UK in an eligible category. For example, if you have been here for two-and-a-half years with permission as a work permit holder or under the transitional arrangements, you can apply for a further two-and-a-half years’ permission to stay.
If this means you would get permission to stay for less than a further two years, you can apply for permission to stay for two years instead. For example, if you have been here for four years with permission as a work permit holder or under the transitional arrangements, you can apply for a further two years’ permission to stay.
You may apply for settlement once you have been here in an eligible category for five years. If you do not, you must apply under the points-based system and make a new application.
For more information please contact E.A Law Solicitors on:
T: 020 8805 5307 or
British Citizenship in the UK
CHANGE IN LAW MEANS MANY PEOPLE CAN BE GRANTED BRITISH CITIZENSHIP IN THE UK
The Government has introduced a new Citizenship law which will affect many people from other Countries. The new Act implements the Government’s proposals for a new ‘Path to Citizenship’.
Under the new Act a person can apply for Citizenship if they were born any time before 1983 and at some time before 1983 they would have been a Citizen of the UK and Colonies by descent either from its Mother or Father. This means many people living either in the UK or overseas will be entitled to British Citizenship.
Another part of the new Act affects people settled in the UK and who wish to become naturalised in to British Citizens. In the year 2011 people will have to earn their right to become a British Citizenship. That is why it is important all those people with Indefinite Leave to Remain and who qualify for Citizenship now ensure they apply this year before the change of law.
Written by Mrs Emel Hussein Founder and Sole Practitioner of EA Law Solicitors
EA LAW
Knight House
27-31 East Barnet Rd
New Barnet
EN4 8RN
T 020 8805 5307
F 020 8805 5308
You can find more information on EA Law by either visiting there listing on our site : http://www.solicitalawyer.co.uk/city-Barnet/1844868-lawyer-EA-Law.html
You can also visit the EA Law website.
Missing Companies – Comments
Over time regular users to our site may notice that certain listings and comments do go missing from time to time.
Although solicitalawyer.co.uk is an independent review site we often get e-mails from Solicitors / Lawyers that are threatening to take us to court / sue us.
Some of the companies listed on our site do have bad reviews / comments on our site. Once the Law Companies see this they tend to send an e-mail demanding to have their listing removed before they take legal action against us.
This does make it hard for visitors (over 25,000 unique visitors a month) to see the honest reviews left on our site.
We would like to see all comments left on our site regardless but this is not always possible, we have taken many actions to ensure the comments are real and are not just 1 person with a ‘problem’ or just general spam.
There have been a handful of companies that ‘were’ listed on our site getting many bad comments from the public, these comments were checked before being enabled and were from different people in the UK (IP address / location checked) so we would like to say “always check the Lawyer / Solicitor company before using them, ask friends, look for reviews, find out as much information as possible before you choose a company.”
Wills and Probate
A will is the legal declaration of the intention of an individual, the testator, regarding his or her property and estate which is designed to be carried out after his or her death.
A Codicil may be added to an existing will in order to amend or alter it without the need to have a new will drawn up. An executor is the person appointed by the testator of the will to execute it. The executor is usually the person who will offer the will for probate. If the executor does not wish to act or a person has died intestate, i.e. without a will, the court can appoint an administrator to implement the will .Any individual of adult age and sound mind can be an executor. Probate is the legal process of administrating the will.
Every adult should make a will for three main reasons. Firstly a will enables the individual to decide who benefits after their death. If a person dies intestate, without a will, the individual’s assets may end up going to someone who they would not have wanted to receive them. Secondly there are some simple things that can be added in to a will to help avoid or at least reduce inheritance tax. Thirdly and possibly most important to many people is that it is possible to make provision in a will for a guardian to look after any children in the event of a testators death.
Although it is possible to write your own will or go to a will writer, who is not a lawyer, it is advisable to get a lawyer to write your will. Lawyers pay insurance premiums to cover there clients should something go wrong and are trained in will and probate law which should minimise the risk of any discrepancies that can result in family feuds once a person has passed on.
