Inheritance Tax The Government Rakes In 5bn Gbp

The amount of revenue that the government raises from inheritance tax (IHT) continues to rise year by year. In 2016-17, the figure rose again to over £4.9bn1, with experts expecting it to be even higher in this financial year. Controversially, the threshold at which IHT applies has been stuck at £325,000 since 2009. Over the same time, house prices have mainly continued to rise, meaning that more families than ever have found themselves drawn into the IHT net. Help has come in the form of the family home allowance that reduces the amount of IHT payable on a main residence being left to defined direct descendants. Referred to as the 'main residence nil rate band', it is being introduced in stages over four years, with a limit of £100,000 applying from April 2017, rising each…

Yorkshire Law Society Triathlon Challenge Fund Raisers

York, 22nd July, 2017 Peter Kay, David Hyams, Andrew Little, David Kershaw, Laura Schofield and Owen Thomas successfully completed a 'Super Sprint' Triathlon at Castle Howard on Saturday 22nd July as in aid of Huntington's Disease Association as part of a fund raising initiative organised by Pamela Precious, current President of the Yorkshire Law Society. Peter Kay, Owen Thomas & Laura Schofield formed one relay team and David Hyams, & David Kershaw & Andrew Little formed the second relay team.  Each team respectively completing a 400m open water swim in the Great Lake at Castle Howard, a 23km cycle race over the Howardian Hills and a 4km run and finished 3rd and 4th respectively out of 7 teams.  Other relay teams co-ordinated by the Yorkshire Law Society included Harrowells, Andrew Jackson, Dere Street Chambers…

Supreme Court Quashes Employment Tribunal Fees

If you have submitted a tribunal claim via Ware & Kay since July 2013 please contact Gillian Reid for advice about recovery of the employment tribunal fees.   See interesting Supreme Court verdict: UNISON legal victory sees employment tribunal fees scrapped Published: July 2017 Contact us: For a confidential discussion on employment law matters, please contact Gillian Reid on 01904 716050 or email Gillian.Reid@warekay.co.uk "http://www.warekay.co.uk/news-updates/firm-updates/2014/will-written-in-return-for-st-leonard's-hospice-donation-(the-press

How To Deal With Part Time Workers

With an increasing number of businesses using part-time workers to deliver their services, it is important for employers to understand the approach that should be taken to ensure that the rules governing this type of employment are complied with. Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & kay in York, Wetherby & Malton explains the key provisions you need to be aware of. When will someone be classed as a part-time worker? There is no legal definition of a part-time worker, but in broad terms anyone who works less than the usual hours worked by a full-time employee, based on the employer's workplace customs and practices, will be classed as a part-timer. What rights do part-time workers have? Part-time workers are protected by the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000, which provide…

Protect Your Children`s Inheritance By Taking Advantage Of New Tax Allowance For Family Home

Nobody wants to see their hard-earned cash go to the tax man when they die, but until recently if your estate was worth more than £325,000 you faced the prospect of having to pay inheritance tax at a rate of 40 per cent.  There were, and continue to be, ways to reduce your potential liability but none are straightforward.  The good news is that, from 6 April this year, new rules are introduced which should allow most people to reduce their inheritance tax liability with a bit of forward planning. Ian Fisher, Head of Wills & Probate at Ware & Kay Solicitors with offices in York, Wetherby & Malton explains: New rules The new rules allow most people who die on or after 6 April 2017 to leave their interest in the family home to…

Performance Management

Getting the best out of employees is one of the biggest challenges faced by managers.  Gillian Reid, employment law specialist at Ware & Kay in York  Wetherby & Malton, looks at what managers can do to manage performance and, if necessary, how to dismiss an underperforming employee. Poor performance can include lack of productivity or slowness, inflexibility, a breakdown in working relationships with colleagues or customers, a failure to reach targets, customer complaints, and negligence or mistakes.  Ignoring these issues risks undermining the manager's position and demotivating other staff, whereas dealing with them can increase both productivity and staff engagement. Managing performance on a day-to-day basis It is far better to deal with problems as they arise, rather than waiting for them to become a major issue.  Performance should be kept under review throughout the…

Ware & Kay Welcomes New Commercial Property Specialist

Ware & Kay Solicitors are delighted to announce that Charles Docherty has joined their rapidly expanding Commercial department as a Commercial Property Solicitor.  His appointment complements an already successful and highly experienced team which is able to advise on every aspect of commercial property. Charles will specialise in a wide range of commercial property matters.  This will include acting for clients who wish to buy and sell commercial properties and businesses, acting for landlords and tenants in the grant or renewal of leases and assisting with transactions involving the development of land or properties. Charles arrives at Ware & Kay with over 12 years experience in Commercial Property Law.  He studied at Sheffield University before qualifying as a Solicitor in 2003 and starting his career in London.  Charles has extensive experience and is extremely well-regarded…

Laura Schofield Joins Ware & Kay Wills Probate Team

Growing law firm Ware & Kay Solicitors is adding to its team with the appointment of Laura Schofield at its Wetherby office, to assist the elderly and infirm in the management of their estates. Laura, an experienced solicitor, will specifically focus on Wills and the administration of estates including overseeing the financial affairs of the infirm and elderly clients, while advising on the inheritance tax implications based on individual circumstances. Laura will help clients to protect against the difficulties that arise in dealing with finances or personal decisions if mental capacity is lost, by preparing a lasting power of attorney. She is also highly experienced with Court of Protection proceedings and deputyship applications. Following the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at Northumbria University, Laura gained valuable experience and knowledge working in Wills and Probate Departments at two practices in York…

Covert Surveillance Of Employees

The issue of privacy has rarely been out of the news in the last few years, as a result of the phone-hacking scandal and revelations of secret mass surveillance of individuals by national intelligence agencies. As an employer, keeping an eye on your staff is vital but you must also stay on the right side of the law.  Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton , advises how employers can monitor staff without infringing their rights to privacy. Examples of covert surveillance There are many reasons why you may wish to monitor staff, such as to prevent theft or fraud, reduce the use of workplace equipment and time for personal purposes, cut down on non-genuine absence, monitor the quality of customer service and gather evidence for possible disciplinary…

Martin House Make A Will During May 2017

Leave your legacy to help us continue ours. If, like many other people you have been putting off writing your Will, this is your chance to put that right. Ware & Kay Solicitors has teamed up with Martin House to give you the opportunity to have your basic Will written for just £60 or £110 (inc. VAT) for a pair of basic matching (mirror) Wills - a considerable discount on their usual price. Legacies are vitally important to Martin House . In fact, they make up more than a quarter of our entire voluntary income, meaning the cost of caring for one in four of our children is covered by gifts left in Wills. Over half of UK adults have not made a Will. It's not always easy to think about what might happen…