Backhouse Solicitors News
We have previously written regarding plans for a substantial Probate fees increase in 2020. The plans were roundly condemned by the Law Society and charities and described as a “Grief Tax” by the Daily Mail. We are delighted to announce that the planned increase has this [...]
Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that Lasting Powers of Attorney (“LPAs”) are slowly becoming more popular in the UK, but there is still a long way to go. Figures for the year to April 2018 show a record-breaking figure of 759,976 applications [...]
The UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2019 have now been introduced together with increases in other statutory rates of pay. Employers are advised to ensure their payroll systems are updated from 1st April. National Minimum Wage Rates from 1 April 2019: Workers aged 25 and [...]
In some recent high profile cases involving harassment and discrimination it appears that confidentiality clauses may have been used to silence potential victims. The Government has now issued a consultation document seeking views on how this might be prevented in future. What is a Confidentiality Clause? [...]
The fees paid to Government to obtain a Grant of Probate are set to rise, hitting bereaved families from April 2019. What are the new Probate fees? Probate fees for estates valued at over £5,000 are currently fixed at £215 (or £155 for families who use [...]
The Court of Appeal has issued its decision in the long running case of Asda Stores vs Brierley, where female Asda checkout staff have brought an equal pay claim arguing that their customer facing role is being undervalued compared to warehouse worker colleagues. In 2017 the [...]
The General Register Office (GRO) have introduced large increases in the cost of copies of birth, marriage and death records from 16th February 2019. Families registering a death will now be charged nearly triple the amount following the price increase. Death certificates have risen from £4 [...]
The Government has announced a proposal to extend redundancy protection for women and new parents. A consultation paper has been published following recommendations made by the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices in 2017. Currently, under regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations [...]
New Contractual Rights for Couriers The GMB trade union have struck a ground-breaking deal with courier firm Hermes this week. Under the new agreement the 15,000 gig economy couriers will be able to opt in to become “Self-Employed Plus” workers giving them the access to new [...]
In a long awaited follow up to Matthew Taylor's Good Work Review of July 2017, the Government has now published a series of proposals to update UK employment law. Despite claims that it is the biggest reform of employment law in 20 years, it perhaps more accurately [...]
