All residential homes sold with vacant possession must now be accompanied by a Home Information Pack (HIP), which takes time to prepare — but this need not delay your marketing plans... [read more]

In the past, it has not always been possible to use up the whole of the Inheritance Tax nil rate band when someone dies while also ensuring that the surviving spouse has enough money under his or her control to guarantee financial independence... [read more]

The Mental Capacity Act 2005, in England and Wales, came into force on October 1, 2007. It introduces a new type of power of attorney, called a Lasting Power of Attorney... [read more]

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which came into force on October 1, 2006, state that unjustified indirect age discrimination and direct age discrimination will be unlawful... [read more]

Since December 5, 2005, same-sex couples have been able to apply for registration as a Civil Partnership and so gain rights and responsibilities that reflect those already available to married couples... [read more]

The decision on how a husband and wife should divide their assets if they divorce can be made at any stage — even before they marry. An amicable agreement is far better than having the terms of the division imposed by the court... [read more]