Bonus Family? Why a blended family needs a will
It is increasingly common for couples to marry while one or both have children from a previous relationship, and the couple may then go on to have children of their own. The Swedish drama on Netflix Bonus Family provides a light-hearted exploration of the complexities...
Our Christmas office hours
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Opening hours The office in Heathfield will be closed from 5pm on Friday 23 December 2022 to 9am on Tuesday 3 January 2023. You may leave messages on our answerphone, but these will not be picked up until after...
Valuing stocks and shares for probate
When someone dies, all of their assets and investments need to be valued to work out the sum total of their estate to ensure the correct amount of inheritance tax is paid. How stocks and shares are valued depends on whether they are listed or unlisted and there are a...
Buying a leasehold property
There are around 4.6 million leasehold homes in England according to government estimates, and one in five homes is owned on a leasehold basis. Buying a leasehold property, which gives you the right to live in your home for the term of the lease, does have its...
The residential property team welcomes Leanna Byrne back to Heathfield
There have been a few new faces at Hughes Solicitors over the past year as the team goes from strength to strength, but we are delighted to be welcoming back a former colleague to the residential property team, Leanna Byrne. Leanna is a solicitor predominantly dealing...
Providing for a vulnerable child in your will
If you are the parent of a vulnerable child, it is perfectly understandable that you will want to ensure that they are provided for and looked after well even when you are no longer around to oversee their care. The best way to ensure that this happens, and indeed to...
Meet our new solicitor: Hughes Solicitors welcomes James Woods to the private client team
Hughes Solicitors is pleased to announce the legal team in Heathfield is growing with the addition of James Woods, an experienced solicitor. James has been a solicitor for 11 years and brings a wide range of private client law experience to the firm. He previously...
Sussex lawyers afloat on the River Rother
On 22 July 2022, the team strapped on their lifejackets for the Hughes Solicitors’ annual summer staff outing. Partners, lawyers, support staff and their families came together for an afternoon of relaxation, team building and fun. We started with a lovely pub lunch...
Glowing feedback from 2022 Lexcel Assessment
The team at Hughes Solicitors is delighted to have received this exceptional feedback after the firm’s annual reassessment for the Lexcel Practice Management Standard accreditation, a legal practice quality mark awarded by The Law Society for outstanding client care,...
The benefits of a health and welfare power of attorney
A health and welfare lasting power of attorney is becoming an increasingly popular tool for people who want certainty about how their affairs should be managed if they lose mental capacity. It allows you, the donor, to state in a legally binding document who you would...
Trustees need to register non-taxable trusts by 1 September
Details of most non-taxable trusts must be registered with the Trust Registration Service by 1 September this year, under recent rules introduced by HM Revenue & Customs. Trustees should act now to ensure their non-taxable trusts are registered properly by the...
Hughes Solicitors supports Mayfield Music Festival 2022
Hughes Solicitors is delighted to be sponsoring a concert at Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts, taking place from Saturday 23 April 2022 to Sunday 8 May 2022. The concert will be a tribute to Jacques Loussier, lead of the French jazz piano music group, Jacques...
Leaving a gift to charity in your will, and reduce inheritance tax
Leaving a legacy to charity is a popular way to support the causes that are important to you, without dipping into your financial reserves while you might still need them, as well as reducing your inheritance tax bill.
Do we need to value an estate for probate?
When someone has died, it will be necessary to calculate the total value of their estate, and this needs to be done fairly promptly – so it can be helpful to ensure your personal paperwork filing is up to date, clearly labelled and easy to find.
We are looking for a solicitor or legal executive to join our private client team
Hughes Solicitors serves Heathfield and the surrounding local areas providing private client and property legal services and has an exciting opportunity for a private client solicitor or legal executive to join our busy private client team.
Could you benefit from making a lasting power of attorney?
Have you ever thought about what would happen if you lost the ability to make important decisions as a result of an accident or an illness, such as a stroke or dementia? Did you know that your nearest and dearest might have to go to court to be able to make decisions...
Glowing report from 2021 Lexcel Assessment
It has been a challenging eighteen months for every business due to the pandemic, especially law firms. Initially, the demand for making a will soared, and then the property sector has faced additional challenges as the stamp duty holiday caused the housing market to...
Hughes Solicitors at Le Marché
On 30 August 2021, Hughes Solicitors will have a presence at Le Marché and the team will be sharing information about our legal services for wills and probate and residential conveyancing. We will be setting up a small marquee just outside our office. We have a...
Thinking of reviewing your legal affairs? Our private client services brochure is now online
Planning for the future while putting your legal and financial affairs in good order, is one way of ensuring peace of mind. At Hughes Solicitors in Heathfield, East Sussex we are here to help you prepare for later life, plan for your inheritance and manage your...
Government opens consultation on modernising lasting powers of attorney
The Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Public Guardian have opened a public consultation to gather input on how to modernise the system for making and monitoring lasting powers of attorney. More government services are being provided digitally and during the...