Financial arrangements after dissolution of a civil partnership

According to the Office for National Statistics, since the introduction of civil partnerships in 2005, over 65,000 couples have formalised their relationship in this way and been afforded similar legal rights to those of married couples, including when it comes to separating. Since 2015, each year has seen over 1,200 couples dissolving their civil partnership and having to sort out their finances as they seek to start a new life. Robert Bellhouse a family lawyer with Ware & Kay in York & Wetherby explains that ‘While some of the formalities are different, when it comes to dealing with financial disputes arising from the dissolution of a civil partnership the same principals apply as would on divorce’. Full and frank disclosure Before you can be advised on how your assets are likely to be divided, it is…

The hidden costs of leasehold property

You may have seen recent media reports on the so-called leasehold scandal. First, escalating ground rents, which increase exponentially after periodic reviews. Then, the cladding crisis, which has spotlighted the costs landlords can pass on through service charges. So, if you are buying a new home, should you avoid leasehold properties? ‘There are definitely more issues with a leasehold home than a freehold one,’ agrees Holly Stevens, Head of Residential Property with Ware & Kay at York.  ‘However, this does not mean you should discount a leasehold property. While there may be extra things to consider, we will help you to mitigate risks and there are also government reforms in the pipeline, which will increase protection.’ Here we look at some of the issues and the additional costs which arise with a leasehold property. Ground rents…

Employment policies and procedures: time for a refresh?

Many businesses are now at the stage where they have planned their longer-term working arrangements for staff who may be office-based, remote working, or a hybrid arrangement. Some of the changes to working practices which were introduced ‘on the hoof’ as businesses adapted to the pandemic may have become permanent, and many lessons have been learned about new ways of achieving the same business objectives. ‘Alongside Covid, we have also seen a huge shift in the awareness of diversity and inclusion and, after so much change, now is a good time to check your policies are relevant for your company in the future,’ says Gillian Reid, a Solicitor in the employment team with Ware & Kay. It is also timely to look at wider issues relating to policies, such as best practice around introducing and changing…

Employment Law Update November 2021

This article covers: 1. Menopause: why are workplaces failing women? 2. Fire and rehire: the saga continues 3. Supporting workers in the Covid-19 vaccination programme 4. The climate & ecological emergencies and the workplace 1. Menopause: why are workplaces failing women? Recent research demonstrates that as many as sixty percent of women are currently suffering or will suffer from disabling menopausal symptoms. This means workers at every level who are female or who identify as female are suffering from debilitating menopausal symptoms. Overlooking the consequences of menopause in the workplace can lead to: an unhappy, underperforming workforce high levels of sickness absence loss of workers at every level leading to skewed figures on wage equality and unequal representation in the boardroom  claims in the employment tribunal on the grounds of sex, disability, or age discrimination…