The Down Side Of Private Will Writing Companies
Article by: Judith Bromley
1st September 2010
On Monday the 9th August the BBC programme Panorama broadcast the result of its investigations into the services of private will-writing companies.
Entitled "Wills - The Final Rip Off?" the Panorama investigation uncovered cases where initial will-writing fees of £75-£100 escalated to thousands of pounds, with clients and families of the deceased then being charged fee percentages for handling estates after death, which they were never told about.
More..........
.................................................................................................
The number of Solicitors approved to give advice to clients on family matters with the benefit of Legal Aid has been almost halved.
Article by: Susan Alexander and Salim Ibrahim
10th August 2010
The recent tender for civil and family legal aid work has sparked a row between the Law Society and the Legal Services Commission More..........
.................................................................................................
Russell & Russell Partner Concludes Marathon Case
9th August 2010
Partner and Higher Court Advocate NICK ROSS has just concluded a 'marathon' case at Minshull Street Crown Court Manchester involving a total of 7 defendants charged with a variety of Drugs conspiracy offences. The trial lasted 12 weeks from the 21st May 2010.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Signed England Shirts Auction Raise Money for Bolton Lads & Girls Club
24th June 2010
Local law firm Russell & Russell managed to organise something a little special for the BLGC World Cup Lunch which was held at the Reebok Stadium on 23rd June. In order to maximise the success of the event in terms of raising funds to support the Lads & Girls Club, Stephen Crompton, a Partner in the firm, and Francis Lee, Vice President at BLGC, combined to arrange for two England football shirts to be signed by some pretty well known names. More..........
.................................................................................................
Full Disregard Of Child Maintenance Payments In Calculation Of Income Related Benefits
Article by: Susan Alexander, 15th June 2010
One of the last acts of the Labour Government was to disregard child maintenance payments when calculating parents' eligibility for income-related benefits, with the stated intention of alleviating child poverty.
More..........
.................................................................................................
World Cup match will be winner for Lads Club
9th June 2010
BUSINESSMEN and women can watch England in the World Cup - and raise money for their favourite charity at the same time.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Suspension Of Home Information Packs (HIP)
Article by: Stephen Crompton, 20th May 2010
In an important step at a point of fragile recovery in the housing market, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps today announced that with immediate effect, they are suspending the requirement for homeowners to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) when selling their homes.
More..........
.................................................................................................
New Appointments at Russell & Russell
Article by: Mark Groves, 1st May 2010
Russell & Russell Solicitors are delighted to announce the appointment of three new Equity Partners. Adam Whittaker, Andrew Costello and Salim Ibrahim were formally appointed to their new positions in May following two retirements from the Practice.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Collaborative Law
Article by: Kate Rayer, 19th May 2010
Big money' divorce cases recently hitting the headlines have done little to improve the perception that divorce proceedings are acrimonious, lengthy and expensive. More..........
.................................................................................................
2008 divorce numbers lowest for 35 years
2008 divorces fall by 5 per cent on previous year
Article by: Susan Alexander, 5th February 2010
The number of divorces in England and Wales fell by 5 per cent in 2008 to 121,779 compared with 128,232 in 2007. More..........
.................................................................................................
LEGAL AID TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR COLLABORATIVE LAW
Article by: Susan Alexander, 25th January 2010
Following representations from Resolution, First for Family Law (an organisation to which many of our family lawyers belong), the Government has proposed that from 1st October 2010, legal aid will be available for Collaborative Law for the first time. More..........
.................................................................................................
Recent success stories from our Personal Injury Team:
Article by Jane Penman 15th December 2009
Many people feel uncomfortable making a claim straight after the event and it is only when they have had time to consider the impact which their injuries have had on their day to day life that they want to look in to possible compensation for their suffering. More..........
.................................................................................................
DIVORCE AND THE RECESSION
Article by Susan Alexander 30th November 2009
As the recession continues to bite, divorcing couples may be particularly affected by volatile financial circumstances. Often the matrimonial home is the largest asset and there may be unexpected consequences for couples needing to re-mortgage or sell the house to provide a home for each of them. More..........
.................................................................................................
One Third Of First Time Buyers Have Been Avoiding Stamp Duty Under Temporary Threshold
Article by Stephen Crompton 11th November 2009
One third of first-time buyers were able to avoid paying Stamp Duty in September as a result of the government's temporary £175,000 nil-rate threshold, according to new data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. More..........
.................................................................................................
Home Buying Process: Solicitors Keen For Improvements
Press Release from The Law Society 22nd October 2009
Home buying process: Solicitors keen for improvements - Press Release from The Law Society
Solicitors have made it clear that they are keen to see improvements to the conveyancing system More..........
.................................................................................................
New Appointment At Chester Office
Written by: Susan Alexander, 5th October 2009
The partners are delighted to announce the appointment of Mina Moghaddam to the Chester office Family Department More..........
.................................................................................................