Wills and probate lawyers in United Kingdom deal with the complications involved in the formation, manipulation, and execution of wills. Nowadays disputes among families regarding estates and properties provided for in wills are very common. A person who wishes to make a will can approach a will and probate lawyer to make the will legally. People who wish to dispute a will can also use these lawyers to act on their behalf.
A will and probate lawyer will usually be able to provide advise in the following areas as well as making a will: Inheritance and tax planning – there are things that can e done whilst you are alive as well as provisions in your will to help minimise the amount due; Probate and administering an estate – guidance through this legal process; Powers of attorney and Court of Protection – a power of attorney is legal permission for someone else to act on your behalf; and Asset protection.
When do I need a Criminal Lawyer?
By Geoff Wordsworth, Mackesys Criminal Law Specialists.
As a result of many changes to criminal offences since Labour came to power, many more people are finding themselves in contact with the Police.
Under the POLICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT (PACE), the RIGHTS of all persons under arrest are strictly regulated.
The most IMPORTANT RIGHT IS FREE AND INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE. This is free IRRESPECTIVE OF A PERSON’S MEANS.
A person under arrest has always been entitled to a RIGHT OF SILENCE, the Police had to prove the case against the person under arrest. The Police would have to
CAUTION the person under arrest that he/she had a right of silence and were NOT obliged to answer any questions that would in any way incriminate themselves.
HOWEVER, there has been an amendment to this. The new CAUTION is as follows:
You do not have to say anything, BUT it may harm your DEFENCE if you do not mention now something that you may later rely on in court. ANYTHING you do say will be recorded and may be used against you in Court.
In simple terms, this means that, although you have a right of silence, if there is something relevant to your defence, you should mention it in interview now. If you fail to do so and you later raise it in your defence, a judge could direct a jury that an adverse inference could be drawn (suggesting that you have had time to make up this defence and that the jury should not necessarily accept the defence).
For this reason alone, a solicitor should always be called to assist you if you find yourself arrested, All solicitors and their representatives have had to go through an ACCREDITATION procedure which involves having their knowledge of PACE tested, a portfolio of cases assessed and a verbal test of reactions to various scenarios.
The solicitor/accredited representative will attend FREE OF CHARGE. They will get the disclosure of the alleged evidence against you and a advise as to the strength of this evidence and how to deal with the interview.
IF it is assessed that there is little evidence, you will be advised to make NO COMMENT,
HOWEVER, if there is a case to answer and you have a DEFENCE, you could be advised to answer questions or we could help you to provide a PREPARED STATEMENT.
IF the evidence is strong, you could be advised to make a comment in order to GAIN CREDIT from the Judge when you attend Court.
You need the EXPERTISE of a Criminal Lawyer. The service is FREE.
DON’T believe the Police if they say it will take too long for a solicitor to attend. All criminal lawyers are obliged by our contract with the Legal Services Commission to attend a police station within 45 minutes of the call to attend for interview. WHY BELIEVE THE OFFICER? HE IS TRYING TO PROVE YOU ARE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE!!!
At MACKESYS CRIMINAL LAW SPECILAISTS WE OFFER A FREE 24 HOUR SERVICE TO CLIENTS AT THE POLICE STATION. WE HAVE A TEAM OF OVER 20 SPECIALIST DUTY SOLICITORS AND 15 ACCREDITED POLICE STATION REPRESENTATIVES. SHOULD YOU BE CHARGED, OUR REPRESENTATION WILL CONTINUE ON LEGAL AID (SUBJEST TO YOUR FINANCIAL MEANS).
WE CAN ATTEND all POLICE STATIONS within LONDON/M25, KENT & SURREY.
You can nominate MACKESYS when you are arrested. We can also be instructed on your behalf by members of you family/friends via our dedicated 24 hour answering service 0800 696 999 or via our website www.mackesyscrime.co.uk
UK Lawyers and Solicitors
Welcome to the Lawyer Blog. This blog will have posts written by real Lawyers and Solicitors in the UK offering advice and help within each post.
All the posts will be from listings with in our UK Lawyer and Solicitor site which offers contact details, address, customer comments and reviews of the Lawyers and Solicitors in the UK.