Pitfalls for executors when dealing with a property during probate
When someone dies, if they own their own home this may be their most valuable asset. For those charged with administering the estate of the deceased person (the donor), dealing with a property during probate can have its complications. James Woods, a private client...
Are mirror wills right for you?
Mirror wills are a popular way to ensure that you or your partner are financially looked after when one of you passes away. Such wills involve you both leaving everything to each other when the first person dies or to your children (or other mutually agreed...
Christmas opening hours 2023
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Opening hours The office in Heathfield will be closed from 5pm on Friday 22 December 2023 to 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2024. Please note that our final day for completions this year will be Wednesday 20 December....
Christmas celebrations 2023
The office is decorated ready for the festivities and we recently held our annual Christmas party – a highlight of our year. This year, we thought we would take our decorating to the next level and decided to learn a new skill. Expertly guided by the team at Highgate...
Considerations when buying a second home
Nearly half a million people now own a second home in England after a surge of 50 per cent in the last decade, according to recent figures reported in The Telegraph newspaper. There are a number of reasons why you might want to purchase a second home: a private idyll...
Why do you need a health and welfare power of attorney as well as one for finances?
More and more people are prudently registering a financial lasting power of attorney to ensure their economic affairs are managed by someone they trust if they should lose mental capacity and are unable to make decisions for themselves. But why do you need a health...
Annual summer outing
One of our summer highlights is the annual team outing. After the adrenaline fuelled river antics last year, we opted for a more leisurely walk and afternoon tea this year. An opportunity for our hardworking team to relax and reflect on the year gone by. A big thank...
The use of wealth protection safeguards in a will
If you spend your life carefully amassing your wealth to ensure your loved ones have a financially stable future, it would be distressing to think that all your hard-fought gains could be swallowed up by inheritance tax, gambling debts, or a divorce settlement after...
Summer drinks reception with Heathfield agents
It was a pleasure to welcome local Heathfield estate agents to the office for a summer drinks reception. The evening was hosted by Erin Denness, Partner and Head of Residential Property, alongside fellow Residential Property lawyers Daniel Pike and Leanna Byrne....
Lexcel accreditation
We are delighted to receive the Lexcel quality assurance accreditation once again, having obtained an outstanding report. Lexcel is the Law Society’s quality mark for compliance and client care, and recognises the highest standards of internal management and client...
Dealing with common property title issues before putting your home on the market
While property magazines may be full of advice about the importance of décor and home furnishings to assist selling your home, it is also a good idea to review the title to your property before putting your home on the market. This will assist in ironing out any...
Legitimate costs of administering an estate
When someone dies, somebody will need to act as a personal representative and be in charge of dealing with the deceased person’s estate. A personal representative is known as an executor if the deceased person left a will, or an administrator if they did not. The role...
Erin Denness joins to lead the residential property team
We are delighted to announce that Erin Denness has joined the team in Heathfield as a partner and head of our residential property department. Erin is a senior solicitor with over 15 years of experience in handling all types of residential property matters both for...
Coronation celebrations
We’re joining with fellow Heathfield & Waldron businesses to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort on 6 May. The bunting is up and our staff have taken great pride in decorating our window with models of Buckingham Palace,...
What are the benefits of a legal letter of wishes?
A letter of wishes is a document that you can draw up to accompany your will in which you can leave explicit instructions and guidance
Why you need a new will if you get married or divorced
Making a will is one of the most important tools available to ensure you can leave your possessions to the people of your choosing. Without a will in place your estate will be allocated according to the strict rules of intestacy which may not reflect your wishes....
Buying property in a retirement village
The popularity of retirement villages is on the rise in the UK, with 70,000 people currently residing in such developments in Britain, according to recent reports. Leanna Byrne, a property law solicitor at Hughes Solicitors in Heathfield, outlines the pros and cons of...
Hughes Solicitors hits 10,000 case milestone
This week, Hughes Solicitors has taken on its 10,000th new matter since the firm opened in April 2009. Despite the disruption of the past few years, Hughes Solicitors has gone from strength to strength. This milestone marks a huge achievement for the team and reflects...
Selling a heritage property
Sussex is home to thousands of beautiful old properties, many of which have been designated ‘heritage properties’, meaning they are considered to be of national importance because of their special historic or architectural interest. Once a property achieves heritage...
LPAs: who will manage your finances if you get ill or have a head injury?
Head injuries can occur in a wide variety of circumstances, such as in a skiing or cycling accident, and our brain is not immune to illnesses, such as cancer or dementia. Any health problem involving the brain may mean that you would be unable to carry out many tasks,...