Russell & Russell Become Main Sponsor for Local Radio Station
Written by: Jane Penman, 3rd September 2009
The firm has recently agreed a deal with a local hospital radio station to become their main sponsor More..........
.................................................................................................
Salim Ibrahim is Accredited to the Law Society Children's Panel
Written by: Amanda Connor, 28th August 2009
We are pleased to announce that Mr Salim A Ibrahim, Partner in the Family Department at our Bury Office has recently been accredited to the Law Society's Children Panel. More..........
.................................................................................................
Claire Porter joins Chester Family Team
Written by: Susan Alexander, 3rd August 2009
Claire joined the Chester family team on Monday 20th July 2009 taking over from Lisa Archer who is emigrating to Dubai. More..........
.................................................................................................
Russell & Russell win the Francis Lee Golf Classic and raise funds for Bolton Lads & Girls Club.
Written by: Derrick Smethurst, 12th June 2009
Russell and Russell won the Francis Lee Golf Classic at Bolton Golf Club on 11 June 2009. The event raises funds for Bolton Lads and Girls Club. More..........
.................................................................................................
More Crown Court Success
Written by: the Partners in the Criminal Department, Russell & Russell
10th June 2009
Partner and High Court Advocate (HCA) Nick Ross has just returned from a five week trial in London where he successfully defended Bolton based client Wayne Denniston during a major and complex money-laundering trial before a judge and jury at Southwark Crown Court. More..........
.................................................................................................
Michelle Moves Accross To Bury office
By Salim A Ibrahim - Russell & Russell
8th June 2009
Having worked at our Bolton branch for over 2 and half years Michelle Moss recently moved to the Family Department at our Bury Office. More..........
.................................................................................................
Loosening Of Restrictions On The Media Attending Court In Family Cases.
By Susan W Alexander - Russell & Russell
8th June 2009
A new law came into force in April 09 which allowed the media to attend family proceedings in any court. More..........
.................................................................................................
Fit to Appear
By Andrew Costello Russell & Russell
22nd April 2009
Solicitor Advocate Colin Buckle officially entered the Crown Court arena late last year, and has consistently displayed his high calibre. In the last week he appeared as court appointed Special Counsel, in a case concerning sexual assault allegations against a Defendant with severe learning difficulties. More..........
.................................................................................................
Limits On Intestacy Legacies From 1st February 2009
Article By Judith Bromley 14th April 2009
It has been announced that the statutory legacies (the amount that surviving spouses or civil partners are allowed to inherit if the spouse/civil partner dies without leaving a Will) increased from the 1 February 2009 More..........
.................................................................................................
The Family Law Organisation Resolution has re-launched its campaign for no fault divorce
Article By Susan Alexander Russell & Russell :
23rd March 2009
The family law organisation Resolution has re-launched its campaign for no fault divorce. As the law of England and Wales presently stands, fault has to be alleged unless the couple has been separated for over two years. This can increase animosity and make it less likely to achieve an amicable agreement about the arrangements for the children and a settlement of the finances.More..........
.................................................................................................
Andrew Costello makes another successful trip to the Court of Appeal - Article By Andrew Costello Russell & Russell
27th February 2009
Crown Court Advocate Andrew Costello made another successful trip to the Court Of Appeal on 6th February 2009.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Government confirms April changes to Hips will take place - Article By Stephen Crompton Russell & Russell
25th February 2009
The Government has issued an official response to the anti-Home Information Pack Petition lodged by Estate Agent Trevor Kent.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Press Release by the E-Homebuying Forum
23rd February 2009
The E-Homebuying Forum, which is leading calls for the modernisation of homebuying in the UK, has today released its blueprint for success. With support from across the industry, the Forum has set out what it believes are the most important goals to ensuring a better, more effective and reliable process for all parties.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Auction lots up, prices down - Article by Stephen Crompton Russell and Russell
20th February 2009
According to David Sandeman, managing director of Essential Information Group, which monitors UK auction activity, there was an increase in the number of residential properties on offer through auction houses compared with January 2008. Furthermore, lots that went through auction sales in January achieved an encouraging selling rate of 67%.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Lads and Girls Club
18th January 2009
The Partners are delighted to announce that Stephen Crompton was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Bolton Lads and Girls Club in December last at the invitation of the club.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Russell & Russell joins the E-Homebuying Forum
1st January 2009 - Article by Stephen Crompton Russell & Russell
The E-Homebuying Forum comprises industry leaders who are frustrated with lack of progress in improving the home buying and selling process over the last ten years.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Higher Court Advocates
18th December 2008 Article by Mr N S Ross Russell & Russell
Colin Buckle's award of Higher Courts Advocate ( HCA ) certificate and qualification should also be noted and celebrated.
More..........
.................................................................................................
Serious Crime
18th December 2008 Article by Mr N S Ross Russell & Russell
The Firm's Criminal Department continues to thrive with a growing reputation for handling homicide cases - in the last 6 months we have been defending an unprecedented 6 cases, 3 of which are murder and 3 manslaughter.
More..........
.................................................................................................